Lesson plan
Column wave
The column wave is a 16th-century stage machine created to mimic movement of the ocean. Developed by Nicola Sabbatini, the machine was an effective way to give the appearance of a wave-filled sea. It was used to great effect through the following centuries. The machine was documented in Practica di Fabricar Scene e Machine ne' Teatri as the third method of showing a sea. The column wave was built by attaching slightly bent bars through cylinders made of wood and burlap. The burlap was painted blue and black (with hints of silver for the whitecaps). These tubes were attached to cranks that, when turned, made the stretched burlap quiver while the disks created a flowing motion. Combining several of these in a row gave the audience a more realistic sea than had been seen on stage before.
Article summary
The column wave is a 16th-century stage machine created to mimic movement of the ocean. Developed by Nicola Sabbatini, the machine was an effective way to give the appearance of a wave-filled sea. It was used to great effect through the following centuries. The machine was documented in Practica di Fabricar Scene e Machine ne' Teatri as the third method of showing a sea. The column wave was built by attaching slightly bent bars through cylinders made of wood and burlap. The burlap was painted blue and black (with hints of silver for the whitecaps). These tubes were attached to cranks that, when turned, made the stretched burlap quiver while the disks created a flowing motion. Combining several of these in a row gave the audience a more realistic sea than had been seen on stage before.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.