Teacher's Resource
Contemporary and Post-Traditional Performances
Wayang Kulit
Larry Reed's documentary
Larry Reed as he and the Gamelan Sekar Jaya orchestra prepare for a performance of "Wayang Bali: Dangerous Flowers" at the Julia Morgan Theatre.
http://www.kqed.org/arts/programs/spark/profile.jsp?essid=4575
KQED Arts. (2004January). Larry Reed [Video 9.31]
Retrieved from http://www.kqed.org/arts/programs/spark/profile.jsp?essid=4575
These images are still screen shots from the video link above.
Larry Reed is a nationally and internationally recognized theater artist and the founder and Artistic Director of ShadowLight Productions. Reed is a trailblazer in the contemporary shadow theater field one of the few American shadow masters of traditional Balinese shadow.
ShadowLight Productions to nurture indigenous shadow theater traditions and to explore and expand the possibilities of the shadow theatre medium. Reed has pioneered contemporary shadow theater by integrating traditional shadow theater techniques – which he studied and performed for two decades – with American theater and film styles. He is one of the few Americans trained in Wayang Kulit, Balinese shadow puppetry, and has collaborated with artists from diverse backgrounds and traditions including Tibetan, Chinese, Indonesian, and American.
(shadowlightghosts 2015)
This video introduces the students to a contemporary American artist whose art works are directly influenced by the traditional Wayang Kulit shadow puppetry. Reed explains the fundamental elements that make up the art form of shadow puppetry from a western contemporary artist point of view.
This video is a great resource to introduce the students to a contemporary approach to shadow puppetry. Reed describes in details how he has changed the traditional approach to the art form Wayang Kulit and transformed it to a contemporary style of shadow theater for a western audience.
Reed’s explanation will help students demystify this feigned art form which will allow students to analyses the art form for its simple basics. Students will start to generate ideas and approaches towards their own work, which will help them in producing their own production in class.
Reflecting on the video.
Ask students to reflect on what information they have gathered from the video.
Ask the student these questions
· How is Reed’s approach to shadow puppetry theatre different to traditional Wayang Kulit theatre?
· Who is Reed’s target audience?
· What are some of the similarities, when comparing Reed’s contemporary performance to traditional Wayang Kulit performance?
· Reed’s contemporary shadow puppet theatre is performed in English, does this change the meaning?
· How does Reed write his dialogue and script?
· What are the themes Reed uses in his scripts?
· How does the music impact the performance?
· Why is it performed in public spaces?
The teacher can approach this by:
Lead the students into a discussion by using ‘Inquiring learning’, the teacher will set a frame work of questions to ask the students about their understanding of the video.
The teacher can handout a work sheet with questions relating to the video, students can work collaboratively in groups or individually to complete the task.
Writing the script for the group production.
Ask the students to generate ideas to create a story board and script.
Some possibilities:
· Re-telling a part from one of the traditional Wayang Kulit stories such as the Ramayana or Mahabharata.
· A modern interpretation of a part from one of the traditional Wayang Kulit stories such as the Ramayana or Mahabharata.
· A story of everyday modern life.
o Romance
o Conflict
o Drama
o Comedy
· A story that deals with the battle or straggle between good and evil.
This task can be done as group work by forming the students in to groups of 3 to 4 to generate ideas to produce a script.
Ideas can be generated through discussion by using ‘Inquiring learning’ where the teacher will set a framework of questions to motivate students to create ideas.
These ideas can be written on the whiteboard for students to reflect on when writing the script.
This is a great resource for the responding strand for the Visual Arts in Band 7-8, this is particularly relevant to the Australian curriculum’s (ACAVAM120) where the students develop planning skills for ark-making by exploring techniques and processes used by different artists. This unit of work relates to the sub element content description encouraging students to consider viewpoints – societies and cultures: For example – How does the context of time and place, culture and ideology influence the look and meaning of art in public spaces?
Students will also present artworks demonstrating consideration of how the artwork is displayed to enhance the artist’s intention to an audience (ACAVAM122). This unit of work relates to the sub element content description that encourages students to explore social relationships as subject matter within artworks and how the display of these artworks reflects, challenges or extends the relationships between the artist and the audience.
