tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60647052011-04-21T13:45:07.630-07:00Performance and PlayWe're investigating the connections between contemporary theater and games. <a href="http://www.avantgame.com">Play me.</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comBlogger571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1084250838374307662004-05-10T21:46:00.000-07:002004-05-10T21:47:18.373-07:00Congratulations!
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with you all this semester. Good luck on your final drafts, and please... keep playing and performing!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1083642152396282362004-05-03T20:42:00.000-07:002004-05-03T20:46:36.123-07:00Sky Ear
An interesting performance event scheduled for Tuesday night May 5 7 PM London-time, which I believe is 11 AM our time; you're all invited to log on and join in! Here's a description of the high-tech, collective performance:
"Sky Ear will be a one-night event in which a glowing 'cloud' of mobile phones and helium balloons is released into the air so that people can dial into the cloud Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1083629901678057842004-05-03T17:18:00.000-07:002004-05-03T17:22:26.856-07:00Final Creative Intervention Document
For Friday, please bring a final creative intervention document. Your document should include 3 pages of double-spaced text broken up into 3 labeled parts:
1. The Pitch
2. Description and Specifications
3. Analysis
--The pitch is a revised and polished version of your blog pitch. (Of course, if you're working on a completely new idea, it will be a new and Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1083624749336593722004-05-03T15:52:00.000-07:002004-05-03T15:56:36.546-07:00If my project were a theatrical play...
Please post a brief pitch designed to attract an audience for your theatrical intervention! Be sure to add a few explanatory sentences to explain the design connections to the central argument of your research project.
And please remember to give each other feedback before Wednesday 4PM!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1083543928238736042004-05-02T17:25:00.000-07:002004-05-03T12:36:57.013-07:00Live action Pac Man comes to Berkeley?
Performance meets gaming meets public spectacle... a group of NYU students working under the direction of Frank Lantz (The Big Urban Game and Ironclad, remember them?) have created a set of rules of playing/performing a live action Pac Man game in any city space. They've tested it in Manhattan and are looking for other cities to try it out... so, of course,Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1083370651055916552004-04-30T17:17:00.000-07:002004-04-30T17:21:50.093-07:00Creative Intervention Workshop
DAY TWO: "If my project were a performance..."
Please post a brief pitch for your creative intervention performance here by Monday 4 PM! Your pitch should be addressed either as a recruitment, invitation or audition notice for POTENTIAL PERFORMERS, or an announcement, invitation, or advertisement designed to attract AUDIENCE MEMBERS. Or, if you think it helps get Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1083192839991431132004-04-28T15:53:00.000-07:002004-04-28T15:58:15.653-07:00Creative Intervention Workshop
DAY ONE: "If my project were a game..."
Please post a brief pitch for your creative intervention game here by Friday 4 PM! Your pitch should have two basic parts:
1) Write a lively description of your game as if you are trying to attract players to the game. Tell them what they can expect in terms of where, when, how and why to play the game.
2) Explain (to our Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1083033992298363942004-04-26T19:46:00.000-07:002004-04-26T19:50:45.700-07:00Exquisite Corpse Game Design
Please share the final version of your exquisite corpse game!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1082427334018453302004-04-19T19:15:00.000-07:002004-04-19T19:19:38.013-07:00Chance art: Reversing Vandalism
This local project is an amazing example of collaborative, chance art.
"For nearly a year, a vandal mutilated more than 600 books on gay and lesbian themes at the San Francisco Public Library. Without explanation, he carved up covers and pages and left small typewritten slips of paper advertising a Bible radio station tucked inside the damaged works. Ironically, Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1082422185941189802004-04-19T17:49:00.000-07:002004-04-19T17:57:02.170-07:00House & Garden, Life Game, Eat the Runt
We dissected La Noche de Santa Ines today to see how well it fits the terms interactive, chance art, happening and game.
