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:

-Explore through artistic research how costume can become a conceptual tool generating performance

-Experiment with costume as a form of art and investigate the notion of authorship through costume

-Initiate a costume-based concept and communicate clearly ideas for development within an artistic team

-Build a network for collaborative work, organize and motivate an artistic team on a costume-led performance

Credits: 2

Schedule: 26.01.2021 - 05.02.2021

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 (applies in this implementation):

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 has an experimental nature and focuses on an original and creative approach to costume as a conceptual tool. The students develop their ideas through independent research and communicate them to a multidisciplinary artistic team. Through collaborative work, the students develop a costume-based concept into a performative form. The course includes all stages from concept development to design, realisation and presentation of the outcome, as well as documentation of the students' methodology of work and reflection on their own practice.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Short description of the course for 2020-21

    ‘Costume Agency’ is a
    workshop in which costume designers will be provided with conditions to create
    performance starting from their designed garments.

    In recent decades costume has
    emancipated itself from the traditional position of being in service of the
    play or director or actors. Nowadays one can find costume-based performance
    art, sculpture or even theatre performances. Theatre costume can generate stories,
    experiences, meaning… It does stuff. It performs. So, what would the
    performance coming from costumes be?

    Each participant will bring
    garments and description for their visions for a performance embedded in the
    garments or/ and ideas for what to try out in the workshop. They will be provided
    with:

    • Individually 6 sessions x 2 hours totally 12 hours with two
    performer/dancer (rehearsing)

    • Discussion sessions 6 session x 1 hour totally 6 hours x two
    performers/ dancers

    • Three days of group exchange (introduction, plenary, sharing)

    • Space and basic stage equipment

    • Consultations with the two main researchers of the Costume Agency
    research project

    • All workshop participants will
    meet for feedback and brainstorming sessions to help each other think and
    create.

    This workshop is part of ‘Costume
    Agency’, a four-year artistic research project by Christina Lindgren (KHiO,
    Norway) and Sodja Lotker (DAMU, Czech Republic), focusing on exploring how
    costume performs, how it produces meaning and experience within a performative
    setting. This is the fourth workshop in the Costume Agency series. The first workshop
    in January 2019 explored the influence of costume within theatre based in classical
    text-based drama. The second workshop in March 2019 looked at how performance
    can be devised from garment and what the performative aspects of garment as
    ready-made can be. The third workshop in November 2019 took place in Oslo,
    generating performances from costume; six costume designers worked with four
    performers (see https://costumeagency.khio.no/?page_id=69).

    Guest tutors
    (via Zoom):

    Sodja Zupanc
    Lotker
    is the Course Leader of Master in Directing Devised and Object
    Theatre at the Prague Performing Arts Academy (DAMU). She works as a dramaturg
    for independent theatre, dance and site-specific projects (with Cristina
    Maldonado, Julian Hetzel, TAAT, Wojtek Ziemilski). She was artistic director of
    the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space 2008 – 2015.

    Christina
    Lindgren
    is Professor in Costume design at KHiO and teaches at BA-, MA- and
    PhD level. She studied at Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) and
    Universität der Künste Berlin. Shas designed costume and scenography for
    performances in all genres and has a special interest in experimental hybrid
    forms of new opera and music theatre.

    Sally E Dean
    is a PhD Research Fellow at KHiO. 
    She leads the collaborative ‘Somatic, Movement & Costume Project’,
    designing Somatic Costumes that generate psychophysical awareness in wearers
    and performative experiences. She has been a professional artist and teacher
    throughout Europe, Asia and USA, between the fields of costume design, dance
    and somatic practices.

    Costume
    Agency
    is supported by Norwegian Artistic Research Program and Oslo
    National Academy of the Arts.


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:

    Students’ work on this course
    will be evaluated with the following criteria:

    Attendance: minimum of 80%
    attendance is required. Students are expected to participate actively in the
    group discussions, collaborate with their pair, and develop their personal
    project.



Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The workload depends on the type of content offered in each version of this course, and will be specified in the syllabus.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Workload for the 2020-21 academic year: 4 cr (108h study hours). Pre-assignments (18h); Contact sessions (20h study load); Independent work and pair-group work (70h)

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Barbieri, Donatella, 2012. 'Costume Re-Considered', in: Endyesthai (To Dress) - Historical, Sociological and Methodological Approaches, Conference Proceedings, Athens, 9-11 April 2010, Endymatologika No. 4. Nafplion: Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation, 147-152.

    Pantouvaki, Sofia, 2010. 'Theatrical Costume: Dressing the Role Dressing the Performer', in: Endyesthai (To Dress) Towards a Costume Culture Museum, I. Papantoniou (ed.). Nafplion / Athens: Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation, 109-117.

    Other specific literature will be informed separately.

Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    -

Registration for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    WebOodi registration

     

    The order of priority for admitting students to courses at Aalto ARTS 1.1.2018 onwards (approved by The Committee of Arts, Design and Architecture on 10.10.2017)

    The order of priority is as follows:

    1. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have scheduled it for the current academic year in their personal study plan (HOPS);
    2. exchange students for whom the course is a part of his/her officially approved learning agreement and scheduled to be taken during the current semester;
    3. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have not completed it yet;
    4. students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and has been scheduled in the student's PSP (HOPS) for the current academic year
    5. students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
    6. students for whom the course is compulsory for their minor;
    7. students, for whom the course is part of his/her minor subject s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
    8. students who have applied for the course through a student mobility scheme (internal mobility within Aalto University, flexible study right (JOO) studies etc.);
    9. other students.

     

    Courses that are intended to be multidisciplinary (e.g. UWAS courses) may apply an order of priority based on the learning outcomes of the course, while bearing in mind the university obligation of enabling students to complete their degrees within the normative duration of study set for the degree. The order of priority does not apply to courses organised by the Centre for General Studies or doctoral courses.

    This decision on the order of priority does not influence the right of the teacher to define prerequisites for the course.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Pre-assignment

    1)    
    Please describe your visions for a performance
    embedded in the garments or/and ideas for what to try out in the workshop, max.
    500 words. Add a short bio and send no later than 11th January 2021 to:
    sodja.zupanclotker(at)damu.cz and Chrilind(at)khio.no, as well as to the responsible
    professor: sofia.pantouvaki(at)aalto.fi.

    2)    
    Please visit the website of the Costume Agency
    research project:
    www.costumeagency.khio.no


    The course will take place in a hybrid mode:

    26.1. online via Zoom

    27.1.-5.2. at Kallio Stage


    Groups:

    Group A (costume designer A & dancers 1 + 2)

    Group B (costume designer B & dancers 3 + 4) 

    Group C (costume designer C & dancers 1 + 2) 

    Group D (costume designer D & dancers 3 + 4)


SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    5 Gender Equality

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Minimum group size: 3

    Students will be accepted to the course in the following order:

    -Students of costume design major.

    - Exchange students of costume design

    - Minor students of costume design, whose major is production design or design for the performing arts

    - Minor students of costume design, whose major is another than production design or design for the performing arts

    - Other students of production design and design for the performing arts

    - Other students of the department of Film, Television and Scenography

    - Other students

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Pre-assignment

    1)    
    Please describe your visions for a performance
    embedded in the garments or/and ideas for what to try out in the workshop, max.
    500 words. Add a short bio and send no later than 11th January 2021 to:
    sodja.zupanclotker(at)damu.cz and Chrilind(at)khio.no, as well as to the responsible
    professor: sofia.pantouvaki(at)aalto.fi.

    2)    
    Please visit the website of the Costume Agency
    research project:
    www.costumeagency.khio.no


    The course will take place in a hybrid mode:

    26.1. online via Zoom

    27.1.-5.2. at Kallio Stage


    Groups:

    Group A (costume designer A & dancers 1 + 2)

    Group B (costume designer B & dancers 3 + 4) 

    Group C (costume designer C & dancers 1 + 2) 

    Group D (costume designer D & dancers 3 + 4)


Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    Schedule


    Students are also expected to attend the following lecture from the course: ELO-E5016 Scenography, Production and Costume Design Lectures:

    Monday 25.1. at 10:00 – 13:00, on Zoom (https://aalto.zoom.us/j/68811805515/ Meeting ID: 688 1180 5515 /Please note date and time of lecture!

