ABSTRACT
Chapter 4, Controllable Qualities and Functions of light, investigates four essential questions. Answering “What is light?,” electromagnetic radiation and incandescence are discussed. Answering “How does light behave?,” refraction, reflection, diffusion, and diffraction are explored. Answering “What are the controllable functions of light?,” intensity, distribution, movement, and color are elaborated. Answering “What are the four basic functions of lighting design?,” selective visibility, visual composition, revelation of form, and creation of mood are highlighted. Answering these essential questions allows the designer to “see” light, to commit “looks” to memory, and to manipulate light’s qualities and functions. Ms. Scott demonstrates her use of these qualities and functions in Artifice, Section Two (5:13–13:35), when Mother Earth leaves and the ensemble engages movements, props, and video until Mother Earth rejoins them.
Further Reflections are by Richard Dunham, chair and artistic director of the Department of Theatre and Cinema at Radford University, Radford, Virginia. Mr. Dunham explains that the controllable qualities and functions of light provide infinite possibilities. He elucidates handling all this information before, during, and after rehearsals. Encouraging young designers, Mr. Dunham assures them that over time they will become better at using the qualities and functions of light, reinforcing their creativity as designers.
