Class: Designing for Live Performance
Instructor: Andrew Lazarow
Part 1: Asking Elinor Fuchs' Questions to Artifacts of Consequence
* First Things First:
1. What is space like in this planet? It is an under-water bunker that is designed like a maze. Down in this bunker, overall set-up as a living space things are basic for the human survivors. Probably nothing in this space is exciting. It may be dark and cold.
2. How does the time behave in this planet? Time doesn't seem to matter that much as there are not much activity going on. The instance where time seems to matter a little more is when is a good time for them to go find supplies and cultural items, which shouldn't be when it is dark out.
3. Climate? Seasonal feel? Nothing of climate seems to matter as everything is under water. Seasonal feel is the same for the most part. Changes in climate may not have a big impact inside this space.
4. Mood? Tone? The mood and tone are a mix of intense, serious business-like conversations and funny moments with spontaneous conversations between certain characters. It gives me a feeling of I need to be ready to make a decision at anytime as needed. But in between decision making/or evaluation points, I would be waiting for an unexpected moments of ordinary dialogues or discussions about interesting topics inside a space where there's not much to talk about hour by hour, day after day. The tone is also interesting when you have characters at different age ranges and very different personalities and personal goals.
5. Any hidden, unseen space? The water or the above the surface (out of the water) is an unseen space that's closely related to the bunker inside.
6. Music, sound? I noticed machine speaking voices ("evaluation commencing momentarily, evaluation commencing momentarily"), buzzes (opening entrance), possibly echos of things that happen inside the bunker (from moving things or people walking around from one chamber to another).
7. What changes in this world? Probably mood/tone was quite frequent as one interacts with another in conversations, arguments, etc. and as they have to take action or debate over a decision, or when something is about to happen (leaking inside the bunker, system shutting down, etc) the mood and tone would change.
The tone changes within a character himself/herself. For example, Mina went from a normal tone to intense arguing, followed by an angry, emotional monologue.
* Social World:
1. Public world or private? This world is mostly public. Some instances are more public than others. For example, most scenes involve a dialogue between two or more people, and in between there are requests for participation from more public members such as the audience.
2. Patterns that characters arrange themselves? There is a pattern of Minna being the leading figure whom the other characters tend to listen to. The group is mostly directed by this character. The directions where the story goes tends to be heavily influenced by this character. Even the climax of the play was around this character's emotions.
3. How do figures appear? The characters appear to be just ordinary people in a society. However, the society is special because of the apocalyptic scenario it is placed in. So at times, conversations and interactions are based on this special circumstances, but overall, they are regular humans.
4. How do figure dress? I would imagine the characters dress as in today clothing style. Nothing is too much futuristic. Given the scenario they are in - trying to survive, while doing the important work they are tasked with, possibly having to move around quite a bit, I would imagine they are in simple, active clothing, but provide enough warmth for the climate of the underwater bunker life?!
5. How do figures interact? Mostly via conversations, discussions.
6. Who has power in this planet? The character who appears to have power, or more so an influential voice, is Minna, the person in charge of the bunker operations. She manages operations, activities, and certain important decisions. She is highly educated, knowledgeable of the bunker operations, an assertive and focused person with a lot of leadership traits. That is also how she comes across as the person who is given the power in this "planet".
7. Language habits? Prose, casual everyday dialogues. What kind of feelings? Some conversations had a sense of humor because it was influenced by the unique post apocalyptic situation everyone lives in. It is particularly humous to experience dialogues between Theo and Ari because Ari is only 17, living most of her life inside the bunker and all of what she ever knows or learns about human interactions, emotional and physical, have been through books and films. And then, there are more serious, down-to-business, with lots of back and forth reasoning between Minna and Dallas - the responsible adults of the group.
* What Changes?
1. What changes in this world? There were definitely shifts in moods, and the intensity of the situation, pace. The central image of this play, I think, is when Dallas comes back again without necessity supplies, but more cultural artifacts, while blaming Minna for killing other humans for no reasons, basically accusing her for making irresponsible decisions. It is critical to pass through this central image because this is the last straw before Minna's emotions took a turn. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is taken to the next level of intensity because the bunker is collapsing and no one knows what is going to happen next.
* Myself
1. What has this world demanded of me? I feel this world asks me for a decision to make, a question to ask my self in a specific scenario of an unknown future, human survival and what matters to me (what do I need) as a human going through the experience full of uncertainty about myself and my surroundings.
Part 2: My Sentences of Artifacts of Consequence
One Sentence:
Artifacts of Consequence is about what it means to be a human in the world.
Two Sentences:
Artifacts of Consequence is about what it means to be a human in the world.
Artifacts of Consequence is a story about finding what matters to a human as a human.
Three Sentences:
Artifacts of Consequence is about what it means to be a human in the world.
Artifacts of Consequence is about finding what matters to a human life as a human. - Artifacts of Consequence is about finding the meaning of human existence and choosing what to carry with or sacrifice to stay true to such meaning.