Category: Coursework (Page 2 of 2)

In further research of The Tempest, I found many different interpretations of what the play is about and its’ meaning. Many writers argue The Tempest is an allegory for colonialism as pointed out in author Robert B. Pierce’s argument in ” Understanding The Tempest”. I thought this was a compelling argument and wanted to incorporate the issue of colonialism into the design from an anti-colonialist perspective. I did this by using painter, Théodore Géricault’s painting, Raft of the Medusa as a reference. Gericault was against slavery in the colonies and his painting is a protest piece against the practice.

I struggled to come up with ideas of what the set design would look like. I was stuck, and a little frustrated. I knew I wanted to include a ship’s sail as part of the set design. I hand-drew a rough sketch of a piece of fabric as a representation of a ship’s sail, but it didn’t read well without any context. I went to the New York Public Library to look at the images in the Picture Collection. I was looking for 16th Century ships, and they had an entire file dedicated to navigation and warships from that period. This helped me along in my process, as I was allowed to take pictures of the images with my phone.

It was a challenge deciding which scene to choose from The Tempest. I thought about Caliban’s cave as a set design option numerous times. My first choice was to design the room/set for the storm scene, but I couldn’t figure out how I would design the ocean. I started thinking about possible materials I could use. I thought about using a blue tarp as an option for the sea. I liked the sound it made when blowing in the wind, the tarp is loud and sounds like thunder. So I purchased some tarp and played around with it, trying to create a wavelike effect.

As part of our technical direction class, we were introduced to a new computer software program called Fusion 360. The program allows you to draw objects in three-dimensional form. It’s a challenging tool to figure out, it forces you to think outside the box. Although it’s another drawing tool, it functions differently from software tools like AutoCAD and Vectorworks. I’m still struggling to get the hang of it. We started off by drawing a cube. Our next assignment was to draw a more complex block drawing.

For assignment 2, our task was to arrange and plan our time management accordingly. Once again, we were split into groups, and my team member and I had to work and think as technical directors. We were responsible for ensuring that materials were ordered and delivered on time while managing crew schedules and availability. Additionally, we had to manage the schedule for the building of set components. We needed to draw plans for the build, research materials, and paint needed for a quick turnaround from one show to another. The task was overwhelming due to the scope of the assignment. I learned a lot about time management time, specifically, the importance of making a list.

Assignment 1 

This assignment required we give detailed instructions on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as requested by the designer. All classmates were split into teams. We needed to provide clear concise instructions on ingredient requirements, a budget, construction drawings, and utensils needed to complete the task. All of the mentioned requirements needed to fit into one box upon delivery. The assignment was a challenge that required intense attention to detail. Our job was to make sure that the reader would be able to carry out and understand the instructions. That was not the case for our team, our instructions lacked clarity in some parts, making it difficult for the reader to understand and complete the task to the best of their ability.

View our PB&J Instructions here: PB&J Instructions

Peanut Butter & Jelly Ingredients