Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Muppet Midterm
n/a
43
Film, Theatre & Television
Undergraduate 1
02/16/2010

Additional Film, Theatre & Television Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Sam and Friends
Definition
5 min segment in the beginning of a variety show. First show Jim and Jane worked together on, between 1955 - 1961. 
Term
Sesame Street
Definition
First children's educational show featuring the Muppets, produced by Joan Ganz Cooney. First aired 1969. Commercial format, targeted for preschoolers. 
Term
Muppet Show
Definition
Produced in England; Prime time, so older audience. Written by Jerry Juhl, featured Jim Henson and Frank Oz's muppets. 1976-1981
Term
Muppet Babies
Definition
Spin-off of a scene about the muppets as babies from Muppets Take Manhattan. First completely animated show about muppets, also a children's show. 1984-1990
Term
Fraggle Rock
Definition
Children's TV show, aired from 1983-1987. The show contained Fraggles, Doozers, and the Gorgs. Teaches how different races, even though they may live in different areas, all live harmoniously together, and benefit one another. Teaches world peace. Also promotes environmental respect.
Term
Franz Frazakas
Definition
Special effects designer and puppeteer - increased the range movement and expression of the puppets. Rods, cable control systems, eye movements. Developed the Henson Performance Control System. 
Term
Don Sahlin
Definition
Main designer and puppeteer builder in 60s and 70s. Built Rowlf, Ernie, Bert, Grover, and Cookie Monster. 
Term
Magic Triangle
Definition
Simple but effective approach to positioning eyes, creating a triangle in relation to the nose and mouth. 
Term
Cyclia
Definition
Multimedia experience, taken place in a large room, where 16mm projectors would screen images in a large room, accompanied by live music. Vital, living, expanding experience that consumes its audience. Total involvement - total communication. 
Term
Rowlf - history
Definition
First appeared in commercials for Purina Dog Chow in 1963. Achieved a regular role on the Jimmy Dean Show. Provided Jim Henson with a lot of stage experience. Henson operated Rowlf, assisted by Oz. 
Term
Jerry Juhl
Definition
Television and movie writer, originally a puppeteer and writer on Sam and Friends. Head writer for The Muppet Show in the second season. Wrote Fraggle Rock, co-wrote The Muppet Movie, also wrote Muppet Television Specials.
Term
Frank Oz
Definition
Puppeteer and provided the voices for many characters on The Muppet Show and Sesame street alike. Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Bert. Also was a producer and director. 
Term
US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare - Sesame Street
Definition
Covered 1/2 of the 8 million dollar budget for Sesame Street
Term

The Markle Foundation - Sesame Street

 

The Carnegie Institute

Definition

Provided more than 1,011 grants towards Sesame Street

 

Carnegie Institute's vice president helped collaborate with Cooney on the show. 

Term
The Count
Definition
Simple mathematical concepts, focusing on the symbolic processes of learning. 
Term
Oscar the Grouch
Definition
Respect and tolerance - understandings of different lifestyles. Understanding of the natural world. 
Term
Zoey
Definition
Addresses the show's gender gap - positive, strong role model for girls, personable. Maybe a reflection of the feminist movement. Focuses on the man-made world. 
Term

Grover

 

Big Bird

Definition

Teaches about imagination and problem solving. Focuses on the reasoning and problem solving aspect of the show.

 

Big Bird is himself a six year old, so he learns on the show through mistakes, through exploring the world. This could be understanding the natural world. 

Term

Snuffy

 

Cookie Monster

Definition

Snuffy was brought on the show to teach kids that having imaginary friends is not something that needs to be hidden.

 

In newer episodes, the cookie monster teaches kids how to eat cookies in moderation. 

Term
Kevin Clash
Definition
Elmo. His character provided diversity to the show by being the youngest character, who the youngest watchers can relate to. Clash was one of the first black performers to work on the show. 
Term
Kermit the Frog
Definition
Kermit first appeared on Sam and Friends as a nameless lizard-like creature. He became a feature character on The Muppet Show, partly because Kermit is most like Jim Henson himself. Kermit held the rest of the Muppets together. 
Term
Muppet Show Producer
Definition

Jim Henson

David Lazer

Term

Gonzo:

character and who produced him

Definition

Gonzo as a character provides the clown aspect of the Muppets. He provides comic relief due to the fact that no one knows what he is; he is a “whatever.” He also provides a love triangle with Miss Piggy and Kermit in some movies or episodes. Dave Goelz developed Gonzo, who also developed other equally quirky characters such as Dr. Bunsen Honeydew. 