Please pick one of the other 3 productions we're discussing this week (House and Garden; Life Game; Eat the Runt) and assess it according to the four criteria. Which terms fit that particular production best, and why, and for whom (Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1082182575205962082004-04-16T23:16:00.000-07:002004-04-16T23:20:47.263-07:00Exquisite Corpse
First of all, you can view all of your fabulous exquisite corpses here! I love them all and am quite impressed with your collective unconsciouses!
BACKGROUND: Among Surrealist techniques exploiting the "mystique of accident" and unconscious expression was a kind of collective collage of words or images called the cadavre exquis (exquisite corpse). Based on an old parlor game, Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1081979497537113692004-04-14T14:51:00.000-07:002004-04-14T14:55:33.890-07:00Happening
How will did our happening reflect Allen Kaprow's "Guidelines for a Happening"? Pick two guidelines from the article to discuss in relation to our own experiment.
Also, please mention one or more of your favorite instructions you picked up. Why did you like it (them), and how did you interpret (it) them?
Feel free to make any additional comments about a Happening's game-ness, Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1081799462840358852004-04-12T12:51:00.000-07:002004-04-12T12:54:57.123-07:00Nervewracking performance
Okay, I'm a nervous wreck this week, and that's because I have my Ph.D. qualifying lecture and qualifying exam this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. For those of you unfamiliar with the Ph.D. process, to explain it simply: this is the Do or Die, Pass or Say Goodbye moment of graduate school that produces nervous breakdowns in all of your GSIs.
If you would like Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1081491879613378062004-04-08T23:24:00.000-07:002004-04-08T23:28:28.606-07:00Chance Art Workshop
chance: something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause.
art: the conscious use of skill, taste, and creative imagination in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced.
• Does using chance procedures take the “art” out a performance, or add art? Why?
• How do using chance procedures make art more game-like? Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1081202434598362632004-04-05T15:00:00.000-07:002004-04-06T20:58:44.436-07:00Ironclad and Caribbean Star
Now that we've read Frank Lantz's and James Ernest's game descriptions and design notes, some possible points for discussion:
1) How is reading game instructions like reading a script for dramatic literature?
2) How is game design artistic?
3) Pick a sentence from Lantz's or Ernests's design notes and UNPACK.
And, of course, if you have the materials, time and Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1081201449149481122004-04-05T14:44:00.000-07:002004-04-05T14:47:53.246-07:00OUTLINE ASSIGNMENT
There are many ways to approach a formal outline. The outline style you choose may have a considerable impact on what kind of argument you develop and how you develop it, so choosing an outline is no trivial matter!
For this assignment, I want you to choose your own method (I will provide some suggestions, but you are encouraged to dig around online for others that you mayJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1079416862451762842004-03-15T22:01:00.000-08:002004-03-15T22:04:18.780-08:00Fun with cell phones
Okay, now that we've conducted experiments from both sides on the "cell phone interruption" front, your thoughts? Any interesting elements of drama, play, performance, or interactivity in answering someone else's cell phone in class? Which ones, and how so?Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1079064851536904852004-03-11T20:14:00.000-08:002004-03-11T20:17:22.106-08:00Blabbermouth Night
This definitely qualifies as a performance opportunity and, hoorah, a game!... also, one of my favorite writers (Salon.com's Cary Tenis) is hosting or hanging out or something like that.
More info on the event, at which for five bucks you get 3 minutes to say anything you want in front of the mike. is here!
A brief description:
A blabbermouth night, in the beat tradition, is a Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1079049228414755542004-03-11T15:53:00.000-08:002004-03-11T15:56:58.200-08:00New David Mamet Movie
Opens Friday at Landmark Shattuck! Many reviews of Spartan at Rotten Tomato... more good than bad. Since we are reading even MORE Mamet for Monday (yes, you are all truly going to be Mamet experts by the end of the semester), why not make it a thematic weekend by seeing his new film?Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1079041983474350572004-03-11T13:53:00.000-08:002004-03-11T13:56:13.153-08:00Formatting papers
Just a reminder to you all: Many word processing programs are set to default 1.25 inch margins left and right; you need to manually change them to have 1 inch margins all around. Many of you apparently are not changing these margins (i.e., turning it 1.25 margins). For the assignments so far, it hasn't mattered too much, so no big deal... but on a 10 page paper, using the Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1078969848650956142004-03-10T17:50:00.000-08:002004-03-10T17:53:58.000-08:00P.S. InterACT...
