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A Manifesto
Manifesto: a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives…
Write a manifesto describing what the theatre as an institution must do in order to regain/retain its position as the most socially/politically/personally influential dramatic medium. What must theatre do in order to become/remain a socially/politically/personally relevant form of expression? Consider what it currently does successfully as well as what it must begin/stop doing.
Your task is to prescribe one specific course of action for theatre practitioners to take. What, specifically, is THE most important thing they must DO? The more specific the better.
Guidelines and Grading:
Manifesto must be between 300-400 words in length. This is an important part of the assignment so please adhere to it. Write it and then EDIT it. This is an exercise in business style writing, which must be concise but chock full of important information.
Manifesto must contain at least ten (10) esoteric vocabulary words from class. (Esoteric: understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge. Hint: if you knew the word before you took this course, don’t use it.) These vocabulary words should express your THEORETICAL understanding of course content. Do not use simple vocabulary words that have simple meanings as they will earn a five point deduction each. These vocabulary words should express concepts and complex ideas about what the theatre is.
Type the ten vocabulary words in BOLD type and in CAPS. Do NOT use the word VERISIMILITUDE!
The purpose of the manifesto is to express your knowledge and personal opinions about what is possible for the future of the theatre as informed by course content.
As always, the assignment will earn one of the four grades below based on the following criteria. Five points may be added to the grade when assignment falls somewhere between the criteria. All written work will receive deductions for spelling and grammar mistakes.
100 – Exceptional work. Assignment adheres to all of the guidelines, shows a uniquely inspired application of course material, and transcends what was presented in class or readings.
90 – Very good work. Assignment adheres to all of the guidelines, shows a clear understanding of course material, and offers a unique insight on the assignment.
80 – Confident work. Assignment adheres to all of the guidelines and uses course material correctly.
70 – Below average. Assignment does not adhere to guidelines and exhibits a limited understanding of course material.
The use of the word VERISIMILITUDE will result in an automatic twenty (20) point deduction.
Paste the Manifesto into the text box or attach it in a Word or PDF file. Do NOT send a link to a document.
Definitions in this document are from www.dictionary.reference.com.
Here is an example of one from a prior term. It earned a grade of 90. Vocab could have been utilized more effectively and there could have been a more direct expression of what the author was calling for. I used to require more vocabulary words.
Theater as a medium has always been the most intimate and personal of all art forms. As a performer or participant in a production, you put your heart and soul into making it a success. And in the audience, even on a PROSCENIUM STAGE where the PROSCENIUM ARCH between the actors and the house creates an intentional FOURTH WALL to divide the two, it’s still more interactive and responsive than any other medium has ever come close to.
Ironically, theater as a visual medium tends to feel less staged than movies and television; what you see is what you get. Fancy camera angles and subtle expressions and motions don’t translate well, so it all has to be bigger and more expressive and feels more honest as a result. It’s an art dependent on the coordination of the crew; the COSTUME PLOT, RHYTHM, DESIGN ELEMENTS and overall ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION have to be in sync and compliment each other consistently in a way that other mediums don’t have to mimic. On a personal level, the audience can feel the BEATS as they come and react to them as more fluid whole onstage.
In addition, theater is one of the most politically impactful mediums. It’s closest relation is in famous politcal novels; but plays give a VISUAL connection to the audience that lends more power to the message you’re trying to give – reading about a death is one thing, watching it another. EPIC THEATER is a popular and effective mode for political messages, and RAPID RESPONSETHEATER is one method that’s becoming increasingly useful in today’s society. Unlike music, television or books, theater has the luxury of being able to be devised relatively quickly if the DRAMATURG happens to be particularly talented. The ability to create a scathing satire within a week of an event and performing it while it’s still on many people’s lips is a powerful ability.
However, theater’s biggest drawback is how exclusionary and elitist it tends to be – especially Broadway. Shows that would resonate with a larger audience get limited to who has the time and money to come see it in the short timeframe it’s shown. And while some finer bits of COMPOSITION or SELECTIVE VISIBILITY or COSTUME RENDERINGmight be lost when turning a play into a professional recording, it’s better to have to sacrifice than to never have seen the play at all.
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