Art & Culture Worksheets 2014 / 2015 Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 1
Cultural Activity Things to do when you visit a performance, film, concert, and so on. 1. Try to find information about the performance in the newspaper, a flyer from the theatre, the Internet, reviews, etc. 2. Read the worksheet about your discipline in the following pages. It will help you focus on important details during the performance. 3. After the performance, write your first impression as soon as possible. What was very interesting or striking? This can be a scene, the set or the props, or a person, etc. 4. Search for a review in the newspaper or on the Internet. How to write a report about a Cultural Activity. In the following pages you will find several worksheets. These worksheets will help you prepare your visits to cultural activities and write the reports. Worksheets: Music/Musical/Concert Film Theatre Cabaret (The American/English idea of Cabaret is essentially different from the Dutch idea. It means something like varieté and lacks the critical/satirical note of the Dutch form of entertainment.) Dance Museum/Gallery Architecture Your Cultural Activity report must include: Items 1 to 4 In General (see below) Questions from the worksheet. Use the questions to write an essay. Your own review and your comments on the review you found in the newspaper or from the internet. This should not exceed three typewritten pages. The ticket. In general What is it? (Music/Musical/Concert, Film, Theatre, Cabaret, Dance, Museum/Gallery, Architecture, World Literature. What is the title of the performance and the names of the author, director, actors; the name of the museum, building etc.? The place and date of your visit to the performance, museum or building Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 2
Worksheet music/musical/concert 1. Describe the stage in a few words: the set, costumes, make-up, lighting, props, performance/dance, film/video 2. In what way did the composer make use of the musical means below? Which aspect in the music really attracts attention? Tempo Melody Rhythm Dynamics (loud/soft) Use of instruments (Which instruments can you hear in this music?) 3. What is the structure of the piece of music? Could you say there are variation, repetition, arrangement for several voices, prelude and concluding? (Aftermath?), interlude, choruses, solos? 4. Does the composer want to bring across a message? If so, what is that message? 5. What is the style of the music? Describe the artist s style, where does this music come from? 6. Write down three words that describe this music. 7. Describe the mood or atmosphere created. Think of gloomy, threatening, dignified/ stately, cheerful, peaceful, intimate, violent, chaotic, mysterious, or other terms. 8. What is the connection between the text and the music? 9. What, in your opinion, are the most important themes? 10. What gripped you / turned you on in the performance? Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 3
Worksheet Film 1. What are your expectations of the film? Brainstorm about what you think the film will be about and what you know of the film s genre. 2. What expectations are raised by the title? 3. Where does the narrative take place? 4. In what time period does the story take place; in the past, present, or future? How do you know? 5. What constitutes the mood and the theme of the film? 6. How were the main characters dressed (and made up)? 7. To what extent do the locations and clothes determine the atmosphere in the film? 8. Did the music have a conspicuous role in the film, or did it serve mainly as background? Give examples. 9. Would you say there were special sound effects? If so, name several. 10. In what way was the narrative told? Think in terms of chronology, the story continually jumping about in place and time (for example; because of mounting/assembling?, flashback, flash forward) other, such as... 11. What scenes have stayed in your mind the longest? To what extent has camera work and / or staging played a role? Give some examples. What are these like in the rest of the film? 12. To which genre does the film belong? comedy film noir / black comedy adventure / action drama musical suspense (mystery) dancefilm documentary animated feature classic science fiction horror other, namely.... 13. What are the main things that happen in the story? (Plot) 14. What conflicts are dealt with in the film? 15. What are the names of the main characters? Describe their physical appearance and personalities. 16. With whom have you empathized the most? Why is that? 17. What devices has the director used to capture the audience s attention? Which were the most effective? Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 4
Worksheet Theatre 1. How does the play begin? (the curtain rises; no curtain but the actors come onto the stage; no curtain, the actors are already on the stage). 2. Briefly describe the scene on stage: scenery / décor costumes make-up acting/dance lighting props film/video. 3. Have music, songs, or sound effects been used? Name them. What role did they play? 4. Write a summary of the performance in a few lines. 5. What is /are the conflict(s) in the play? 6. What are the names of the main characters? Describe their physical appearance and personalities. 7. With whom have you empathized the most? Why is that? 8. What devices has the director used to capture the audience s attention? Which were the most effective? 9. What is the structure of the play? 10. Describe the mood or atmosphere created. Think of gloomy, threatening, dignified/ stately, cheerful, peaceful, intimate, violent, chaotic, mysterious, or something other. 11. Do the actors speak directly to the audience? 12. What is the purpose of the performance? 13. Give a few examples of the theatrical devices that play a role here: acting stage-setting scenery/ props costumes/make-up lighting music sound effects and /or film clips 14. What devices did the director use to keep the audience s attention? Which were the most effective? 15. What, in your opinion, are the most important themes? 16. What gripped you in the performance? Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 5
