Returned PPP

On Monday January 7th, Mrs. Burke returned our PPP with feedback. I was fairly pleased with my grade. She felt I would have received somewhere between 16-20 on the IB rubric which is out of 25. Of course, I would have preferred to be in the highest category because I put a lot of effort into the project, but I thought for my first time, it was a fairly reasonable outcome. She provided us with a new rubric that I think will really help for my next PPP. The things I needed to work on to improve my paper were including issues or themes of the performance, targeting a a specific audience, and clearly addressing the feasibility of the project. Also, I needed a more extensive compilation of supporting materials such as brainstorms and mind maps, inspirations, mood collage, diagrams of performance, rough sketches of staging, floor plans, scale drawings, lighting diagrams, and storyboards of blocking and space relationship developments. Prior to receiving this rubric, I did not understand how extensive my ideas needed to be. I understand now that the reader of this project cannot see in my mind, so I have to illustrate all of my thoughts to them. I think it will definitely be a struggle to include all of these aspects because sometimes I just want to run away with my ideas, while the logistics can cause problems. However, I also know that the realistic aspects of this project is important; it needs to actually be possible to be performed, so I will keep that in mind. I am actually pretty excited to take another stab at a PPP, and our next one is due February 1st!

PPP Reasoning

Along with the pitch for the PPP, I had to include a 1000-1250 word justification about why I made the choices I did. Here it is:

I found the Hagia Sophia to be an incredibly inspiring stimuli, for its stunning beauty and rich history fascinated me. Through fantastic information gathered about the Hagia Sophia, I was inspired to stage a play of my own creation in the main dome of the building. My main idea came from the story about the invasion of the Muslims that caused the conversion from a Eastern Orthodox Church to a mosque (Istanbul). This sparked the idea of a play about a young girl facing this invasion. I actually found inspiration for that idea from the play "The Trojan Women" because a war can provide a great back-story for a play. "The Trojan Women" focuses on the effect of war on women, so this play taking place in the Hagia Sophia would reflect that idea as well. The women in "The Trojan Women" wearily awaited their fate after the invasion of the Greeks. It wreaked havoc on their lives, so the girl in play would fear that the invasion would change her entire life. Yet, they also were defiant of their fate, just as the girl in my play would be. In fact, upon greeting the Sultan, she says: "So, you come to take our place of worship? Hah! You hypocrite, talking of tolerance. Your 'tolerance' disgusts me." Her sharp wit would amuse the soldiers, as well as endear the audience. If successfully portrayed, her actions and thoughts would be helpful in the audience's understanding of the girl's fear, yet defiance of change from the advancing Muslim army.

            The audience would sit in the sultan's lodge, for it is above the dome floor, making it easier for them to watch the production. Each production would have 50 audience members in attendance, for the lodge would not be able to fit much more than that. Also, the sultan used to sit here so that he could avoid being seen while still participating in rituals (Hagia). This would help the audience realize what it would have really been like to be in the Hagia Sophia in the past, as well as the interaction between the sultan and his people. This detached feeling could apply to the audience as well, for they would be able to view the play from above without being seen by the actors. Therefore, the play would feel very much like a real life situation, while the audience is just watching from afar. The play would attempt to not seem too rehearsed, so that the audience could relate to the situation better.

            The Hagia Sophia is most famously known for its exquisite architecture, and that would be a major incentive for people to come see a play being performed there. This is why I would want the lights to be off when the audience first enters the sultan's lodge. I want them to experience the full extent of the beautiful architecture, and this awe will be emphasized if they get to see it all unveiled in one breathtaking moment. Then, they would have time to admire the architecture while they listen to the girl sing "Into the West." This will give the audience a chance to take-in the beauty, as well as the set, before the must pay more attention upon the action of the play.

            I chose the song "Into the West" by Annie Lennox because it is a powerful and beautiful piece. It is from the movie Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, which is a fantastic movie that especially highlights the aspects of a war. This song also depicts war, making it a fitting song for the beginning of a play about the approach of a war. Lennox portrays this idea: "Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face?" (1xxxNoNamexxx1). It is through this line that the audience would see the main character's fear of the impending invasion. While she sings, the girl  walks around the floor, looking pensive, as if reminiscing about her life. She also peers out the windows in the back that can be seen in Figure 4. She is acknowledging the approach of the army, which she knows will inevitably change her life forever: "Hope fades into the world of night" (1xxxNoNamexxx1). This last line exemplifies the girl's feelings about the war, setting the stage for the rest of the play. "Into the West" is a perfect song for recognizing the harsh realities of war, and it will certainly induce a few tears in the audience through its powerful message and beautiful sound.

