Friday, January 7, 2011

Ideas & Discussion

After our discussion of August Wilson's plays, please continue to work on your play projects.

If you are opting for the 2-4 10-minute plays (or a second one-act), consider the following:

1. Plays are centrally about ideas.
2. These ideas are represented by characters and setting.
3. Props can also symbolize or represent larger ideas.

--Write a 10-minute play about a chosen theme: love, death, God, loss, weakness, addiction, family unity, communication, life, or any other philosophical idea (obviously, you can pick your own theme).
--Represent your theme by creating a character or characters that REPRESENT your theme. Your "Antagonist" usually is the opposite (for example: if you are writing about the theme of loss, then the antagonist probably HAS LOTS, or has won something that the other character wanted) Ta da! Instant conflict!

Your setting should also be metaphorically representative of your theme. Consider how place and time suggest meaning to support your main theme.

Also, consider using a PROP symbolically and representative of an idea. For example, a crown on a fluffy white pillow might suggest God.

If you are working on a one-act or full length play project, the same idea can apply to you script. Now that the words are flowing and the play progressing: what does it mean?

HOMEWORK: Please finish the play reviews. We are done with August Wilson's Piano Lesson and Fences. You may return these books to the library.

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