Worksheet Cabaret 1. How does the cabaret begin? (the curtain rises, no curtain but the cabaret artist comes onto the stage, no curtain, the cabaret artist is already on the stage). 2. Briefly describe the scene on stage: scenery / décor costumes make-up acting/dance lighting props film/video. 3. Have music, songs, or sound effects been used? Name them. What role did they play? 4. If the piece is performed by two cabaret artists or a group, how are the roles divided between the performers? 5. To which genre would you consider this performance to belong? (different answers are possible) Literary satirical/engaging social criticism contemplative narrative musical no nonsense cabaret physical cabaret stand up comedy Explain your answers. 6. How are the contents of the piece built up? Separate items without cohesion. Name some. There is a thread throughout the performance. What is it? One or more theme(s) are used. Which ones? 7. How does the cabaret artist deliver a message or give his opinion WHEN he wants to? (various answers are possible) specified sort of humor, namely... alternating between pleasure and being moved interaction with the audience other, namely... What parts have stayed in your mind the longest and why? What is the purpose of the performance? 8. What devices did the cabaret artist use to keep the audience s attention? Which were the most effective? 9. What gripped you in the performance? Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 6
Worksheet Dance 1. Which dance is used in the performance? classical dance modern dance folk / international dance show/musical dance other, namely... 2. How are the dances performed (various answers are possible) solo pas de deux in pairs women and men separately other, namely... 3. What kind of sound was used to dance to (various answers are possible)? music, namely... other sounds, namely... they danced in silence 4. What aspect struck you the most? (various answers are possible) timing / tempo strength space forms and patterns simultaneous movement other, namely... 5. To which dance genre does this performance belong to? Narrative dance. Recapture the contents in a few lines. Theme-based dance. According to your opinion, what theme(s) is it about? Absolute dance. Explain your answer. Other, namely... 6. With did you empathize with the most? Why is that? 7. What devices did the choreographer use to hold the public s attention? Which were the most effective? 8. What conflicts are recognizable in the performance? 9. What is the theme of the performance? How do movements support the theme? 10. Compare the performance to another dance performance you have seen in class or in the theatre. Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 7
Worksheet Museum/Gallery 1. Was the building originally constructed as a museum? Was the sculpture park originally designed as such? If not, what was it originally built or designed for? 2. What do the spaces/rooms in the museum or exhibition look like? What does the sculpture park look like? 3. What is there to be seen? only paintings, photos or graphic art (2 dimensional work) only sculptures or spatial works (three dimensional) only tools and instruments a mixture of the disciplines mentioned above, namely.. other, namely.... 4. How are the pieces of artwork and objects set up within the space? with much open space between them (each item is viewed individually). without (much) space between the items (an overall impression). 5. What ways and means has/have the organizer(s) used? Consider: light (daylight and/or artificial light and the direction it comes from) colour (monochrome, polychrome, accentuations of colour) working space (consecutive rooms / spaces. The placement of the objects) show-case, railing / barrier. 6. Describe how the organizer(s) have structured the displayed items. the setup of the rooms is more or less of the same. one particular room is more important than the other rooms the whole presentation is aimed at working toward a specific climax. 7. Is the routing, or the direction in which you walk through the rooms or along the items on display logical or in fact not? Why? Are you forced into walking a particular route? If so, is this clearly marked? 8. What is the museum, exhibition, or sculpture park / route about? 9. Does the name or title tell you anything about its content? If so, what? 10. Why do you think the organizers have set up the space in this way? 11. The following list is the basic order of the presentation: chronological/geographic/thematic/of material of discipline other, namely 12.Do /does the organizer(s) provide information about the exhibited items? If so, how do they do that (a board with text per room/per object, video/film, audio tour, paper handout per room, catalogue). 13.Is the information offered in an understandable way? Is it difficult or easy? Do you find the information irritating or not? Why? Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 8
Worksheet Architecture When describing a place or building, your composition should include: 1. Name and location of the place / building. 2. The architect s name. Give some background information about his/her way of working. 3. Drawing or photographs of plan and a front and side elevation. 4. An interesting introduction mentioning the exact location of the place you describe, and the reason for choosing this place. 5. A description of the building that considers the massing. (of shapes), materials, colour, decorative details. 6. A consideration of the function of the building (both original and present) and of how the forms fill that function. 7. A description of your feeling as you enter the building. 8. A description of how successful it is in fulfilling its function and of how it fits in with the rest of the environment. 9. A final paragraph in which your feelings about or recommendation of the place or building are to be mentioned. We can find descriptions of places as parts of stories, in tourist magazines or brochures, articles, parts of letters etc. Points to Remember Adjectives: Use a wide variety of objective adjectives ( huge, enormous, etc) and subjective adjectives (fabulous, charming, etc.). Try to avoid using only common ones such as good, nice etc. This will make your composition more interesting and you will catch the reader s attention. Arts & Culture reader / 2014-2015 9