    ‘Costume Agency’ artistic research project

    Presenters: Christina Lindgren, Professor in Costume design, Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHIO) and Sodja Zupanc Lotker, Course Leader of Master in Directing Devised and Object Theatre, Prague Performing Arts Academy (DAMU)


    Week 4, Tues-Fri 9:00-17:00

    Online:

    Tues 26.1.          

    9-13
    Introduction / Designers present some previous work & their ideas/visions
    for a performance

    14-17 Independent
    work and group work, preparation

     

    Kallio Stage:

    Wed 27.1.

    9-11 Group A rehearses / Group B
    discusses 9:30-10:30

    11-13 Group B
    rehearses / Group A discusses 11:30-12:30

    13.00
    - 14.30: Feedback Group A and B designers (without the dancers)

    13-15 Group C
    rehearses / Group D discusses 13:30-14:30

    15-17 Group D
    rehearses / Group C discusses 15:30-16:30

     

    Thurs 28.1.        

    9-11 Group A rehearses / Group B discusses 9:30-10:30

    11-13 Group B rehearses / Group A discusses 11:30-12:30

    10.30
    - 12.00: Feedback Group C and D designers (without the dancers)

    13-15 Group C rehearses / Group D discusses 13:30-14:30

    15-17 Group D rehearses / Group C discusses 15:30-16:30

     

    Fri 29.1.

    Please
    note: All persons attend all sessions.

    9-10 Presentation and discussion Group A (10-15 min
    performing + 30 min discussion + 10’ break)

    10-11 Presentation
    and discussion Group B (10-15 min performing + 30 min discussion + 10’ break)

    11-12 Presentation and discussion Group C (10-15 min performing
    + 30 min discussion + 10’ break)

    Lunch break

    13-14 Presentation and discussion Group D (10-15 min
    performing + 30 min discussion + 10’ break)

    14-16 Plenary discussion (or time for one Group to work
    in depth with more experimentation)

     

    Week 5

     

    Mon 1.2.            

    9-11 Group A rehearses / Group B discusses 9:30-10:30

    11-13 Group B rehearses / Group A discusses 11:30-12:30

    13.00 - 14.30: Feedback Group A and B designers (without
    the dancers)

    13-15 Group C rehearses / Group D discusses 13:30-14:30

    15-17 Group D rehearses / Group C discusses 15:30-16:30

     

    Tues 2.2.            

    9-11 Group A rehearses / Group B discusses 9:30-10:30

    11-13 Group B rehearses / Group A discusses 11:30-12:30

    10.30
    - 12.00: Feedback Group A and B designers (without the dancers)

    13-15 Group C rehearses / Group D discusses 13:30-14:30

    15-17 Group D rehearses / Group C discusses 15:30-16:30

     

    Tuesday
    2nd and Wednesday 3rd February: Optional individual scheduling for
    tutorials

     

    Wed 3.2.            

    9-11 Group A rehearses / Group B discusses 9:30-10:30

    11-13 Group B rehearses / Group A discusses 11:30-12:30

    13-15 Group C rehearses / Group D discusses 13:30-14:30

    15-17 Group D rehearses / Group C discusses 15:30-16:30

     

    Thurs 4.2.           

    9-11 Group A rehearses / Group B make photos

    11-13 Group B rehearses / Group A make photos

    13-15 Group C rehearses / Group D make photos

    15-17 Group D rehearses / Group C make photos

     

    Fri 5.2. 

    Please note: All persons attend all sessions.

    9-13:30
    Sharing findings & recordings (demos) / video recording

    14:30-16 Plenary and Feedback on the course-workshop


    Important:

    • Changes may
    occur.

    • All
    workshop participants and performers will be present on Fridays for sharing and
    plenary sessions.