Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, the students are able to:

-Express their own artistic vision and explore their creative potential as costume designers for a performing arts or film project based on or inspired by music.

-Develop new work methods and design processes with a research-centred approach.

-Propose and develop a costume design concept for complex and large scale projects for different performing arts or film forms and genres.

-Present a costume design concept using visual, verbal and written means at a professional level, reflecting their own artistic research and giving clear information for its realisation.

Credits: 8

Schedule: 29.09.2020 - 18.12.2020

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Sofia Pantouvaki

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Sofia Pantouvaki

Contact information for the course (valid 17.09.2020-21.12.2112):

Professor Sofia Pantouvaki, email: sofia.pantouvaki@aalto.fi

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The course focuses on the development of the students' personal artistic vision and research-centred creative enquiry for the design of costumes for live or mediated performance based on or inspired by music. The students conduct independent artistic research and design a complex and largescale project for a form of performance based on a music-led narrative, looking at costume as a temporal, sociocultural and spatial practice. Aspects under consideration include the two-dimensional vs. three-dimensional character of costume and the viewers' position and frame, as well as the potential of costume as embodied performance. Experimentation and testing of ideas is strongly encouraged. The course also addresses practical and organizational aspects related to costume production. The students' creative ideas are communicated and presented to peer review frequently for constructive feedback and development. The final presentation (verbal and written) includes costume designs, documentation of the research undertaken, a written statement on the central concept, and information for the realisation of the proposed ideas.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Content 

    The Costume Design Lab focuses on the development of
    the students’ personal artistic vision and research-centred creative enquiry
    for the design of costumes for live or mediated performance based on or inspired
    by music. The students conduct independent artistic research and design a
    large-scale project based on a music-led narrative, looking at costume as a
    temporal, sociocultural and spatial practice. During the course, students will
    study a musical piece and focus on working with/inspired by music.

    This
    year the Costume Design Lab uses a well-known musical work from global operatic
    dramaturgy. The project has a triple focus: a) to create a new costume design
    concept; b) to investigate the relationship between individual/solo characters
    and chorus, looking at costume as part of the stage composition; and c) to
    demonstrate ability to proceed to the design and planning of a large scale
    project. The course is conceptual and has an experimental nature. After
    introductory lectures and study of the musical piece (music and text/libretto),
    the course focuses on the students’ personal artistic ideas and concludes with
    a presentation of the their costume design concepts. This will include costume
    designs for the characters and chorus, technical sketches, documentation of
    materials, details and accessories, and a short written essay analysing the
    concept. The course might also include the realization of one selected costume,
    or part of it, as sample of the concept (upon agreement with the tutor).

     


Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Students' development during the course, motivation, independent and group work outcomes, attendance and active participation in discussions.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Assessment Methods and Criteria 

    Attendance to
    lectures and discussions, attendance to group meetings and feedback sessions,
    prompt preparation of requested tasks, finalization of a costume design project
    (final designs with samples of materials and technical drawings), portfolio and
    short written essay presenting the concept.

    Evaluation
    criteria: active participation to discussions; expression of interest and
    curiosity, personal enquiry and personal development; support towards fellow
    students’ work; analytical and critical attitude; development of creative
    ideas; ability to conduct a personal creative research; ability to document the
    ideas and to express an argument using visual and verbal means; ability to
    conclude the design project with analysis of ideas and materials.


    Learning Outcomes 

    The students
    practice on developing a personal style as costume designers and on being
    creators/initiators of a design concept. They learn to present their work to
    other collaborators by visual and verbal means. They learn to prepare complete
    documentation of their costume design work, and to make a presentation at a
    professional level. They are challenged to design for large scale projects
    involving a large number of characters and a group/chorus.

     


Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Contact teaching: Lectures, discussions, presentations 40%. Independent work 60%.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Texts used in the course will be informed in advance to registered students if related to pre-assignments, and/or will be handed out during the contact sessions

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Study Materials and Set Literature

    Study Materials will be handed out during the course.


Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    -

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    5 Gender Equality

FURTHER INFORMATION

Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    Schedule

    The course will be held online via Zoom (contact
    sessions), materials to be shared in Teams.

