Project Material on; COSTUMING AN ABSURD PLAY: CASE STUDY OF SAMUEL BECKETT’S WAITING FOR GODOT

Project Material on; COSTUMING AN ABSURD PLAY: CASE STUDY OF SAMUEL BECKETT’S WAITING FOR GODOT

COSTUMING AN ABSURD PLAY: CASE STUDY OF SAMUEL BECKETT’S WAITING FOR GODOT

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the Study

This work attempts to throw more light on costuming an absurd play using Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot as a case study and would also research on the concept of absurdism and proponents of the ideology in attempt to throw more light on its application to budding playwrights and actors of absurd drama.

As the coming of Existentialism attempted to set the prospective of living with boundaries and tribulations, it was clear from the population’s point of view that their worlds that they were to live; were of suspicious enquiries over the meaning of life and that of desolate close-up to how coexistence ought to be, and the references it provided in accordance with the individual’s capacity of receiving, reasoning and

applying carefully.

This form of layout highly recommends what Existensalists stood for when they preached to differ the meaning of life apart from what it provides in return, this very standpoint which sparkled the realm of life expectancies; dramatic flux and thus the long-awaited results which weakens one’s faith and corporate them to the desolation of an exhausting drive of life, this futuristic outcome on the people’s ineffectual mechanism in understanding the resolutions they make in a chaotic rationalism; denotes why the majority of individuality feel free to determine their universal opinion in life, and hence tackle it to the extent of solving dilemmas  in a basic relevance to the presently esteemed challenges; for what yet to come is of irrational incapability in comprehending the beyond of life challenges.

The Existentialism turned to a post-modern view that radically supported the initiation of three supplementary traits which furthered the understanding to a freedom more convincing and extravagant in conceiving the personal choice, this movement was Absurdism that branched out of the modern view on life with a newly foundation that perceives life in supporting whatever the individual accounts for it.

The three titles that were to condemn humanity’s voice by strengthening their reasoning into manageable segments of Physical Suicide, Philosophical Suicide, Acceptance, merely meant to widen the area of discussing life regulations in a more modern interpretation.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

Most directors do not regard costume as an essential item in a play production; especially in an absurd play. Sometimes costume performs an interpretive role which is not often addressed by practitioners in the theatre as a result of which plays, are done without due consideration of this salient fact.

1.3  Scope of the Study

This work shall attempt an interpretative study of costuming an   absurd play. It would also to do an analytical discourse on the concept of absudism in relation to the play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Furthermore this work would show case how costume could be used to aid the actor to interpret his role better; costume helps in placing the actors in his/her geographical orbit, especially in a play as complex as Samuel Beckett’s: waiting for Godot.

1.4  Significance of the Study

It is hoped that this research would serve as a stimulant to others in this field on costuming an absurd play. It would also contribute to the knowledge of the concept of absurdism. This study attempts to offer an additional material as aid towards the study of absurd drama to scholars and practitioners of absurd theatre and drama.

1.5  Research Methodology

This research adopts the artistic and literary methodologies. The artistic methodology, would be adopted to delve into historical developments of costume provide imageries showcasing the costume for the play Waiting for Godot in an attempt to showcase how an absurd play should be costumed while the literary, journals data from internet, thesis and so on. Using the play; Waiting for Godot as a focal point.