PUPPETS & PERFORMING OBJECTS
Wednesdays 3:30 - 6:00pm
Instructor: Ithai Benjamin

Email: ithaib@nyu.edu
Office hours: Tuesday, 1:00 - 3:00pm, or by appointment

Class website: http://itp.nyu.edu/~ib534/papo/ - I’ll be posting a lot of info here as we go along, so check in regularly.

While grocery shopping, have you ever wanted to talk to a cucumber? Make out with a red radish or pet a pizza? You can. Following the idea that puppets are "any performing object" and that objects can be useful as stand-ins for human beings, this class explores anthropomorphism, character development, narrative and performance. Through weekly assignments and a final project, we will bring life to objects that we create, transform or find. Drawing inspiration from different styles of mainstream and experimental art, entertainment and puppetry we will develop original concepts of our own. Exercises explore a range of technologies and materials, from simple sock puppets to body puppets, mechanisms, robots and animatronics. We’ll spend time looking at how to successfully integrate interactive elements from other realms such as music, SFX, physical interfaces, etc. into our performances.

This is a hands on class. Performance or puppetry skills are not required. You must bring your imagination and willingness to experiment and come up with creative solutions to class assignments. At the end of the semester we'll showcase our best work and put on a crazy show!

Grading is based on successful completion of all assignments, class participation and attendance. Don’t miss any classes. Every week I’ll be adding links to the syllabus and class website. Creative and alternative solutions to homework assignments are welcome.

Class outings and artist studio visits:
Hanne Tierney - Strange Tales of Liaozhai (video)
Lou Nasti's studio
The Murtogh D. Guinness Collection (video)
Quay Brothers MoMA Exhibit

Class 1: September 5th

• Sock puppets in-class challenge
• Introductions
• Overview and goal of course
• A short history of puppetry and object performance presentation
• Demonstration/Discussion:
• Hand and Glove puppets
• Inspirational videos
• Materials, tools, techniques and resources
• Assignment:
• Make an absolutely weird, awful or unusual glove puppet - super ugly, cute, disgusting, charming, disturbing.. exaggerate all your puppets features and expressions - buggy eyes, crooked teeth, insane hair, zits, wounds. Go as far as you can with your materials. Your puppet should be very expressive and its emotions clear to us. Give it a name and background story and make it your friend.
• With partner, prepare a short 1-2 minute performance with your puppets that teaches us something (we'll discuss this in class)
• Watch “The World of Jim Henson” and the other videos
• Document your project on the class blog - pics and description

• Present, perform, discuss and critique Awful Glove Puppets
• Pantyhose Puppets in-class challenge
• Demonstration/Discussion:
• Hand and Glove puppets Part 2
• Inspirational videos
• Materials, tools, techniques and resources
• Assignment:
• Make an Animal Hand Puppet with a moving mouth
• Bring in a video, song, pictures, anything visual that inspired you to present in class.
• Document on class blog
• Watch weekly videos
• Hand out PAPOPIP (Puppets and Performing Objects Personal Inspiration Packet)

• Animal Hand Puppets presentation and critique. Discuss puppets, ideas for documentary assignment
• Demonstration/Discussion:
• Discuss our collaborative stage project
• Storytelling, Storyboards, Scriptwriting
• Inspirational videos
• Guest: Puppet Scholar Rachel Elizabeth Herschman
• Assignment:
• Make a Documentary about your puppet (we’ll discuss in class)
• Document on class blog
• Listen - Glow in the dark Cats
• Watch weekly videos

• Present, perform, discuss and critique Documentary performance with Animal Puppets
• Guest: Puppeteer Eric Wright
• Assignment:
• Make a Rod Puppet made of cardboard with at least one mechanism
• With a partner prepare a Love Triangle Melodrama performance
• Post your favorite song/video of the moment on the class blog
• Watch weekly videos

• Present, discuss and critique Rod Puppets and Love Triangle Melodrama performances
• Demonstration/Discussion:
• Mechanisms, Marionettes
• Materials, tools, techniques and resources
• Assignment:
• Make a Marionette Puppet out of wood. Paint it using lots and lots of color. Prepare for your boxing match. Pick your entrance music.
• With a partner or two prepare a 1-2 minute performance based on a David Bowie song of your choice
• Document on class blog
• Watch weekly videos

• Present, discuss and critique Marionettes and performances
• Guest: Artist Greg Barsamian
• Assignment:
• Sculpt and create a 3D Zoetrope
• Start preparing for the Halloween show. What puppet are you going to make? Start writing story ideas with partners.
• Document on class blog
• Watch weekly videos and on our Pinterest page.

• Present, discuss and critique 3D Zoetropes
• Discuss Halloween ideas and performances
• Demonstration/Discussion:
• Cable Control techniques
• Push-Pull, Pull-Pull systems, Springs, Joints. Intro to Springs and Hooke's law - video
• Materials, tools, techniques and resources
• PAPOMAT!!! - Music & SFX in-class workshop
• Assignment:
• Prepare Puppets and Performances for Halloween Show. Thechosen theme is KITCHEN APOCALYPSE
• Document on class blog
• Watch weekly videos

• Present, discuss and critique Halloween show puppets, plans and scripts
• Sets and Props in-class workshop
• Create scary collaborative invitation for the show
• Assignment:
• Refine work for Halloween Show
• Build sets and props
• Document on class blog
• Watch weekly videos

• Present, perform, discuss and critique Halloween Performances
• Presentation on Robotics and Animatronics Part 1
• Demonstration/Discussion:
• Radio Control, Motor Controllers, Software
• Different ways of controlling robotic puppets
• Eye mechanisms
• Skins and skeletons, concealing the insides
• Assignment:
• Research your final project. Prepare a power point presentation with videos, pictures.
• Watch weekly videos

• Demonstration/Discussion:
• Mechanisms Part 2
• Robotics and Animatronics
• Assignment:
• Prepare presentation for indivual meetings with me on Friday, November 9th
• Build Final Project Prototype

• Present Final Project Prototypes
• Shadow Puppets Workshop with guest artist Stephen Kaplin
• Assignment:
• Continue Work on final Projects

• Present and discuss final project prototypes and ideas
• Automata and mechanical toys
• Guest: Artist EJ Park
• Final /PerformanceProject Workshop
• Discussions, Q&A, Inspiration time
• Assignment:
• Complete all PAPOPIP Drawing assignments in the PAPOPIP Book. Bring in to next class to present
• Continue work on final Projects

• Show PAPOPIP Drawing Assignments
• Final Performance/Project Workshop
• Discussions, Q&A, Inspiration time

• Final Project Performances and Presentations
• Cookies
• Party
• Pretzel sticks
• Dry Ice
• Smoke machine
• THE END