4/28/2024 9:02:05 PM	THAR 121.3 Course Outline as of Fall 2015	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  THAR 121.3	Title:  CORSET CONSTRUCTION
Full Title:  Stage Costuming: Period Corset Construction
Last Reviewed:4/26/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Practical application of methods, materials, and techniques used in constructing a period corset for personal or theatrical use, with emphasis on historical costume construction for a current Theatre Arts production.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Course Completion of THAR 21A OR FASH 70A

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Practical application of methods, materials, and techniques used in constructing a period corset for personal or theatrical use, with emphasis on historical costume construction for a current Theatre Arts production.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Course Completion of THAR 21A OR FASH 70A
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Cconstruct a corset according to the requirements of at least one of the following periods:

     a. Tudor

     b. Elizabethan,

      c. 17th century European

     d. 18th century men's or women's corsets

     e. 19th century men's or women's corsets

2.  Work independently and collaboratively, under pressure of production deadlines.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1.  Work safely, with effective use of the costume studio workrooms and equipment.

2.  Work effectively under the pressure of actual production deadlines and fitting schedule demands.

3.  Interpret and apply the terminology related to basic and intermediate corset and costume construction.

4.  Measure the body accurately for corset construction.

5.  Identify body type and problem areas and apply a decision-making process for altering the corset mockup to ensure a perfect fit.

6.  Use the tools and equipment used in the corset construction process.

7.  Identify and select appropriate fabrics for corset construction.

8.  Transfer alterations to a paper pattern.

9.  Utilize and interpret pattern symbols appropriately.

10. Accurately layout the historical corset pattern pieces on multiple layers of fabric for precision cutting.

11. read and follow instructions and work effectively as a team member.

12. measuring and cutting techniques of all boning types.

13. Placement and setting of a busk.

14. Identify and demonstrate setting of grommets and eyelets.

15. Apply the fundamental stitching techniques in constructing a period corset and theatrical costume.

16. Recognize basic period silhouettes for historical corsets.

Topics and Scope

1.  The corset maker's work place within a working costume studio:

      a. Functionality and organization of the costume studio workrooms and equipment

     b. Safety in the costume workrooms

     c. Costume studio personnel, titles, and job descriptions     

2.  Strategic planning and working calmly under the pressure of deadlines

     a.  Professional standards and teamwork

     b.  Developing a schedule for fittings

3.  Accurate measuring of the torso for accurate fit and corset construction

4.  Basic terminology and symbols used in commercial corset patterns and construction   

5.  Brief survey of period silhouettes, materials, and construction of historical corsets

6.  Fabrics, materials, and equipment used in basic corset construction

     a. Fabrics, linings, casings, and lacing

     b. Types of stays

     c. Corset building tools

7.  Making a mock-up

     a. Cutting and labeling the mock-up

     b. Stitching the mock-up

     c. Fitting the mock-up

8.  Basic steps to building a corset

     a. Single layer corset

     b. Double layer corset

     c. Fashion fabric corset

9.  Measuring and working with stays, tips, and busks

     a. Spiral bones

     b. Plastic bones

     c. Spring steel bones

     d. Wood and steel busks

10. Grommets vs. eyelets

     a. Choosing the right hardware

     b. Setting grommets and eyelets

11. Corset and costume construction techniques

      a. Turn of cloth

     b. Bias binding

     c. Stitching and hand sewing

      d. Making a modesty panel

     e. Lacing the corset

Assignments:

1.  Read five pages a week.

2.  Take accurate measurements of the torso for corset building, fitting, and alterations.

3.  Cut, stitch, and fit a corset mock-up for a performer in a Theatre Arts production.

4.  Schedule at least 3 corset fittings with the instructor.

5.. Transfer mock-up alterations to a paper pattern.

6.  Complete all corset building steps and techniques on a corset for a performer in a Theatre Arts production utilizing appropriate tools and corset building techniques.

7.  Participate in the construction process of building costumes for a Theatre Arts production with effective and safe use of all costume studio workrooms and appropriate use of equipment, tools, and materials.

8.  Go on a shopping trip to purchase materials a corset project.

9. Exams and quizzes

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments and skill demonstrations are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 25 - 40%
Homework assignments including: analysis, research, planning, purchasing
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 35 - 50%
Demonstration of corset making and costume construction skills
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 5 - 10%
Multiple choice quiz on safety as it pertains to corset construction.
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 20 - 35%
Teamwork, promptness, and initiative

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Basics of Corset Building; A Handbook For Beginners. Sparks, Linda. St Martin's Griffin Press: 2009

Corsets: Historical Patterns and Techniques. Salen, Jill. Costume and Fashion Press: 2007 (classic)

Corset Making: for Beginners to Intermediate; Multimedia CD. Bremble, Julia.  Rainbow Disks Ltd: 2012

Inside Out; A Brief History of Underwear. Tobin, Shelley. The National Trust (Enterprises) Ltd: 2000 (classic)

Underwear: Fashion in Detail. Lynn, Eleri. Victoria and  Albert Museum: 2014

Instructor prepared materials

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