Close Analysis

1. Assessment Part C:
Close Analysis
by Louise Douse
Week
8
Understanding
Performance

2. Close Analysis
 Write a 1000 word close analysis on one of the following texts:
 Dance
 Martha Graham – Appalachian Spring
 Mary Wigman – When the Fire Dances BetweenTwo Poles
 Acting
 Henrik Ibsen – Ghosts
 George Bernard Shaw – Arms and the Man
Week 8
Understanding Performance

3. Close Analysis
 What is a close analysis?
 Close - done in a careful and thorough way
 Analysis - Detailed examination of the elements or structure
of something
 Interpretation - An explanation or way of explaining
 Explanation - Making an idea clear to someone by describing it
in more detail or revealing relevant facts
Week 8
Understanding Performance

4. 1. Read / Watch
 Read or watch the entire text (or
extract) as directed by your tutors
 Chose a section that ‘speaks’ to you
 This does not have to be your favourite
section
 Make notes
 Comments, questions, an outline
Week 8
Understanding Performance

5. 2. Apply key ideas
 Consider the ideas of
Modernism
 What are the key stylistic features
of Modernism?
 What are the key ideas/events of
the Modern era?
 How can these be applied to the
work of your practitioner?
Week 8
Understanding Performance

6. 3. Finding the evidence
 You will need to think about both the form and the
content of the text and in particular how the form
contributes to the meaning of the content
 Form – the way in which the text is presented -
how
 Performer – costuming, role
 Movement – actions, gestures, dynamics
 Sound – music, text, voice, style
 Space – lighting, props, scenery, set
 Content – the meaning of the text – what
Week 8
Understanding Performance

7. 3. Finding the evidence
Week 8
Understanding Performance

8. 4. Explain your approach
 You will need to show an
understanding of how the
examples you provide from the
performance work help to
evidence the key points you
have made about Modernism
Week 8
Understanding Performance

9. Example Outline – Para 1 – Introduction
(100 words)
 Point –What is the aim of the close analysis?What are you going to do?
Which work are you going to be looking at?
 "Thisclose analysisexamines. . .," "The aim of this close analysisis to . . .," and
"The purpose of this close analysisis to . . ."
 Evidence –What research will you be using to help you do this?
 Tell us about the key theories/theorists you will be drawing on?
 Explanation – Explain how you are doing this within the structure of the
close analysis.
 Provide a road map of your close analysis
Week 8
Understanding Performance

10. Example Outline – Para 2 – Practitioner
Influences (100 words)
 Point –What influences have shaped your practitioners work
 “Wigman’s work developed within the context of …”, “Ibsen was influenced
by prior playwrights such as…”
 Evidence –Where did you get this information from?
 Use quotes and references
 Explanation – Explain how the influences have shaped your
practitioners style.
Week 8
Understanding Performance

11. Example Outline – Para 3 – Social
/Cultural Influences (100 words)
 Point –What are the relevant cultural changes happening in the
Modern era?
 “During the Modern era, key changes were happening, such as…” “The
Modern era is characterised by….”
 Evidence – Can you draw on some of they key theorists?
 Use quotes and references
 Explanation – Explain how the practitioners work fits in this era.
Week 8
Understanding Performance

12. Example Outline – Paras 4/5 – Content
Idea (250 words total)
 Point –What is your interpretation of the section (in relation to the key
Modernist values/thinking/ideas/ideals)?
 “The text could be interpreted as…”, “In section… of… an interpretation could
be made of…”
 Evidence –What is the preferred reading? How do other critics interpret
the text?
 Use quotes! “… argues that …”, “It has been interpreted by… as…”
 Explanation – Explain how the quotations support your interpretation
and can be linked to those key Modern ideas/events.
Week 8
Understanding Performance

13. Example Outline – Para 6 – Modernism
(100 words)
 Point – Provide an introduction to Modernism in
dance/theatre
 Evidence – Provide detail of the broader characteristics
with reference to further reading
 Explanation – Explain which key characteristics you will
be analysing in more detail within your practitioners
work
Week 8
Understanding Performance

14. Example Outline – Para 7/8 – Formal
Properties (250 words total)
 Point – How can the form (performer, movement, sound, space)
be considered Modernist?
 “The style of the work aids the interpretation by…”, “The use of
music/language informs the content…”
 Evidence – Describe the work
 Identify key parts of the work which do the above!
 Explanation – Explain how the particular sections you have
described are evidence of those key Modernist characteristics.
Week 8
Understanding Performance

15. Example Outline – Para 9 - Conclusion
 Point - Have you achieved your aim?
 What are key interpretations and ideas identified in the work?
 Evidence – Can you draw out any key points from your essay to
support this?
 Do not include any new material
 Explanation – Sum up and refer back to the intro aims.
 Have you answered the brief?
Week 8
Understanding Performance