If you are up to it:
What kinds of performance were involved in this game?
What dramatic structure did the interactivity tend to take?Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1078969688302964532004-03-10T17:48:00.000-08:002004-03-10T17:53:17.466-08:00InterACT!
Very impressive machinery and interaction today, guys. Good work.
Now, time for some critical thinking and reflection. Try your hand at a couple of these questions:
How did your machine reflect the 4 steps of interaction in theory? In practice, did it work?
(1. Observation 2. Exploration 3. Modification 4. Reciprocal Change)
Which of the 3 elements of good interactivity did you try toJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1078797939331446392004-03-08T18:05:00.000-08:002004-03-08T18:11:02.186-08:00Make-believe or make-belief?
You guys remember these 2 categories of play and performance proposed by Schechner, right? "Make-believe" keeps the fictional boundaries clear and the fact that it is "just play" obvious, while "make-belief" blurs the boundaires and encourages audiences and participants to "believe for real."
The "She's a Flight Risk" blog we looked at earlier in the semester was anJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1078724430118759072004-03-07T21:40:00.000-08:002004-03-07T21:43:35.090-08:00"Doomed! Doomed!" Taking the drama out of office work...
Check out this (funny) commercial and do your drama theory magic. (That is, share some thoughts on why this ad works, what they are saying, and how drama plays into the Fed Ex marketing strategy.)
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1078538032579427512004-03-05T17:53:00.000-08:002004-03-05T17:56:55.030-08:00Choose-your-own-(blogging)-adventure
Okay, it's finally here: the much overdue "name your own topic" blog post. Use this space to bring up ideas, observations, sites, events, articles, etc. related to: Play Performance Games Drama, including stuff we're reading or looking at for class AND anything you happen to stumble upon yourself. But please do us a favor: if the connection to the class Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1078367880136696912004-03-03T18:38:00.000-08:002004-03-03T18:40:59.466-08:00Tom Stoppard's _Hapgood_
To continue our conversations from class...
What elements make _Hapgood_ challenging or difficult?
What elements make _Hapgood_ playful or fun to read?
What elements make _Hapgood_ thought-provoking?
What clues does Stoppard leave for us to understand the narrative, the philosophy, or other themes of the work?
Also, after you have read the interviews, do you find the Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1078167983245784452004-03-01T11:06:00.000-08:002004-03-01T11:09:19.670-08:00Peer Review Workshop
What was the most valuable feedback you received in the peer review workshop, and how do you plan to use it?Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1077931448860539052004-02-27T17:24:00.000-08:002004-02-27T17:27:01.263-08:00Academy Awards
Drama! Performances! Gaming! Spectacle! Competition! The Academy Awards have it all. What's your favorite part of the drama of this year's show, or Academy Awards in general, or award shows in general? Or what fails to excite you about the drama of award shows? How would you compare the Academy Awards to the Superbowl? Who gives the best performance at this year's show? How or Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1077747120680673272004-02-25T14:35:00.000-08:002004-02-25T14:39:34.216-08:00Mafia as Performance
Okay, mafia members. angels, and villagers-- time to report on the spectacular highlights and disastrous low points of your performances in our game. Please answer the following questions in the comments.
1) What was your officially assigned role?
2) Did you perform any roles in addition to that role? (e.g., you were Mafia and pretended to be a villager, or you were a Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1077748450773794722004-02-25T14:34:00.000-08:002004-02-25T14:40:56.263-08:00Araynfest described as "Rennaissance Fair Gone Over to the Dark Side"...