    An
    email will be sent in advance with the link to the meeting.

    Please take into consideration
    the extent of the independent work and reserve full days for this course.

     

    First
    part, weeks 40-41:

     

    Week
    40

     

    Tuesday
    29.9.

    10-12               Introduction to the course – about opera and voices (group
    session
    , 2h)

    14-16:30          Background – Lecture: Opera History (group
    session
    , 2,5h)

     

    Wednesday
    30.9.

    9-17                 Independent work (study of music & libretto,
    breakdown to acts & scenes)

     

    Thursday
    1.10.

    10-12:30          Music and Dramaturgy, analysis of
    musical score (group session, 2,5h)

    14-16:30          Music and Dramaturgy, analysis of
    musical score (continues) (group session, 2,5h)

     

    Friday
    2.10.

    9-12:30            Independent work: personal research and breakdown of the
    opera

    13:30-15          Discussion, students’ preliminary
    ideas/responses to the opera (group session, 1,5h)

    15-17               Independent work: personal research and review of past
    productions

     

     

    Week
    41

     

    Tuesday
    6.10.

    9-12                 Student presentations: personal research on the
    opera and concept maps (group session, 3h)

    13-17               Independent work:
    develop ideas and collect materials, personal research

     

    Wednesday
    7.10.

    9-12:30            Tutor’s feedback to preliminary ideas (schedule to be
    agreed) (individual tutorials, 30’mins per student, incl. tutor break)
    (other students continue independent work)

    13-17               Independent work: Prepare Task 1 (ideas for costumes,
    visual references, preliminary sketches)

     

    Thursday
    8.10.

    9-13                 Independent work: Task 1
    (ideas for costumes, visual references, preliminary sketches, continues)

    14-17               Student presentations for tutor feedback: Task 1 (ideas for costumes,
    visual references, preliminary sketches) (group session, 3h)

     

    Friday
    9.10.

    9-12                 Independent work: finalization of Task 1, revisions
    and further development based on feedback/discussion (ideas for costumes,
    visual references, preliminary sketches)

     

    Submission of Task 1 on Friday
    9.10. at 12:00 via Microsoft Teams.

     

    (At 13.00 students are
    invited to the dress rehearsal of the dance performance “Fugue in two colors”)

     

     

    Second
    part, weeks 50-51:

     

    Week
    50

     

    Tuesday
    8.12.

    9-12                 Group discussion: students report updates on their
    concepts (group session, 3h)

    13-17               Independent work: development of costume design concept
    with costume drawings for main characters

     

    Wednesday
    9.12.

    9-17                 Independent work (design for main characters, draft
    ideas for chorus)

     

    Thursday
    10.12.

    9-12:30            Tutor’s feedback to design ideas (schedule to be agreed) (individual
    tutorials
    , 30’mins per student, incl. tutor break) (other students continue
    independent work)

    13:30- 17         Independent work: design further
    development based on feedback (costume designs for main characters, development
    of ideas for chorus costumes)

     

    Friday
    11.12.

    9-13                 Independent work: design further development based
    on feedback (costume designs for main characters, development of ideas for
    chorus costumes)

    14-17               Student presentations for tutor feedback: costume
    designs for main characters, ideas for chorus costumes) (group session,
    3h)

     

    Week
    51

     

    Tuesday
    15.12.

    9-11                 Students present materials and tech details for
    further discussion (group session, 2h)

    12-17               Independent work (costume designs for all, written
    draft for concept)

     

    Wednesday
    16.12.

    9-12:30            Tutorials for feedback (schedule to be agreed) (individual tutorials,
    30’mins per student, incl. tutor break) (other students continue independent
    work)

    13:30- 17         Independent work (concept, design and
    materials)

     

    Thursday
    17.12.

    13:30- 17         Independent work (concept, design and
    materials for final portfolio)

     

    Friday
    18.12.

    9-12                 Final Presentation of project (group
    session
    , 3h)

    13-14:30          Final discussion and feedback (group
    session
    , 1,5h)

    14:30-17          Independent work: final corrections,
    if students wish/need to

     

    Submission of final Portfolio on
    Friday 18.12. at 17:00 via Microsoft Teams.