The Conical Dual Labyrinth of Theatrical Design - A Map of My Creating/Teaching Plan/Make Process. TEXT >>> PLAN >>> IDEA >>> MAKE >>> PLAY These were the first words of my creative adventure. On a plot diagram they look like <------------------------------------this
These are the cycle of my hero’s journey. The singular circular path that I find myself on all the time→
From this journey, I thought of my recent reading into labyrinths. They are also singular paths, but one in which you are forever getting closer to a central ideal. But the path that you think is leading you closer sometimes walks away from the center [the idea] so that you will get back to it. But for every labyrinth that ends on the left there is another than ends on the right. I also couldn’t help looking at these images and thing of the two hemispheres of the brain. That led me to think about their respective functions in terms of creativity.
With labyrinths there is one way into the center and one way out from the center. In some ways it’s a drilling down or the diving into the abyss of the mind to reach the apotheosis that Joseph Campbell talks about in the hero’s journey. This fit in near perfect with how I was reflecting on my process. I chose to use the seven circuit labyrinth because that was the most classic design. Seven circuits of planning would take me from the text into the center where the apotheosis of the idea (design concept) was waiting. Seven circuits of making would take me from the idea out to the finished play. Then I thought what led me down into this single path maze, and I realized that my best journeys were filled with “What is/if?” questions. This led me to think of the seven questions of play planning and the seven questions of play making. Here is my current draft of questions:
Planning 1. What is the play text (AKA the story)? 2. What is the text trying to say (symbol & theme)? 3. Where and when is the play in reality/fantasy? 4. What is the world of the play: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually? 5. Who created this world? what is their aesthetic? 6. What does this world: look, sound, smell, taste, feel like? 7. What is needed to create, design, and build this world on stage?
Making (for a single design element) 1. What is the design aesthetic of this play? 2. What are the elements of that design? 3. What are the projects that make those elements? 4. What are the tasks for those projects? 5. What are the Steps of those tasks? 6. What is the time/talent/treasure I have to create the world of this play? 7. What makes this design, clear, clean, clever, and cohesive?
With these questions in hand I also realized that this process isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t two dimensional, but three dimensional. So I also pictured the process in this way.
TEXT ---------> PLAN----------------------------------> IDEA------------------> MAKE----------------------------> PLAY So now my challenge was not only how to make the concept three dimensional, but how do I make a contracting and expanding labyrinth cone of creativity that is the symbol metaphor for my creative process?
Step 1 - Research
Step 2 - Reflect
Step 3 - Investigate
Step 4 Experiment
Step 5 Research
Step 6 Experiment
Step 7 Make
Step 8 Measure
Step 9 Mark
Step 10 Gross Construct
Step 11 Detail Construct
Step 13 - Load - In
Step 14 Install
Step 12 Finalize