2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PECI5501M Performance Design Praxis

30 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Dr Scott Palmer
Email: s.d.palmer@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module asks students to work experimentally and creatively with a range of scenographic materials to refine their own creative practice as scenographers and makers of performance. Alongside tutor-led creative workshops and self-directed work, students will explore their evolving practice and evaluate it in relation to contemporary issues and debates in the practice of performance design, Students document their work throughout the year and present their work through through a reflexive portfolio.

Objectives

This is a studio-based module that is designed to allow students to develop their own creative practice as scenographers and performance makers. It introduces ways of working and experimentation with materials (e.g. costume, light, objects, sound) through practice-led research and investigation. Students will refine their practice through working collaboratively and undertaking critical self-reflection within the wider context of contemporary performance design practice. Students will reflect on disciplinary challenges and their future individual opportunities as practitioners/scholars in performance design.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the importance of practice-based research as a means of developing own practice
2. Create and analyse design-led performance scenarios through experimentation with materials
3. Develop ways of documentation and reflection to demonstrate a synthesis between theory and practice
4. Reflect critically on their own professional development as performance makers.

Syllabus

Staff-led practical workshops will focus on specific themes in negotiation with and in response to student needs. Sessions will cover specific scenographic materials and techniques (e.g. lighting and projection, object theatre, site-specific performance, mask and costume, audience agency, practice-led research approaches, documentation of practice).

Indicative content for workshops and seminars on trends in contemporary performance design practice:

• Postdramatic (e.g. Wooster Group, SRS, Robert Wilson, Katie Mitchell, Kris Verdonck, Sasha Waltz, Lola Arias, chelfitsch, Hooman Sharifi, Teater Garasi, Robert Lepage, Fix & Foxy)
• ‘Immersive’ (e.g. Punchdrunk, dreamthinkspeak, Shunt, Back to Back, De La Guarda, Signa,)
• Socially- engaged (e.g. street protest/Occupy, Kathleen Irwin, Hamid Pourazari, Krzysztof Wodiczko, Guillermo Gomez-Peña/La Pocha Nostra, Rabih Moure, Astrid Hadad, Lotte van den Berg)
• Installation/performance (e.g. Olafur Eliasson, Miroslaw Balka, James Turrell, Marina Abramovic, Bill Viola, Verdensteatret, Makropol)
• Environmental/site-specific ( e.g. NVA, Mike Pearson, Blast Theory, Reza Abdoh, Louise Ann Wilson, Dries Verhoeven)

Students will develop original design-led performative interventions in response to a negotiated brief utilising PCI resources. Following a showing of this practice they will then develop a portfolio (documentation and visualisations accompanied by written statements) This will evidence the development of design concepts, analyse ways in which the work might be expanded/modified to address particular contexts for performance design and indicate future individual directions as a practitioner.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Preparation Class	5	6.00	30.00
Group learning	8	3.00	24.00
Group learning	8	6.00	48.00
Practical	8	3.00	24.00
Seminar	2	2.00	4.00
Tutorial	1	0.50	0.50
Private study hours			169.50
Total Contact hours			130.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Preparatory work required for tutor-led workshops (e.g. Reading and viewing, responding to briefs)
= 32 hrs
Preparatory work for SDL sessions, Research and development for own creative practice = 66.5 hrs
Documentation of work and development of portfolio = 71 hrs

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

This will form an important aspect of every tutor-led workshop and in feedback on developing performance work.
In 1:1 tutorial and seminars
• Tutorial (in week 17) will be an opportunity for formative feedback on their own creative work and plans for the portfolio.
• Seminar (after performance/presentation e.g. week 22) will be an opportunity to discuss feedback (from self, peers and where applicable form audiences) on the public performance work and to give formative feedback towards their plans for development.
• Group seminar on draft portfolios (e.g. week 23) 3 -4 weeks before submission.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Portfolio	Reflexive portfolio of creative work	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Further detailed guidance is provided to students in relation to the format and processes of compiling the portfolio (see Minerva) including how it is designed and what work is selected as a focus. Some possible examples of themes might typically be: • Processes of generating scenographic ideas and images, e.g. the importance of play and experimentation • The relationship of design drawings and ideas to hands-on, practical exploration • How scenographic images communicate ideas/themes – what is the role of the designer in relation to what audiences might take from the performance event? • Materiality – how objects perform • Composition – combinations of materials, ideas of pace and timing, pattern, scale, colour, texture • Multisensory dimension of performance design • Intermedial practices – digital/on-line, screen and hybrid performance design practices • Designing atmosphere • Role of audiences in image-making, as co-creators

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/06/2021 13:18:26

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD