Plan Author
Lindsay Stevens, 2017
Fields of Concentration
Sample Courses
- Course: Staging the Apocalypse
- Course: Photographic Narrative and Bookmaking
- Tutorial: Experimental Photography
- Tutorial: Writing Memoir
Project Description
Live multimedia performance piece.
Faculty Sponsors
Outside Evaluator
Overview
This Plan is an exploration of the relationship between solo travel and personal growth conducted through memoir performance, and photography. It includes both a narrative with photographs and a script for the live multimedia performance piece based on the same experiences. It also includes an analysis of the process of developing the performance piece, including editing, set design, and lighting design, and an exploration of Ireland through oral and visual traditions.
Excerpts
Birds call out from the water. The wind returns, its cold tentacles wrap around my soggy body as I turn back around. I walk towards the cliff to lie with my head hanging over the edge. I stare down at the waves, stronger from the recent storm, breaking against the hard face. White, foamy fingers play hide-and-seek with a tiny pebble beach sheltered by the towering sides.
Walk across the stage, pausing slightly out of Down Center. Looking over at the guy offering the stool while describing him: I walk through the doorway and at the raised table in front of me a gentleman pulls a stool out for me. He has the signature hunch of someone who feel’s too tall, older than me, though not by much. He pushes a haywire strand of dark hair out of his eyes.
The Seanchai has a distinct style of storytelling that focusing on speech and gestures, similar to those found in conversation. The biggest indicator of the style is the use of words that are easily heard and understood. This is because the first responsibility of a storyteller is that their audience be able to understand the story. Most Seanchaithe avoid using technical terms or language used in specialized fields. Their words are often short and concise, but not lacking in texture or pattern. Storytellers recognize that every word has a natural rhythm and in inflection that can either aid or harm a story, and having a strong vocabulary will allow the storyteller flow between phrases. One way of heightening the natural flow of words is the use of multiple synonyms. This is a technique that takes one word and attaches other words with a subtle difference; such as gleam, glisten, shine, and shimmer. The next technique is to use short sentences and words. Many Seanchai use a wide selection of one-syllable words to tell their story. This prevents them from using overly flowerily language and keeps to story moving.
Reflections
I remember late nights working in the theater and the constant support of those around me. And constantly complaining about how much I had left to do over brunch with fellow Plan students. I was inspired by wanting to find a way to tell one story in as many ways as possible, and I really liked the interconnectivity of the three components (photography, writing, and theater).
My Plan was heavily concentrated in theater with a large majority of that being the design of the show. I’m hoping to obtain an MFA in lighting design and go on to become a theater professional.