A New Times article (no registration required) describes a disturbing, but fascinating, event called Aryanfest 2004. From the article:
"The atmosphere inside Aryanfest was that of a Renaissance Fair gone over to the dark side, with "Heils" in place of "Huzzahs." Costumed attendees wore Iron Cross medallions and black Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1077747831582726552004-02-25T14:23:00.000-08:002004-02-25T14:27:49.420-08:00Shakespeare on Ice
In a Slate article, (no registration required), a theater critic reports on a production of Macbeth in the indigenous Scandinavian language of the Sami, and staged at an ice hotel in Sweden. The critic describes:
"The blue light shifted to white as the witches appeared in stiff skirts of felt woven to resemble frost rime or spider webs. Terrifying. It didn't matter that the Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1077159962375539262004-02-18T19:06:00.000-08:002004-02-18T19:08:54.216-08:00First formal writing assignment... questions? Problems? Rants?
Hey everyone-- just wanted to open up a space for questions, problems, or rants related to the upcoming first formal writing assignment due next Wednesday. Good luck-- I'm really looking forward to reading them.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1077064565491616992004-02-17T16:36:00.000-08:002004-02-18T19:17:52.513-08:00A different kind of performance
New sports/music reality tv show: Sports Idol. Sounds crazy. Read the full details in this call for contestants... definitely a different kind of performance going on in this show than its reality brethren.
ALSO: How do you "squeeze the last drop of performance" out of exhausted, starving soldiers in the theater of war? Wired covers performance-improving Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1076812552411338272004-02-14T18:35:00.000-08:002004-02-14T18:38:26.903-08:00If I were doing a research project on The Cryptogram...
I would center it around the epigraph to the play's printed edition: "Last night when you were all in bed/Mrs. O'Leary left a lantern in her shed" ... who is Mrs. O'Leary, why does the play text begin with this ominous (if you know the origins) couplet, and what might it reveal about Mamet as a playwright, or The Cryptogram itself? Think ofJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1076808669402673012004-02-14T17:31:00.000-08:002004-02-14T17:33:43.890-08:00The New Golden Age of Acting?
Film critic A.O. Scott (one of my favorites) makes a bold claim: Sean Penn's role in Mystic River and Charlize Theron's in Monster are "the most dramatic evidence" (interesting use of the term 'dramatic') of a new golden age of performance on screen. Check out the article-- interesting arguments about changes in what has been valued in acting on screen over the Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1076610895453807632004-02-12T10:34:00.000-08:002004-02-12T10:37:50.826-08:00Barbie and Ken split
Okay, I have to post this AP story in its entirety (don't sue me, AP). Any connections to the "real life" game review we read earlier this week? What do you think is the purpose, or effectiveness, of writing this "real" press release about a couple of dolls? Why is the real media playing along? Plastic drama, anyone?
"Feb. 12, 2004 | NEW YORK (AP) -- Just like J.Lo and Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1076377422754990002004-02-09T17:43:00.000-08:002004-02-10T12:18:03.030-08:00Dramatic love stories... performing your patriotic duty (in bed)...
NY Times has a fascinating article on current efforts by various government PR teams in Singapore to encourage more dating, romance, marriage and sex among the 20-somethings in their country. Apparently, the birth rate in Singapore is too low to sustain the population, and the government blames lack of interest in dating and Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1076376454580927862004-02-09T17:27:00.000-08:002004-02-09T17:30:24.466-08:00New games for pens and pencils (and goggles? erasers? farm animals? big bouncy things?)...