ShadowLight Productions to nurture indigenous shadow theater traditions and to explore and expand the possibilities of the shadow theatre medium. Reed has pioneered contemporary shadow theater by integrating traditional shadow theater techniques – which he studied and performed for two decades – with American theater and film styles. He is one of the few Americans trained in Wayang Kulit, Balinese shadow puppetry, and has collaborated with artists from diverse backgrounds and traditions including Tibetan, Chinese, Indonesian, and American.
(shadowlightghosts 2015)
This video introduces the students to a contemporary American artist whose art works are directly influenced by the traditional Wayang Kulit shadow puppetry. Reed explains the fundamental elements that make up the art form of shadow puppetry from a western contemporary artist point of view.
This video is a great resource to introduce the students to a contemporary approach to shadow puppetry. Reed describes in details how he has changed the traditional approach to the art form Wayang Kulit and transformed it to a contemporary style of shadow theater for a western audience.
Reed’s explanation will help students demystify this feigned art form which will allow students to analyses the art form for its simple basics. Students will start to generate ideas and approaches towards their own work, which will help them in producing their own production in class.
Reflecting on the video.
Ask students to reflect on what information they have gathered from the video.
Ask the student these questions
· How is Reed’s approach to shadow puppetry theatre different to traditional Wayang Kulit theatre?
· Who is Reed’s target audience?
· What are some of the similarities, when comparing Reed’s contemporary performance to traditional Wayang Kulit performance?
· Reed’s contemporary shadow puppet theatre is performed in English, does this change the meaning?
· How does Reed write his dialogue and script?
· What are the themes Reed uses in his scripts?
· How does the music impact the performance?
· Why is it performed in public spaces?
The teacher can approach this by:
Lead the students into a discussion by using ‘Inquiring learning’, the teacher will set a frame work of questions to ask the students about their understanding of the video.
The teacher can handout a work sheet with questions relating to the video, students can work collaboratively in groups or individually to complete the task.
Writing the script for the group production.
Ask the students to generate ideas to create a story board and script.
Some possibilities:
· Re-telling a part from one of the traditional Wayang Kulit stories such as the Ramayana or Mahabharata.
· A modern interpretation of a part from one of the traditional Wayang Kulit stories such as the Ramayana or Mahabharata.
· A story of everyday modern life.
o Romance
o Conflict
o Drama
o Comedy
· A story that deals with the battle or straggle between good and evil.
This task can be done as group work by forming the students in to groups of 3 to 4 to generate ideas to produce a script.
Ideas can be generated through discussion by using ‘Inquiring learning’ where the teacher will set a framework of questions to motivate students to create ideas.
These ideas can be written on the whiteboard for students to reflect on when writing the script.
This is a great resource for the responding strand for the Visual Arts in Band 7-8, this is particularly relevant to the Australian curriculum’s (ACAVAM120) where the students develop planning skills for ark-making by exploring techniques and processes used by different artists. This unit of work relates to the sub element content description encouraging students to consider viewpoints – societies and cultures: For example – How does the context of time and place, culture and ideology influence the look and meaning of art in public spaces?
Students will also present artworks demonstrating consideration of how the artwork is displayed to enhance the artist’s intention to an audience (ACAVAM122). This unit of work relates to the sub element content description that encourages students to explore social relationships as subject matter within artworks and how the display of these artworks reflects, challenges or extends the relationships between the artist and the audience.
Larry Reed's Wayang Kulit Preformance in English
Larry Reed is one of the few Americans to be trained in wayang kulit, Balinese shadow puppetry and performed in this tradition around the world over the last 35 years.
Shadowlight.org. (2007). ShadowLight Productions: Wayang Bali. [Video]
Retrieved from:
http://www.shadowlight.org/slp/index.cfm?fuseaction=ThisProduction.DisplayThisProduction&production_id=10&production_title=Wayang%20Bali
http://education.asianart.org/explore-resources/video/shadow-theater-demonstration-with-larry-reed
This is a video of Reed's shadow puppet performance titled Wayang Bali.
