Course detail

Scenography

FA-SCE-KAcad. year: 2021/2022

In the 20th century, scenography was a frequent subject of interest and an extended field of interest of significant artists and architects. When scenography became an individual discipline at the academies of theatre and The Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague in the second half of the 20th century, the disciplines of visual arts and architecture became distant from scenography and interdisciplinary overlaps were more and more rare. Scenography is a bridge between visual and spatial disciplines of fine art and literature and music. It is highly necessary and beneficial to society so that these links were re-established.
In the study programme “Architecture and Urban Design” the course is part of the technical courses.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

MgA. Svatopluk Sládeček

Department

Department of experimental design (UET)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

– Students are familiarized with the history of scenography and the latest development of scenography (theatre, film, audiovisual).
– Students will understand the specifics of the discipline, the methods of working with text and sound, and will develop their imagination and fantasy.
– Students are introduced to scenic and exposition technologies.
– Students are introduced to the process of designing a scene for a theatre play.
– Students know how to create a story-board for a short audiovisual work.

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course consists of seminars and excursions. Indispensable part of the course is the student´s designs.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Based on the assigned semestral work. Students will get the requirements in the first seminar.

Course curriculum

Semester block schedule:
I. Fundamental theoretical knowledge. History of scenography and current development. Comparing architectural and fine art works with the work of scenographic artists who have worked in both disciplines. Technical, material and construction possibilities, safety. This block includes excursions to selected theatres.
II. Designing part:
– Analysis of drama text and its transposition into a spatial expression
– Production of a story-board of a short audiovisual work
– Production of scene design for a theatre play in a model and graphical expression

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

To introduce the history of scenography and the latest development in theatre, film and audiovision. To understand the specifics of the discipline, ways of working with text and sound, to develop creativity and fantasy that have other possibilities in the performing arts than in architecture. To gain insight into scenographic and exposition technologies.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Compulsory attendance at the seminars, absence could be excused for serious reasons and compensated upon the agreement with the teacher.
In the case of a student's apology and with approval of the subject guarantor, personal attendance may be substituted with online attendance in the classes.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BROCKETT, Oscar Gross; MITCHELL, Margaret; HARDBERGER, Linda. Making the Scene: A History of Stage Design and Technology in Europe and the United States. State College: Pennsylvania State University, 2010. ISBN 978-0292722736. (EN)
COLLINS, Jane; NISBET Andrew (Ed.) Theatre and Performance Design: A Reader in Scenography. London: Roultledge, 2012. ISBN 1136344527. (EN)
HOWARD, Pamela. What is Scenography? London: Roultledge, 2009. ISBN 1134027680. (EN)
CHOI KWAN LAM, Margaret. Scenography as New Ideology. In: Contemporary Curating: The Notion of Staging in Exhibitions. Hamburg: Anchor Academic Publishing, 2014. ISBN 3954892170 (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme N_A+U Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme ARCHURB Bachelor's

    branch ARCH , 4 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme N_A+U Master's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Seminar

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. arch. Petra Žalmanová, Ph.D.