Theatre 231a – Costume Construction

Fall 2010

Leah Piehl

310.922.7730 mobile

Class Meetings

Tuesday and Thursday – 11:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.

Office hours: By appointment only

Course Objectives

  • To understand the lines, silhouettes, and details of fashion from ancient times through the 17th Century.
  • To review progress, politics, art, and world events that help determine the reasons for the clothing styles of different eras and locations.
  • To discuss how style affects character in both life and on the stage.
  • To attend one USC theatrical production and write a review of the costume design based on interpretation of the period depicted in the production.
  • To present a comprehensive report on a focused aspect of fashion/costume history that interests you.

Required Text

SURVEY OF HISTORIC COSTUME: A History of Western Dress

Phyllis G. Tortora & Keith Eubank

Grading Policy

Students are expected to complete all assignments on the date they are assigned. There will be no makeup for the quizzes, midterm or final exam. You will also be responsible for completing and presenting your research project on the date you sign up for at the beginning of the semester. If you must change this date for any reason you will need to trade dates with another student and submit this change in writing to me, signed by you and the student with whom you will swap spots. If you simply do not have your research project on the date it is due, you will not earn points for this assignment.

Grading Scale

The final course grade is based on the following point scale: A=96-100; A-=91-95; B+=88-90; B=85-87; B-=81-84; C+=78-80; C=75-77; C-=71-74; D+=67-70; D=64-66; D-=61-63; F=60 or below. Point values are assigned to individual tests, quizzes and projects.

Grading, Attendance, Tardies and more

  • Students are expected to arrive at class on time.
  • Quizzes will be given at start of class and will last approximately 10 minutes; If you arrive late you will not be given extra time to complete a quiz
  • No more than 3 unexcused absences will be permitted without affecting the student’s grade.
  • Grading scale

Quizzes25%

Midterm Review15%

Final Review20%

Production Review Paper15%

Research Project25%

Academic Integrity

Dishonesty in any form harms the individual, other students, and the School of Theatre. Therefore, USC policies on academic integrity will be enforced in this course. Papers (designs) suspected of containing plagiarized material (the unacknowledged or inappropriate use of another’s ideas, wording, or images) will be verified for authenticity by the School of Theatre through internet services. I expect you to familiarize yourself with the academic integrity guidelines found in the current SCampus (

Disability Services

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is 213-740-0776

Course Assignments
Research Project

Research presentations should enhance and bring additional focus and information to an area of fashion discussed this semester. You may choose any topic within fashion/costume history that appeals to you. The presentations should last approximately 15 minutes and include visuals (art work, illustrations, diagrams or 3-dimensional displays). The purpose of this assignment is to educate the class on your chosen topic of research.

Production Review Paper

Choose a production from USC’s lineup of SOT shows and write a 1-2 pg. review focusing on the effectiveness of the costume design. How did the design help set the time period and how did the costumes enhance the characters in the play? In your opinion was the overall design successful and why? This paper is due within 1 week following your attendance at the production and should include proof of attendance (ticket stub).

Syllabus and Required Reading

You are expected to read assigned pages prior to meeting for class; Quizzes will be based upon the assigned reading. Reading assignments are listed on the day they are due.

Aug. 24Introduction to Course

Aug. 26 What is the history of costume?pg. 1 - 10

THE ANCIENT WORLD

Aug. 313500 B.C. – A.D. 300pg. 13 – 18

Sept. 2Mesopotamia Costume 3500 – 600 B.C.pg. 19 – 31

Sept. 7Egyptian Costume / Men3000 – 300 B.C.pg. 31– 38

Sept. 9Egyptian Costume / Women 3000 – 300 B.C.pg. 38 – 47

CRETE AND GREECE

Sept. 14Minoan and Mycenaean Costumes 2900 -1150 B.C.pg. 51 – 57

Sept. 16Greek Costume 800 – 300 B.C.pg. 57 – 72

Specialized/military/theatrical

Sept. 21RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Sept. 23RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

ETRURIA AND ROME -

Sept. 28Etruscan Costume 800 – 200 B.C.pg. 75 – 80

Oct. 30Roman Costume 500 B.C. – A.D. 400pg. 80 – 87

Oct. 5Roman Costume / Women, Children, Componentspg. 87 - 96

THE MIDDLE AGES

Oct. 7RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Oct. 12Byzantine Era A.D. 300 –1453/Fall of the Roman Empirepg. 107 – 121

Oct. 1410th through 12th Centurypg. 121 - 134

Oct. 1913th Centurypg. 134 - 143

Oct. 21RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

THE LATE MIDDLE AGES

Oct. 2614th Centurypg. 145 - 156

Oct. 2815th Centurypg. 156 - 173

Nov. 2RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Nov. 4Midterm Review

THE RENAISSANCE

Nov. 9Overview / The Italian Renaissance

15th and 16th Century Costumes pg. 181 - 201

Nov. 11RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Nov. 16Overview / The Northern Renaissancepg. 203 - 215

16th Century /Costumes for Men

Nov. 1816th Century / Costumes for Women & Childrenpg. 215 - 226

Nov. 23RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Nov. 25 THANKSGIVING BREAK

BAROQUE AND ROCOCO

Dec. 30Overview / 17th Century/Costumes for Menpg. 229 - 249

Dec. 217th Century / Costumes for Women / REVIEWpg. 249 -263

FINAL EXAM

Tuesday Dec. 14;

8 – 10 am