syllabi grad lighting design

Graduate Lighting Design THEA548A, 648A, and 649A
Professor: David Jacques
Office Telephone: 985-4044
Office Hours: Mon/Wed 10:00-12:00
Class Times: Thursday 8:00-12:00
E-Mail: djacques@csulb.edu
Web Page: http://www.csulb.edu/~djacques/

NOTE: This course is taught for two separate sections of students: Those who spend the fall semester in St. Petersburg, Russia, and those who attend the classes on-campus in Long Beach. Although the objectives are the same, the requirements and evaluation criteria are different.

Course Objective and Outcomes:

Continued study in the art of lighting design. The sequence of graduate lighting design courses: THEA 548A, 548B, 648A, 648B, 649A and 649B are taken in and out of sequence depending on what year the incoming graduate student enters the program. In all cases, these courses are graduate seminar courses that focus on learning lighting design techniques for theatre, opera, dance, large scale event, and other live artistic presentations. These techniques are learned through class projects (first year) and open discussions of laboratory work performed by the students. As discussion in class directly relates to the laboratory experiences of the student, the laboratory experiences are an integral part of the course.

Advanced atmosphere creation, professional techniques, music and cueing, and specialized approaches are explored. Virtual lighting design projects are assigned incorporating WYSIWYG and ESP Vision software are also included. Professional assistantships are assigned to selected students.

Class Projects: TBA

Requirements:

ON-CAMPUS - The student will participate as a lighting designer and/or assistant lighting designer in laboratory sessions throughout the semester. These sessions include productions produced by the Department of Theatre Arts. It is also the responsibility of the student to attend significant parts of all fellow classmates’ laboratory lighting sessions so that the process may be discussed thoroughly in the classroom. In addition, the student must attend all special rehearsals and performances that may be assigned by the professor. This may include productions at off-campus sites.

The student is expected to construct an image and lighting impressions journal containing photographs, atmosphere descriptions, educational discoveries, and other visual images collected and composed by the student. This journal will be presented to the professor at the end of every month. The student will also attend all the plays produced by the department on opening weekend so they may be discussed in class.

The student is expected to attend all classes and special seminars. Any missed classes will reflect negatively on the student’s Class Participation grade.

The student will present a culmination of his/her work at the stage design showcase at the end of the semester.

Projects and production books turned in after the due date will not be accepted unless for compelling reasons.

ST. PETERSBURG - The student is expected to contribute as a theatre artist in Danila Korogodsky's theatre company. Explorations in light must be initiated by the student and reported to the professor via visual images (video and/or digital photographs) and essays. The student is expected to construct an image journal containing artistically compelling photographs and other visual images collected by the student. The journal must include explanations for each photograph expressing your emotional responses. This journal will be presented to the professor at the end of the semester. Through this exploration the student will experience light as an artistic statement and expression.

Projects turned in after the due date will not be accepted unless for compelling reasons.
Exam and project dates are subject to change.

Evaluations:

ON-CAMPUS - The student will be evaluated on two practical lighting laboratory assignments (designer and/or assistant designer) for the Department of Theatre Arts. The evaluations will be based on the student’s successful experience (judged by the professor) in these laboratory projects. Production books for these projects are due one week after the show opens. These practical lighting laboratory assignments each count for 25% of the final grade. The image journal counts for 10% of the final grade. The final lighting showcase portfolio will count for 10% of the final grade. The remainder 30% will be evaluated on class participation.

ST. PETERSBURG - The student will be evaluated on three projects that will count for a total of 75% of the final grade. The remainder 25% will be evaluated on the lighting journal (Due on December 19, 2008).

The St. Petersburg projects and due dates are:

Project 1 - Hermitage Project - Due October 1, 2008 - Create three lighting studies consisting of any (3) three-dimentional objects at the Hermitage Museum. Take photographs of these objects at different times of the day with natural light from the windows. Write an essay (at least 1200 words) of how the lighting reveals the art and its meaning to you. Explain how the different qualities of light affect your emotional response to the art.

Project 2 - Architectural Lighting Project - Due November 1, 2008 - Create an architectural study of a building in St. Petersburg. Supported by photographs of the building under different lighting atmospheres, write a 1200 word paper explaining how the light reveals the structiure and how it creates alternate emotional responses. Include a history of the building and its architect.

Project 3 - Mariinski Opera or Ballet Project - Due December 1, 2008 - Attend one performance of an opera or ballet at the Kirov and write a 1200 word paper addressing the following: 1. How did the lighting support the message of the work? 2. How did the qualities of light support the functions of light? 3. In regard to the style of production, how did the lighting support the style? 4. Research the history of the work and this production. Explain how it is still relevant to your world.

All projects must be emailed to Professor Jacques by the due dates. Include jpg images (where appropriate). Projects turned in after the due date will not be accepted unless for compelling reasons.

Materials:
Technical Reference Book
Fixture Data sheets
Drafting Supplies
Drawing Supplies
Lighting Symbol Templates
35 MM or Digital Camera
Production Book Materials
WYSIWYG, Vectorworks, and Vision software

Texts:
A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, Shelley
Light Fantastic, Keller
The Power of Myth, Campbell
Operas, music and plays, TBA
Various Essays and Articles, Jacques (located on website: www.csulb.edu/~djacques/)
Website: www.csulb.edu/~djacques/

All of professor Jacques’ essay assignments along with the complete PowerPoint lecture presentation are located on the website. Make sure you have a speedy connection to view the PowerPoint presentation.

Class Structure
As this is a graduate seminar class, the classes consists of candid discussions of the progress of the students’ laboratory work. In addition to these discussions, lectures on professional lighting techniques will be offered by the professor. Finally, class projects may be assigned to facilitate learning of these techniques.