PMD1 Exploring Stimuli: Images

Using old western films and novellas as the general theme, such as Of Mice and Men, performance could take a cyclical structure to present the notion of all outcomes resulting the same way, or the mistakes of the past trapping a person and restricting the rest of their lives. Could link to Beckett's existential views of a meaningless life.

Scorpions on a skewer
The hands could represent a creature and the wires representing the skewer, perhaps consider the debate surrounding humans eating other animals/survival/food chains. Link to Artaud by using awkward, unconventionl movement in a dark setting in order to unnerve the audience.

Being trapped

Holding onto something that is damaging/painful, such as an unhealthy relationship. This could consider the idea of one trying to move on but not being able to, using Beckett or Stanislavsky's techniques; Stanislavsky showing the rational reasons behind trying to leave, Beckett portraying the confliction of not wanting to leave. 

The wires could represent a ladder, the hands belonging to one trying to climb the ladder in order to achieve higher status and better their lives, could link to the Of Mice and Men ideas, or alternatively the chain of being from Victorian ideals and the notion that one was simply born into their status and that could not be altered. This could coincide with ideas presented by Beckett and existentialism once more. 

The target audience age could be from age 15 upwards, as these ideas are touched upon in the GCSE syllabus for literature and therefore suggests those of such an age would be able to identify such concepts, whilst also present an educational benefit for such viewers. 

Patterns on the butterflies wings: Resemble that of a pathway, could allude to a purpose or alternate journeys through life. This could be linked to Beckett's existentialist views of an absence of a meaning to life. The shadow could represent this lack of purpose. Conversely, patterns could be a presentation of the presence of meaning, thereby demonstrating both views to the audience, could potentially be presented through split screening?

Alternatively, the shadow could be a metaphor for a hidden identity, presenting a Jekyll and Hyde notion. This could link to the first idea in that if people are forced to put on a facade then they are unable to embrace their true, natural desires, and therefore removes the meaning of life. It could also present us with the option of considering juxtaposing ideas such as: 

angel and devil

good and bad

mind and heart

Another possibility would be to use the stimulus to create a performance surrounding human life and the nature vs nurture debate. One is born almost a blank slate, uninfluenced by life, and the markings upon a butterfly could be the imprints life leaves on us all, shaping us into the people we are. 

For these ideas, Beckett and Stanislavky's techniques would  be most apt to influence our style of working, for they follow a similar ideology to that of Beckett and create a more relatable experience for the audience in the same way as Stanislavksy. 

We would not want to cap the maximum range for which our performance could be viewed by, in the same way as a film would not have a maximum age restriction, however we would perhaps suggest a performance of such content be most appropriate for those above 17, simply due to the arguable complexity of such a topic. Viewers of such an age would also receive such a notion far more maturely and be able to identify the moral or ideas we wish to portray. 

As a company we concluded such a performance is not appropriate in terms of production of resources such as props and set design, for it would require much more experience, budget and more extensive facilities, and it also leaves too much ambiguity in terms of storyline, and is difficult to hone in on one specific idea from it.