This is a great resource for teacher to share with their students during class or to view outside of class. This video will provide the students with insight of what a contemporary performance looks like from the audience's point of view and what elements of the performance they must consider when producing their own.
A Daland in search of Wayang by Kanda Buwana
Kanda Buwana, Professor Matthew Isaac Cohen, is a London-based shadow puppeteer, educator and scholar who performs traditional and contemporary wayang kulit.
Performance at the Centre for Creative Collaboration in London in March 2011.
Watch at 1.30 minutes
Cohen, M, I. (2001 March). A dalang in search of wayang'. Centre for Creative Collaboration. London. [Video]
Retrieved from:
http://creative-collaboration.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvZGP2lQ0d0
These images are still screen shots from the video link above.
This is a video of Kanda Buwana' s shadow puppet performance titled A Daland in search of Wayang.
This is a great resource for teacher to share with their students during class or to view outside of class. This video will provide the students with insight of what a contemporary performance looks like from the audience's point of view and what elements of the performance they must consider when producing their own.
This video provides the students to explore ideas and techniques by showing the students a different approach to how to present their performance in a contemporary method.
Student watching this video will also generate ideas and techniques for their:
-character design: Traditional style characters, objects and decorations, props.
-use of materials: Stands for holding puppets, Masks, Claw glove
-display/ performance: The artist uses is own body as a puppet to create shadow. The production is presented without a screen. This allows the audience to watch the puppeteer as his interacts with his puppets or watch the shadows that are projected behind him.
Students will consider these ideas for presenting their performance when planing their production.
This is a video of Kanda Buwana' s shadow puppet performance titled A Daland in search of Wayang.
This is a great resource for teacher to share with their students during class or to view outside of class. This video will provide the students with insight of what a contemporary performance looks like from the audience's point of view and what elements of the performance they must consider when producing their own.
This video provides the students to explore ideas and techniques by showing the students a different approach to how to present their performance in a contemporary method.
Student watching this video will also generate ideas and techniques for their:
-character design: Traditional style characters, objects and decorations, props.
-use of materials: Stands for holding puppets, Masks, Claw glove
-display/ performance: The artist uses is own body as a puppet to create shadow. The production is presented without a screen. This allows the audience to watch the puppeteer as his interacts with his puppets or watch the shadows that are projected behind him.
Students will consider these ideas for presenting their performance when planing their production.
A Puppet Show For George St by Jesse Cox
Video of the preformance
https://vimeo.com/31530056
https://vimeo.com/31530056
A PUPPET SHOW FOR GEORGE STREET - Jesse Cox
23 September - 5 October
A PUPPET SHOW FOR GEORGE STREET - Jesse Cox
Gallery Two
'A Puppet Show for George Street' is a sculpture/installation capturing a
24-hour snapshot of the city's main street. The main sculpture is
comprised of over 30 small tin figures made from recycled oil tins
collected from surrounding restaurants and cafes. Looking at the
sculpture from the front the colorful figures represent the varied
characters that walk the pavement of George Street - bike riders, street
sweepers, businessmen and women, skater boys and cleaners. A pair of
lovers and an angel wing clad wanderer.
The simple figurative forms capture the aesthetic of shadow puppets - and
the sculpture is accompanied by a short video where the figures perform in
a shadow puppet show.
The exhibition is also displaying a number of maquettes and puppets from
the artists studio that have been used in the making of the final piece.
Gaffa.(2010). A PUPPET SHOW FOR GEORGE STREET - Jesse Cox [Video]
Retrieved from:
http://www.gaffa.com.au/2010-Exhibitions
This is a video of Jesse Cox' s shadow puppet performance titled A Puppet Show for George Street.
This is a great resource for teacher to share with their students during class or to view outside of class. This video will provide the students with insight of what a contemporary performance looks like from the audience's point of view and what different elements of the performance they must consider when producing their own.
This video provides the students to explore ideas and techniques by showing the students a different approach to how to present their performance in a contemporary method. Student watching this video will also generate ideas and techniques for their:
-character design: Modern style characters, objects and decorations, props.
-use of materials: Metals
-display/ performance: The puppets are free standing when displayed. The use of words as an introduction. What themes are presented in the performance.
