ppextremities

1. I would choose poster no. 7. This poster would draw an audience to see the production in multiple ways. Primarily, the masterful use of color in the poster would help to not only attract attention but also provide clues as to the context of the performance. It is very important to note the strategic usage of red and black in the poster; red and its connotations of blood, along with the imagery of sin and death that black conveys. This contrast creates a shocking, eye-catching poster while also providing context clues as to the body of the play.
 * Extremities **

Also, the positioning of the fireplace and title are important. In the red coloration of the fireplace, the blood and danger present therein is seen. It is no coincidence that it is specifically this place, the fireplace, where the perpetrator Raul spends much of his time during the play. It is also he who is bloodied and beat up, allowing the red coloring to provide more context clues. The “black carpet” that leads from the fireplace to the title is also important. The design is done in such a way that it appears that “Extremities” is emerging from the fireplace. Considering the condition and position of Raul for the majority of the play, this is foreshadowing at its best. The black coloration, alluding to the sin of Raul, is also important as this manifestation emerging from the fireplace serves as an example of Raul’s sinful actions. I also would like to highlight the presence of the wasp and its coloring. Again, the connotations of danger that are associated with the color red are important here. The wasp plays a rather significant role in the piece, so I feel that it is important that the wasp be present on the poster. This poster also does a wonderful job of getting the point across in a simple manner. The poster allows the viewer to infer about the play and find all of the pertinent information (location, time, how to buy tickets) without becoming cluttered or hard to navigate. This simplicity helps to focus the attention of individuals and to get the point across as efficiently as possible.

2. In order to help inform the audience about the piece at hand, there are a multitude of avenues that could help to convey the message. These include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and a host of other social media sites. Advertising on radio and television is also a wonderful way to educate the audience. This could be especially helpful if a member of the cast or crew were able to hold an interview-type session on live radio/television. YouTube is also a great way to inform an audience, especially considering the fact that it is so easy to upload videos and this forum of media is so widely accessible. Newspapers and magazines still hold merit as well, especially if a member of the production is able to be part of a feature article displaying the play, its content, the performance, etc. I also feel that small tweaks to the poster could help to better inform the audience. Although I feel that, as a whole, the poster does a good job, slight variations could help to further inform potential patrons. This might include a newspaper article highlighting rape, a strategy used in one of the other posters. It also might include figures of three women, one man, or both. The presence of a hammer, as seen in one of the other posters, could also be a potential addition. Although the poster is, for the most part, well done, additions such as the ones mentioned above could help to clarify the message and plot of the play to potential theatre-goers.