Term
Miss Piggy - history
Definition

 

Miss Piggy originated in the 1970's on the Muppet Show. She is used as a sex symbol to represent the perfect woman. Enlgish pantomime possibly influenced her development as she became an exaggerated version of a woman played by a man, which could be derived from the English tradiition of the Pantomime Dame. She could be seen as a strong female role model because: she has curves, she is tough,aggresive, and sexually liberated. She could be seen as coming from the misogynistic construction of the fema because: of her excessive feminity, her wardrobe, her unnatural falsetto, breathy voice,and her sexual agressiveness. 


 

Term
Rufus and Margo Rose (Howdy Doody)
Definition
Punch and Judy essence, the show was just for entertainment and not education. Buffalo "Bill" Smith. Show was focused on entertainment, advertisement, and merchandising. Taught Jim the correct ways to put on a puppet show that will capture a child's attention and hold it.
Term
Bil Baird (Snarky Parker)
Definition
American puppeteer who was best known for his "Baird Marionettes" who appeared on Broadway, Television, and films. Introduced the marionette aspect of puppetry to Jim.
Term
Burr Tilstrom (Kukla Fran and Ollie)
Definition
Creator of this show, that was softer and improvised. Aired from 47-57.Tillstrom developed the technique of watching the on-stage action through a small monitor as he performed the puppet characters while standing behind a see-through screen. Jim would take this idea and modify it to make it his own. 
Term
Bunraku
Definition
Form of a traditional Japanese puppetry - combination of hand and rod puppets. 
Term
Rod 
Definition

limbs of rod puppets are primarily controlled from below by use of separate sticks, or rods

Term
Marionette
Definition
Puppets controlled from the top, strings attached. Popular in the European Romantic period. 
Term

Hand Puppet

 

Body Puppet

Definition

Hand puppet operated by the puppeteer's hand.

 

Body puppet operated more extensively by the puppeteer: using arms, legs, etc.

Term
Shadow Puppet
Definition
Eastern in origin: Asia. Floats from above. Negative thinking. Expandable size. Paper against a lit up see through screen.
Term
Water Puppet
Definition
Vietnamese in origin. Operated by rods or mechanical control. Limited movements, often musical. 
Term

Punch

Kasper

Karagoz

Pulchinella

Definition

English


German


Turkish


Italian

Term
Swazzle
Definition
The swazzle is a reed-like instrument that distorts the voice. The importance of this is to give the puppet an emphasis to his character. 
Term
The Muppet Show's relation to vaudeville, radio, and comedy/variety shows
Definition
Includes factors of a host, band, a group of performers, a guest star with a specialty. Identified with host, laughed at group, wondered at guest. Included short sketches, the vaudeville mode of not losing the audience, and pleasing everyone. 
Term
Prairie Dawn vs. Zoey
Definition

Prairie Dawn is a smart, mature, and good-natured 7 year old. Zoey is 3 years old, free-spirited, naive, and lively. 

Prairie Dawn teaches good morals to the community and is very helpful. Zoey is elmo's counterpart, young, loving to sing and dance. 

Prairie Dawn is a role model for the girls who are starting to grow up, and Zoey is the role model for the younger crowd.

Term
Gerald Lesser: Sesame Street
Definition
Head of the Children's Television Workshop's board of academic advisors. Had a lot of input on what content went on Sesame Street. 
Term
Joan Ganz Cooney: Sesame Street 
Definition
Producer of Sesame Street. Proposed the commercial style of teaching. Suggested the curriculum of the show, and was one of the founders of the Children's Teaching Workshop. 
Term
Edward Palmer: Sesame Street
Definition
Director of Research for Sesame Street. Helped found the Children's Television Workshop. Claimed Sesame Street was an ongoing experiment. Also developed Distractor Method: Presents many distractions that compete with the television for viewer’s attention.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!