Welcome to Puppets and their Ilk, one option for the Summer Intensive English course in which you are now enrolled. In this option students will explore the world of puppets in their many guises while practicing and improving their English skills.

Students will participate in several performances and at least one presentation. My expectation is that you fine students put forth effort and treat this option as a chance to speak English and learn about the world of puppetry.

If you would like (for some inane or perhaps insane reason), here is the course syllabus for your reading pleasure. Of course, I reserve the right to amend it, so please treat this as a guideline.

You might be wondering about the course requirements. Not wanting to scare people away, I have wisely included them way, way, way down at the bottom of the page in 2-point font. Actually, you will find them hiding down below, but just not in 2-point font. Let's cover some admin things, just for fun.




Hereafter you will find a reasonably detailed synopsis of the respective classes we will enjoy this term. Thus, with no further ado, allow me to introduce the 18 sessions we will be wandering through over the next couple weeks.

Morning Sessions (March 16-22) — About A Boy 

In our morning sessions we'll be reading and discussing About A Boy, which came out in 2002. Following are the worksheets we'll be dancing through during our morning classes.

Class Material:

  • ✔ Units 1-2 worksheet (Two Boys / S.P.A.T.) Word doc / PDF
  • ✔ Units 3-4 worksheet (Emergency / Cool Uncle Will) Word doc / PDF
  • ✔ Units 5-6 worksheet (New Trainers / Christmas) Word doc / PDF
  • ✔ Units 7-8 worksheet (Rachel / Honesty) Word doc / PDF

As you know (or will soon know), our film is set in 2002. That was, of course, a mere 14 years ago, but you likely don't remember much about that time. Just for your enlightenment, you'll find some information about events in 2002 at The People History — 2002 and 2002 at Infoplease.



March 17, Session #1 (Thursday) — Introduction 

As often happens on the first day of class, we'll be speaking in somewhat general terms about our course and some of the topics therein. We will also enjoy a brief introduction to the world of puppetry and its many incarnations.

Class Material:

To the right we find a short clip about the career of Phillip Huber, a most extraordinary artist. We could, of course, also visit his website. As you'll see in the clip, he has had a long career capped by the movie titled 'Being John Malkovich' in 1999.

March 17, Session #2— Different Puppet Traditions 

Material here about Vietnamese water puppets, European puppetry



March 18, Session #1 (Thursday)— Narrative Types 

Our next step today will be to look some at the types of stories ("narratives") that underpin the art of puppetry. As regular people do, puppets tell stories and frame their stories in a number of traditional ways, about which we will be speaking in today's second session.

Class Material:

Here you'll find an interesting collection of folk tales from around the world. You might well be thinking that these would be interesting to perform (hint, hint).

In a traditional ...

March 18, Session #2— The Nature of Voice Quality 

As you are well aware, gentle people, your voice is a remarkable instrument that accompanies you day and night throughout your life. For many people, however, it has so much potential that is, I believe, largely untapped but nonetheless just patiently waiting for you to 'grap the bull by the horns' and run. To wit, folks, in our first session today we will be exploring your voice in some detail.

For our next class, please prepare the following.

Readings:

In the latter article you will have noticed



March 19, Session #1 (Friday)— The Story Cache 

OK, Gentle Students, who can tell me the story behind the image to the right? Next, where does that story take place?

In this brief session we will be talking some about the process of transmitting stories as well as reinventing them. We saw this a bit earlier with the additions to the 3 Little Pigs, and today you will have a chance to show your creative side.

Class Material:

March 19, Session #2 — Movement 

This afternoon we will be moving ... literally. Movement in puppetry (and oral communication in general) is of great importance: Birdwhistell, among others, suggested that nearly all communication is non-verbal (perhaps 90%?), which means that being adept at using movement would be wise. In addition, you'll find that exploring movement with puppets may shed light on your own movement.

Class Material:



March 20, Session #1—  Creation Myths 

Many cultures have a creation myth that details the beginnings of a particular people or culture.

Class Material:

More here.

March 20, Session #2 (Sunday)—  Scriptwriting 

One of the most widely known characters would be bears, of which we have had three gracing our classroom. In the US we have the ubiquitous teddy bear, the name of which sprang from a particular action by a certain US president some 100 years ago.

Homework:

Homework: At this point we need to talk about your upcoming performance, which will be on Friday in front of our class. In particular, I would like your group to perform a story, either one you write or one that is already written (e.g., Momotaro). I'm looking for creativity over a 10-15 minute performance.



March 21, Session #1 (Monday)—  Improvisation 

In this session we will focus on the skill of improvisation, which you practicie every single day. Consider for a moment how much you plan your daily conversations ... do you plan those? No, neither do I. This is the essence of improv, and it is a crucial skill in your academic life and in our not-so-academic puppetry world.

Class Material:

This evening we'll ...

March 21, Session #2 (Monday)—  Rehearsal 

On this day we will be ...



March 22 (Tuesday)— Final Performance 

As you likely are aware, ...

  1. Regular and active participation in class. I expect you to be physically present and mentally engaged. Questions? Always good, as are opinions, comments, and even random thoughts you have.

  2. Two presentations, which will include the following:
    • An in-class presentation on September 4 (Friday), in which you will use a published story, and
    • a more public presentation on the final day of our summer program (September 10). This iteration may be an old story, a reinvented story, or an original story that your group writes.

For other things (being absent, for example), please speak with me directly.

In case you have the urge to learn more about puppetry, here are several websites you might visit. Enjoy!

URL: www.jimelwood.net/students/meiji/puppets/puppets.html

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Date last updated: March 11, 2016 * Copyright 2016 by Midas, Cyrus, and all the other lunatics.