            The main character would begin the play wearing a traditional dress that she would wear around her home normally (Figure 1). This beautiful dress would have been a typical day dress during the fifteenth century. However, when the Muslim army arrives she would change into a more elegant dress (Figure 2). She would do this in hopes of showing her respect for the army, so that they would not be harsh in what they would decide to do with her stunning home. Also, she would want to impress them with her civility, for this can often sway conquerors in favor of the people being conquered.

            As for setting a play at the Hagia Sophia, I find that this is the most important result of what the stimuli inspired. Obviously, the Hagia Sophia is a stunning work of architecture and offers significant importance. It is a popular tourist destination, and is one of the most famous places in Turkey (Hagia). Because of the draw of the museum, it would certainly fascinate people at the thought of a play being performed in this museum that is known for its great beauty. Therefore, people would be interested in coming to see it, especially since it would take place in the central part of the building.

            Also, the plot of the play would entice viewers, for it incorporates the importance of the history of the Hagia Sophia. Just imagine a play about the gorgeous structure set in the place that it is about. That would just be a great opportunity. The history of the Hagia Sophia greatly contributes to the allure of the site today. Therefore, people would be fascinated to come see a play that details that ever important history. The conversion of the Hagia Sophia from an Eastern Orthodox Church into a Muslim mosque is perhaps the most significant event in its history, hence the need for a play about this time. The play would add a more personal aspect to the event, educating the audience while still encouraging them to enjoy the storyline of the performance.

            As one can see, the Hagia Sophia is not only a stunning piece of architecture that is admired by many, but it is also the site of a significant historical event that shaped a cultural and tourist attraction. Therefore, the Hagia Sophia, with its beautifully designed dome are and rich history,  would be a perfect setting for the play I plan to produce.

Word Count 1,163

Works Cited

1xxxNoNamexxx1. "Into the West with Lyrics." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Jan. 2008. Web. 03 Nov. 2012.             <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClJqONYYK4o>.

"A Brief History of Hagia Sophia." Hagia Sophia. Hagia-Sophia.net, 2008. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.      <http://www.hagia-sophia.net/history.htm>.

"Hagia Sophia." Hagia Sophia. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2012. <http://www.hagiasophia.com/>.

"Hagia Sophia, Istanbul  ." Hagia Sophia. Sacred Destinations, 19 Sept. 2009. Web. 03 Nov. 2012.             <http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia>.

"The History of the Hagia Sophia." Hagia Sophia. ArchNet, n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2012.             <http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=2966>.

PPP Pitch

I thought before I reflect on my returned PPP that I should post my original work. Here was my pitch:

Imagine travelling to the beautiful Hagia Sophia to view a fascinating play about the clash of cultures that created the stunning museum of today. This endearing play features a young girl of sixteen who is living in the Hagia Sophia. She faces the impending invasion of the Ottoman Turks. She must display her bravery and determination as she awaits the soldiers arrival. When the soldiers arrive to take away her home, she tries to protect what is dear to her. Her fiery attitude toward the soldiers captivates viewers, leaving them excited to learn more about the Hagia Sophia. The spectators of this fabulous play would sit in the former sultan's lodge to view the performance that would take place in the dome of the Hagia Sophia. The lights would be off when they enter, so that the beginning of the play unveils the splendor of the architecture. The play commences with the young girl walking around the dome floor alone, singing the song "Into the West" by Annie Lennox (1xxxNoNamexxx1). She would also sing this song at the end of the play, for it resonates with the audience, creating a bittersweet atmosphere of war. The set will be of the magnificent main hall, for it is where she meets the soldiers. She enters in her day dress (Figure 1) and changes to a more elegant dress (Figure 2) when the soldiers arrive. All attendees will find this play fascinating and entertaining, sparking their interest in the Hagia Sophia.

"Blood Wedding" Reflection

Just before Christmas break, we finished reading Blood Wedding, by Federico Garcia Lorca. I thought it was a pretty good play. It was about a bride and bridegroom who got married, but the bride was in love with another man named Leonardo, who was also already married. During the festivities following the wedding, the bride and Leonardo run off to the woods together. The bridegroom is livid, and joins a search part to find them. In the ensuing chaos, the bridegroom and Leonardo find each other and both are killed. Throughout the play, there was quite a bit of foreshadowing to their deaths, which I appreciated a lot more once I learned the outcome of the play. Also, it was interesting to notice that Blood Wedding represented a lot of themes similar to those found in Shakespeare, especially the tragedy of ill-fated lovers. Although I'm not a big fan of tragedies, I actually liked Blood Wedding better than most. I'm not really sure why because I thought Leonardo was selfish: he left his wife for another woman right after their child had died. And she was pregnant again! I never can condone cheating, so I certainly was not fan of Leonardo. Also, the bride seemed very petty and childish; she would lead the bridegroom on and then just as quickly push him away. She acted as if Leonardo stole her away and she had no power over it, but she certainly did. Even the bridegroom seemed to be a weak character, for he couldn't even see the true nature of his bride. However, I felt a little more pity for him because he had to deal with his crazy mother who couldn't see that he was still alive. She was so obsessed with the death of her husband and other son that she could not see the value of the Bridegroom until he too was dead. Though these characters seem the opposite of endearing, I actually enjoyed the play. Perhaps it was the fact that it was something new to me since I usually only read upbeat stories with a happy ending. But I thought Lorca did an excellent job pulling all of the characters together and weaving a plot that entertained the viewers and left room for one's own interpretation.

