Thursday, January 13, 2011

Absurdism

Weather got you down? Feeling as if there's no point to life? Check out this style of writing...

by the way, you are more than welcome to add elements of absurdism (if you haven't already done so) to your play scripts (for example, if you wanted inspiration for another 10-minute play)

Characteristics of Absurdism:

1. Characters are often threatened by an unknown outside force.
2. The world or diegesis of the play/film is unpredictable or lacks meaning which the characters must contend with.
3. There is often an element of horror or tragedy; characters are often in hopeless situations or trapped.
4. Dialogue is often playful, full of nonsense, repetition, or engages in silly wordplay or banter.
5. Plays are often funny, although theme is usually serious and symbolic. Absurdist theatre is often called "tragicomedy", having elements of broad humor and tragedy.
6. There is often a good deal of farce (mistaken identity, physical comedy, slapstick, sudden entrances and interruptions, etc.)
7. Theatre of the absurd often presents characters failing at something without suggesting a solution to the problem. Characters are often "losers" who cannot dig themselves out of the problems they find themselves in.
8. Characters are often unable to communicate with others (particularly about their feelings, desires, or needs).
9. Plot is often cyclical or repetitive.
10. Plots have a dreamlike or surreal quality to them, akin to nightmare. Plot events are often taken at face value; characters are unwilling or uninterested in examining "why?" something happens and instead react to "what" happens. Therefore plot is often lacking the cause. The effect is often stressed as being more important.

Projects due 1/24

Today, please continue to work on completing your major writing projects. Getting your play scripts written and completed before the deadline will allow you to workshop and look over your work before you turn it in.

What's due:

For an automatic "A": 4 10-minute plays, or 2 One-act plays, or 1 one-act play and 2 10-minute plays, or 1 full length (at least 40 pages of script in script format) play.

Otherwise: 2 10-minute plays, 1 one-act play is due as a correctly formatted, proofread play.

The majority of the class, left to their own devices, is not effectively using the lab. Please use the lab to get your CREATIVE WRITING work done. This is not a study hall.

All play reviews should be turned in by this time.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Writing/Testing

For those of you not taking the NYS Regents Exam in English today, please continue to work on your play scripts.

Your play projects are due on the 24 of January. You need a minimum of 2 ten minute plays (roughly 20 pages collectively), or a one-act play (about 20 pages or more). Students working on a full length play should keep writing. A full length play is the equivalent for our purposes of two one-act plays (about 40 pages or more). Traditionally, a full length script for stage is anywhere between 60 and 120 pages.

HOMEWORK: None, but your play projects are due on the 24.

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.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Fences/Piano Lesson/August Wilson Quiz & Projects

To prepare for the quiz, please watch the following video clips. Please take notes as you see fit. You will be able to use your notes on the quiz. You have 15 minutes to prepare:
Denzel Washington's interview regarding his performance as Troy in Fences and a second interview with Denzel Washington.
Denzel Washington in a scene from Fences
August Wilson biographical information.

After our quiz, please continue working on your play projects. If you still have your critique for The Piano Lesson, please finish it and turn it in. It is due Friday.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year! Projects, Projects, Projects!

Okay. So we're all another year older. I hope you all had a relaxing and restful break.

Today, please complete any of the following:
A. Please continue to write your 10-minute play script, or your one-act play script, or your full length play script. When you are done with these first drafts, please proofread, print, and turn in. These projects are due Jan. 24.

B. Your Charles Busch's play critique should be complete. If it is not, get going on that and finish today. We started this at the end of November. Please print and turn in if you have not yet done so.

C. Please work on completing The Piano Lesson critique. You may watch any of the video clips of August Wilson's plays from the post below. There are samples of Wilson's staged plays and a film clip, along with interviews.

D. Please read Fences by August Wilson. Try to complete this play by Wednesday. There will be a quiz on it Wednesday, so please complete it, if you haven't done so already. You should know the basic plot points, characters, the protagonist's dark moment, the premise, and consider what fences symbolize in the play. There are clips from Wilson's stage play and interviews with Denzel Washington on the post below. Please take some time today and watch.
Lastly: Contests!

Gannon, Geva, Lelia Tupper, Rochester AIDS Coalition, Scholastic Writing Awards, and Sokol contests are in. In every case, you have work that COULD be submitted with excellent chances of winning. Instructions and details about each contest are on the front bookcase. You may work on entering these contests for extra credit. Feel free to get Ms. Gamzon or my opinion or help with submitted work. We'd be happy to help you. All you need to do is ask.

When you have submitted, please follow the contest guidelines specifically and carefully. You may leave your submissions in the folders on the front bookcase.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

The Piano Lesson & Fences

August Wilson's work as a playwright is well respected throughout the nation and the world. Please take some time to watch a few clips (some interviews, some stage plays or films) of his work. When watching, notice staging. How do different productions tackle Wilson's description and request concerning stage directions and characters?

Interview Documentary of Fences

Denzel Washington's opinion about Fences and more Denzel.

Denzel in Fences
And another scene.

Fences (another production)

Clips from Cygnet theater's The Piano Lesson

Final scene from The Piano Lesson movie (1995)

Some other August Wilson Plays:
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Jitney
Gem of the Ocean: montage

August Wilson interview (for those of you who missed it the first time)

The Murky Middle (Even More Advice)

Aristotle wrote that stories should have a beginning, middle, and end. Middles can be difficult. You might have a smashing opening to a stor...