Remember my name: mathematicians who contributed to theatre and vice-versa.

Hello, actors and mathematicians! Since last post wefocused on Escher, I thought we could devote this entry to exploring some other experts in the field whose work contributed to theatre.

Although maths and theatre may appear to be unrelated fields, there have been notable mathematicians throughout history who not only excelled in their mathematical endeavors but also made noteworthy contributions to the field of theatre. In this blog post, we'll look into the fascinating lives of these mathematicians and how their enthusiasm for both the stage and mathematics intertwined, having a profound effect on both disciplines. This post lists a few:

Archimedes.

We meet the mathematician, physicist, engineer, and time traveler Archimedes in the distant past. Despite being primarily recognized for his contributions to science and mathematics, Archimedes also dabbled in theater. He is rumored to have created clever sets for theatrical performances, including automated controls for special effects and scenery changes. Mathematical and mechanical expertise of Archimedes improved the theatrical experience by offering creative fixes that delighted audiences and paved the way for later developments in stagecraft.

Lewis Carroll.

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll. Yes, the Alice in Wonderland writer. his fanciful tales are not only fascinating stories, but they also incorporate mathematical concepts and puzzles into the story. Carroll's aptitude for fusing mathematical puzzles with captivating storytelling produced a distinctive blend of entertainment and education that still holds the attention of readers, both young and old, to this day, and his work has been adapted to the stage countless times, be it as straight plays or musicals like Wonderland and Alice by Heart.

Sophie Germain.

The 18th-century French mathematician Sophie Germain made significant contributions to number theory and mathematical physics. Germain was renowned for her tenacity and resolve in continuing her mathematical studies at a time when it was thought inappropriate for women, but she also delved into other branches of philosophy and science. She emphasized the significance of creativity and imagination in the pursuit of knowledge by using the metaphor of the theater to represent the development and exchange of ideas, so, in a way, theatre contributed to her work. 

Through history, mathematicians have brought their logical reasoning and imaginative thinking to the stage, bridging the gap between the worlds of mathematics and theater, which helps both disciplines in a beautifully simbiotic relationship. Were you aware of all these great minds and their appreciation for or contribution to the craft?

I learnt a lot this week, and until next time, break a leg.

I move the stars for no one: Escher and the "Labyrinth" set design.

Hello actors and mathematicians! Today I want to discuss MC Escher.

Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher is renowned for his intricate and perplexing works that are strongly influenced by mathematical ideas. Tessellations, impossibly complex structures, and intricate symmetries are frequent elements in Escher's works. Despite not having a direct connection to the theater, many stage productions have used his work to build visually stunning set designs and backdrops. The close relationship between mathematics, art, and theatrical aesthetics is amply illustrated by the way in which Escher played with geometric shapes and patterns to confound expectations and produce optical illusions.

If you're in class with me you already know some of this, because we've talked about him, but what you might not know is a clear example of a set that was entirely built with his work in mind; the one for the 1986 fantasy movie musical Labyrinth. Instead of showing you still pictures. I include a video of a scene where you can see Escher's famous impossible stairs in motion.

What do you think? confusing, right? Until next time, break a leg!

I am not throwing away my shot: musical motifs and tesselation.

 Hello actors and mathematicians!

According to what we have learned in class, tessellation is a special type of tiling (a pattern of geometric shapes that fill a two-dimensional space with no gaps and no overlaps) that repeats in all directions in an infinite plane. Tesselae are known for their beauty and the satisfactory way they create beautiful pictures. In Spain in particular, they are very culturally relevant, as they are an integral part of our traditional tiling, as seen in this image:

In trying to connect this idea specifically to musical theatre, however, I noticed there was a way to make this concept acccessible to different inteligences. As teachers, we know it's important to adjust our teaching strategies in order to make learning accessible to every one of our students. Subjects like geometry are often skewed to be easier to visual learners. Some techniques engage kinesthetic learners (we'll talk about them in a different post) but this idea is specific to auditory learners.

There is a phenomena in musical theatre we call the motif, that is, when a composer utilizes a certain musical sequence, "x" or "y" notes, to convey a certain emotion or callback to a character, their motivations, their way of being... This phenomena is very well exemplified in musicals like Les Miserables and Hamilton. If you want to understand it better, youtuber Jaime Altozano does a great job of explaining it in this video (it has english subs if you need them):

Now, the relationship between this topic and mosaics is obvious to me: like they do with tesselae, motifs employ musical sections or notes that are carefully and creatively designed to fit into a narrative just right in order to tell a story.

If our class has auditory learners who resonate with this, why wouldn't we ask them to create a musical motif to accompany their mosaics and tesselation projects? I will certainly give this a thought.

Until next time, break a leg!

This is the greatest show: let’s get to know eachother.

 Hello actors and mathematicians! Welcome to my blog.

I'm Manuela, a student of the double degree that combines English Studies with Primary Education. I'm writing on this blog for the Didactics of Geometry subject. In it, I have been asked to combine geometry with another subject that is of interest to me, and in order to do that I have resolved I will take this entry as a way to review my passions and interests and choose one that has potential for this specific task, so I will be able to create a link to geometry in a didactic and entertaining way.

If you ask me what I like to do in my free time, I'll say that I'm interested in things like reading, writing, singing... In short, I love stories, and appreciate any hobby that allows me to engage in storytelling.

For that very reason, I have trouble with choosing one to apply to this blog: I have understood geometry is everywhere a little too well, and now I see it in a lot of the things I love, like how poets measure the verses in their compositions to make them impactful, or how music is constructed to paint a picture that clicks together.

That's why I have decided to use them all, in a way, as I want the focus of this blog to be geometry's intersection with a very multidirectional interest of mine, one that puts together storytelling, music, playing pretend and creating in many ways: musical theatre.

I'm interested to see how geometry plays a role in this discipline, do you want to explore it with me?

Then come along, keep reading and break a leg!