Oracle in The Lying Game

Earlier this year we read the story of Oedipus which is about a boy is born to a royal couple. They hear a prophecy that their son will murder his father and marry his mother, so they send him away to be killed. Yet, he survives and eventually goes back and unknowingly fulfills the prophecy. In class, we discussed the different ways we could represent the Oracle. One of our options was to have one person in the middle, with other people acting as the other parts, acting out the prophecy. This was an interesting experience because it taught us to think about a character conveying their thoughts without actually speaking them in a way that the audience would understand. Well, today I was rewatching the first episode of The Lying Game and the main character, Sutton, went to see her friends after being away for a large portion of the summer. Her friend, Char, said "Oh we're so glad to have our Oracle back" Right away it made me think of the Oracle in the story of Oedipus. She is a prohpetic character because she is adopted, trying to find her true birth parents, even though fate is against her.

Flamenco Dancing

Before reading "Blood Wedding," the class compiled fact sheets about the background of it. I chose Flamenco Dancing. Here is what I found:

• also known as bailaores or bailaroras
• stand motionless, then begin loud clapping with hands, then passionate dance
• dance involves fierce stomping and graceful hand movements
• need patience--difficult skill to master
• similar to Indian dances--believed that is the origin
• Flamenco dancing comes from Spanish gypsies who were concentrated in ghettos, preserving the dance
• in 1782, they were finally integrated into society, allowing for the spread of their dance
• Canter-the song, Baile-the dance, Guitarra-guitar playing
• "La Feria"-an important street festival in Spain where they dance the Flamenco
• 1869-1910 was the golden age of flamenco dancing, where flamenco music and dance began to be performed publicly
• Some flamenco dancing encourages improvisation, which creates a unique quality for the performance of each dancer
• modern flamenco dancing is sometimes criticized because it traditionally was not performed to large audiences
• women wear black, red, white, or blue dresses with ruffles and high heels
• men wear black or red tuxedo shirts with stretchy pants
• modern flamenco costumes incorporate more varied colors

Check out this flamenco dance video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuJbZ8B46oQ

Sources:

http://dance.about.com/od/typesofdance/p/Flamenco.htm

http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/flamenco_history.htm

http://www.aifp.org/spanish/spain-malaga/flamenco-dancing.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Interesting-Facts-About-Flamenco-Dancing&id=1347710

"Real Gone" Set

On December 5, 2012 our class went down to visit the set of "Real Gone" the play that our school will be putting on January 17, 18 and 19. My teacher, Mrs. Burke, is the adviser for the play, and I am really excited because she said we could help paint sets when the play gets closer!! The set was a standard already made one, and they just had to design it the way they want. There will be a kitchen, pantry, stairs to the upstairs, and the front door. The set is made of reusable flats, which have legs and masking to hold it together. Then, there are braces to support it, as well as weights and sandbags to make sure it doesn't fall over. The student-directors of the play decided to have the audience sit on the stage. They will create a three quarter thrust theatre. They wanted to do this because the audience is closer to the actors so that they will feel more of a part of the play. However, it will provide blocking challenges because all of the audience will want to see the actors. Also, the actors behind the set must be extremely quiet since the audience will be right there. They will not be able to have costume changes behind the set. Seeing this set made me realize how much work goes into a theatrical production. Most people think of a play as actors memorizing their lines and acting. Maybe they'll recognize the director and a little bit of the set, but it is really so much. Especially in a student-run production, they will face a lot of problems. I highly doubt they will have a production that is flawless, but that is live theatre: it is never flawless. I can't imagine how much work the students will have to put in. I also think it is awesome that they are going with a creative way to position the audience. I've never been to a play where the audience sits on the stage with the actors, so I am really excited to go see it!! It's amazing to see how these things come together. They often make it look flawless, but I know it takes a lot of hard work to do it. I'm excited to help paint the set, so it will give me a taste for the kind of work that happens in theatre in the real life.