Okay, spontaneous game designers. Please post a brief description of your game (what gets done by who to what end, just so we get the basic idea of how to play it), and then list each element you've included in your customized game definition, with a sentence or two about how your game embodies each Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1076229668760605772004-02-08T00:41:00.000-08:002004-02-08T00:43:40.076-08:00Surveillance Camera Players
In our reading on performance in everyday life last week, Schechner suggested that the increase in surveillance cameras creates more opportunity for unintentional performance, or behavior that might be analyzed "as performance." But is there "is performance" for surveillance cameras? Check out these scripts for surveillance camera theater by the Surveillance Camera Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1076219412224243552004-02-07T21:50:00.000-08:002004-02-07T21:52:36.950-08:00What works for me
Here's my best secret for writing papers and articles: I always lead off with a story or anecdote or provocative detail. I pick something very specific and juicy, and then I write it up as succintly and dramatically as I can. I usually do this very early on in the research/writing process; it structures my thinking and gives me a frame for all of the rest of the work I need to Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1076009618356284262004-02-05T11:33:00.000-08:002004-02-05T11:36:59.826-08:00Friday blog challenge
By 5 PM Friday, please post your response to the following challenge in the comments section.
Thinking ahead to your own research project, please identify a specific play-and-performance related topic that you potentially could focus your research project around. (You can change your mind later, of course.) Some great examples that have come up in our idea parties include Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075775040095178222004-02-02T18:24:00.000-08:002004-02-03T22:38:19.796-08:00The most convincing performance award
Okay, guys: Time to vie for the Most Convincing Performance Award. Here's how to compete: Add a comment to this blog post (any time between now and Monday!) with as vivid a description as you can of your "dramaturgical strategies" for a particular (real life) role that you have played in recent weeks. From costume to props to gesture to set to choreography Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075754931702903942004-02-02T12:48:00.000-08:002004-02-02T12:53:55.653-08:00A dramatic exit in a real-life tragedy
There is a very interesting article in New York magazine this week about the disappearance (and suspected suicide) of New York actor Spaulding Gray, who was a lifelong friend and frequent collaborator with Richard Schechner. (There's even a picture of Spaudling in the Schechner article you read for today.) The article tells the story of Spaulding's spiral Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075750361738916622004-02-02T11:32:00.000-08:002004-02-02T11:34:59.263-08:00Wind chill, meet Puxtatawney Phil...
It's February 2, and that means... it's Groundhog Day! (I know at least 50% of you are hearing the radio announcer's voice from the Bill Murray movie as you read that, right?) Here's a basic rundown on what happened when the Groundhog went out to look for his shadow this morning. Bad news for people who don't live in California, where there is no winter... Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075515282355299432004-01-30T18:14:00.000-08:002004-01-30T18:16:56.403-08:00Choose Your Own Misadventure
I ran across this article and couldn't help but think or our discussion on interactive narratives earlier this week. If any of you have FX or follow the latest trends in reality tv, you may already know a bit about Todd TV, as described in an article in Slate magazine:
"The ostensible premise of ToddTV is that Todd has abandoned his free will—not to mention his Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075512586814938002004-01-30T17:29:00.000-08:002004-01-30T17:32:00.606-08:00THUNDERSTORM
Congratulations to all of you who survived the harrowing ordeal (not to mention humiliation) of having your newly constructed masterpiece of architecture burned to the ground by a raging storm. And kudos to those who managed to keep one house intact (Sarah, Andy, Kat) and Super kudos to the only person to escape totally unscathed (Nick). Nick earns the title of United States Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075512223128293012004-01-30T17:23:00.000-08:002004-01-30T17:25:56.996-08:00Idea Parties!
Please RSVP if you are planning to take part in one of our informal idea parties next week, 5 - 6 PM (you're not obligated to stay the whole hour, of course-- just as long as you need to generate some good ideas!) on the patio of the Dwinelle Annex. (That's the little brown shed just west of Dwinelle, also where my office is in case you need to find me during office hours.) Also, Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075341589975535472004-01-28T17:59:00.000-08:002004-01-28T19:35:33.623-08:00Superbowl Sunday!