Students will consider these ideas for presenting their performance when planing their production.
A PUPPET SHOW FOR GEORGE STREET - Jesse Cox
Gallery Two
'A Puppet Show for George Street' is a sculpture/installation capturing a
24-hour snapshot of the city's main street. The main sculpture is
comprised of over 30 small tin figures made from recycled oil tins
collected from surrounding restaurants and cafes. Looking at the
sculpture from the front the colorful figures represent the varied
characters that walk the pavement of George Street - bike riders, street
sweepers, businessmen and women, skater boys and cleaners. A pair of
lovers and an angel wing clad wanderer.
The simple figurative forms capture the aesthetic of shadow puppets - and
the sculpture is accompanied by a short video where the figures perform in
a shadow puppet show.
The exhibition is also displaying a number of maquettes and puppets from
the artists studio that have been used in the making of the final piece.
Gaffa.(2010). A PUPPET SHOW FOR GEORGE STREET - Jesse Cox [Video]
Retrieved from:
http://www.gaffa.com.au/2010-Exhibitions
This is a video of Jesse Cox' s shadow puppet performance titled A Puppet Show for George Street.
This is a great resource for teacher to share with their students during class or to view outside of class. This video will provide the students with insight of what a contemporary performance looks like from the audience's point of view and what different elements of the performance they must consider when producing their own.
This video provides the students to explore ideas and techniques by showing the students a different approach to how to present their performance in a contemporary method. Student watching this video will also generate ideas and techniques for their:
-character design: Modern style characters, objects and decorations, props.
-use of materials: Metals
-display/ performance: The puppets are free standing when displayed. The use of words as an introduction. What themes are presented in the performance.
Students will consider these ideas for presenting their performance when planing their production.
I Wayan Wija - Contemporary Balinese Puppet master.
Law of Survival by I Wayan Wija
An injured deer is attacked and killed by a tiger. A fish is killed and eaten by an exotic bird. Wayang Kulit by I Wayan Wija, Balinese dalang.
Wayan Wija. (2011). Law of Survival. [Video]
Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjAX1W5m0fw
An injured deer is attacked and killed by a tiger. A fish is killed and eaten by an exotic bird. Wayang Kulit by I Wayan Wija, Balinese dalang.
Wayan Wija. (2011). Law of Survival. [Video]
Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjAX1W5m0fw
I Wayan Wija's Puppets
Asianart. (2011). I Wayan Wija.[Images]
Retrieved from
http://blog.asianart.org/blog/index.php/2011/08/18/i-wayang-wija/
This is a video of Wayan Wija' s shadow puppet performance titled Law of Survival.
This is a great resource for teacher to share with their students during class or to view outside of class. This video will provide the students with insight of what a contemporary performance looks like from the audience's point of view and what different elements of the performance they must consider when producing their own.
This video provides the students to explore ideas and techniques by showing the students a different approach to how to present their performance in a contemporary method. Student watching this video will also generate ideas and techniques for their:
-character design: animals puppets including giant dinosaurs, decorations, props.
-use of materials: Bright colours, gold.
-display/ performance: The puppets are animals and the puppeteer keeps their animal nature in the production. The animals don't talk.
Students will consider these ideas for presenting their performance when planing their production.
Asianart. (2011). I Wayan Wija.[Images]
Retrieved from
http://blog.asianart.org/blog/index.php/2011/08/18/i-wayang-wija/
This is a video of Wayan Wija' s shadow puppet performance titled Law of Survival.
This is a great resource for teacher to share with their students during class or to view outside of class. This video will provide the students with insight of what a contemporary performance looks like from the audience's point of view and what different elements of the performance they must consider when producing their own.
This video provides the students to explore ideas and techniques by showing the students a different approach to how to present their performance in a contemporary method. Student watching this video will also generate ideas and techniques for their:
-character design: animals puppets including giant dinosaurs, decorations, props.
-use of materials: Bright colours, gold.
-display/ performance: The puppets are animals and the puppeteer keeps their animal nature in the production. The animals don't talk.
Students will consider these ideas for presenting their performance when planing their production.