Birmingham Opera Project

Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Side elevation of main space section

Ground plan of cathedral

I had to work out this 1:300 scale ground plan into 1:50 - then make just a section of that 1:50 as it would be way way way to big if I made the whole thing!

Tuesday, 24 December 2013

Representation of women - Iranian revolution 1979

Before the revolution women had gained a lot of rights through the Pahlavi era, however once Khomeini came into ruling taking Iran back to it's traditional values, women lost many of the rights they had just gained once the Islamic laws were put in place. I want to represent this within the opera by having the women in military uniform then their costume gradually becoming more Islamic. However, I need to consider the modern views of today and what does wearing a Burqa or Hejab mean to different people?

Does is always represent oppression as a forced way of dress for women? As it can also represent women in a positive light too - as many strong powerful women wear the hejab because they want to - either as a political statement of equality or because of religious beliefs. It is a very touchy subject and I need to think carefully about how I can communicate these ideas with a modern audience.

I need to develop these ideas still...

Development of ideas..

When first reading and listening to the opera, my original thoughts were 'imagine if I designed this opera in a zoo'. I wanted to show how territorial and animal-istic people get during a war - all morals go out the window. I could picture characters and forces being released from cages like viscous animals out to attack each other like prey. This led me to think of cages.

I want to explore the theme of oppression and how I can use oppressive objects and symbols within the opera. The use of cages can be used within the opera to give different meanings -

1. Oppression and entrapment: the country as a whole which is suffering due to this civil war would feel trapped; they are caged within their own country - no freedom

2. Rebellion: breaking free from a cage or barrier; fighting against a force, breaking free, uprising - fighting for freedom - going against laws and restrictions

3. Protection: cages also could act as a place of safety - there is fear at war and a cage could be seen as a safe place - barrier from evil and danger

I want to contrast these oppressive themes against this 'hope' and 'faith' from the Old Believer's of paradise. They believe of a better place and that they are on a journey from one world into the next - illusion of paradise