We can't play in the game, but nearly 50% of all Americans will be "playing along" in some capacity this Sunday as New England takes on Carolina... what are your favorite traditions for vicarious Superbowl play? Goofy bets, rooting for the underdog, high stakes pools, Superbowl drinking games (21 and over please!), making fun of the half-time show... do you have strategies for Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075319056960419832004-01-28T11:44:00.000-08:002004-01-28T19:30:01.043-08:00When is art research?
You may have noticed from the syllabus that we're not holding class as usual on Friday February 6. Since you have "off" that day, consider attending one of the talks at UC Berkeley's "When is art research?" conference. It may help you conceive of your research project for this class in a way that is more exciting to you than a traditional term paper. A number of friends Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075279106649888592004-01-28T00:38:00.000-08:002004-01-28T09:20:07.280-08:00Interactive drama, or just a really interesting blog?
Speaking of interactive narratives (Mark Stephen Meadows, if you've done the reading for Wednesday...):
Some of you may already be familiar with the very interesting "interactive drama"known as "She's a flight risk"... I say "drama" because that's what it is suspected by most readers to be (fiction, that is). The author hasn't really admittedJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1075139832673836722004-01-26T09:57:00.000-08:002004-01-27T10:39:32.936-08:00Speaking of possible field trips...
Nick has suggested a group outing to Yerba Buena to get your hands mutilated (or watch others get their hands mutilated) on the PainStation2 machine. The exhibit also has some very cool "network art" (related to the 6 degrees of separation concept) and some other "playful" (but not necessarily game-related) art exhibits. We can toss some times and dates aroundJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1074975707959655332004-01-24T12:21:00.000-08:002004-01-26T12:22:08.343-08:00Creative writing exercise
If you'd like to be creative with your blog post this week, try this exercise inspired by our Mamet reading "The Wind-Chill Factor." (It will help if you've read the essay before you try the exercise!)
Mamet begins his essay by claiming, "It is in our nature to dramatize," and he suggests that we give everything that happens "a plot, in order to understand its meaning Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1074925400304304292004-01-23T22:23:00.000-08:002004-01-24T16:22:47.076-08:00Weird things to catch your eye...
As we get through some of our reading on drama, performance, interactivitity, play, and games, you'll start to see interesting opportunities for applying what we're studying in unlikely places. Please post links on our blog to any exciting examples, trends or other curious phenomena that grabs your attention and reminds you of our class. In the meantime, I'll Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1074915334920232762004-01-23T19:35:00.000-08:002004-01-23T19:37:39.140-08:00Upcoming interesting theater events...
What's that? You just finished the reading for the weekend and you LOVED David Mamet's essay? You're a huge David Mamet fan for life? Well then, you definitely will want to check out the World Premiere of David Mamet's new play at the Magic Theater in San Francisco. The Bay area is really lucky to have a Mamet premiere (like I said, one of America's Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1074713491972032142004-01-21T11:31:00.000-08:002004-01-21T11:33:33.030-08:00Two games to check out before Friday's class...
Required: THE BIG URBAN GAME
Your mission for Friday's class: Investigate the Big Urban Game (B.U.G.). Your challenge is to figure out at least 3 research questions you could pursue if you wanted to write a research paper about B.U.G. Feel free to think wildly; there are no wrong ideas. You should also jot down some ideas for how you might Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1074710821554541042004-01-21T10:47:00.000-08:002004-01-21T11:20:20.623-08:00Introductions
Since we're all in this research business together, let's get to know each other's areas of expertise and interest. Take a minute to introduce yourself. Tell us a bit about your interests in play and performance... what games, sports, performing arts or other a varieties of play do you love? What's something you know a lot about that might be a good research area for our class? Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064705.post-1068561180266970992003-11-11T06:33:00.000-08:002003-11-11T06:34:09.266-08:00Welcome to the course blog for Spring 2004 R1B (Section 1): Performance and Play in the department of theater, dance and performance studies. Feel free to post any questions you have about the upcoming class, or check out the Fall 2003 R1A (Section 1): Theater and Games course blog.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045030552279368577noreply@blogger.com