Jean Rosenthal: A Pioneer in Theatrical Lighting Design and Art

This essay provides an overview of Jean Rosenthal, a pioneer in theatrical lighting design, detailing her career, contributions to the development of light designing art, and impact on the present scenario. It discusses her early passion for lighting, her work with Martha Graham, and her innovative ideas that revolutionized lighting in Broadway shows and other productions. The essay highlights the evolution of lighting design from a time with limited technology to the modern era with diverse lighting techniques and courses available. It concludes that Rosenthal's hard work and innovative ideas have significantly influenced the field, creating a positive impact on how shows and movies are presented, attracting more people through the use of various lighting types like downlight, overhead light, and boom sidelight.

Lighting design

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Overview of designer...................................................................................................................3
Career of lighting designer..........................................................................................................4
Role of development of light designing art.................................................................................4
Impact on present scenario..........................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Lighting design is process of designing light, there are different types of lights such as,
Ambient, Task, Accent and Decorative. There are some skills which are required to lighting
designer are, technical skills, good communicator, excellent colour vision and ability to work
under pressure to tight deadlines (Acosta and et.al., 2018).
In essay, overview of Jean Rosenthal is described which includes, their career in lighting
business, role of development of light designing art. Earlier, there were no techniques to make
products and people are having less income so they are not spending much money on lighting.
Further, career of lighting designers is discussed in which how Jean has work hard and start
making lights. Role of development of light designing art is described and its importance in day-
to-day life. Light is an important element for all and it is very useful for all the people and now
competition is increasing day by day and it will help in increasing opportunities for growth.
Impact of light design on present scenario is discussed and how it is satisfying needs of
customers.
MAIN BODY
Overview of designer
Jean Rosenthal was born on March 1912, is a pioneer of theatrical lighting design. She was
born in New York city and having passion for lighting design. In the early century, there were no
machines or techniques which can be used in making lights or better designs can be provided to
customers. Rosenthal helped make the designs of lights and she worked as a team member of
design team. she was having innovative ideas which are presented and handling production of
lighting. Jean Rosenthal has said that lighting “was a career in itself”. She thought that there are
better opportunities in designing lights and she continue her job. Rosenthal give new and
innovative ideas for lights and according to that production is being done (Cuttle, 2018).
She was knowing that how to satisfy needs of customers and provide them best quality
products. By her innovation and creative ideas all the people were shocked and appraising her,
the atmosphere was changed and all the people were working hard in designing lights.
Production was done according to design made by Rosenthal and if any changes are required
then it is being made so that better products can be provided to people. after some time, Jean
Rosenthal was in demand as a Broad way lighting designer and people like designs made by her.

Every lighting design was unique and she build interest of other people also. Many persons get
inspired by Rosenthal and join lighting design business. It is a new and creative business, there
should be some thing new or better than others as it helps in increasing demand for product and
more revenue can be generated (Dugar, 2018).
Career of lighting designer
Lighting designer has a good career as said by Jean Rosenthal because it is unique and new
idea. In 1929, Rosenthal was introduced to Martha Graham which was at neighbourhood
playhouse school of theatre. She has become technical assistant of Graham, which has led to
lifelong collaboration with Graham and she learn many things. All the knowledge of lighting was
gathered from Graham and she worked on 36 productions with Graham. Career of Rosenthal was
made by Martha and she get all knowledge or opportunities with help of Graham. Jean Rosenthal
has studied about lighting design at the Yale school of drama from 1931 -1934 (Dai and et.al.,
2018). She was having interest in light designing and from starting she learn many things and
worked hard to achieve goals and objectives. She returned to New York city, where she joined
the federal theatre project in 1935. This led to collaborations with Orson Welles and John’s
houseman, where she was credited as a member of board. Further, she has become production
and lighting manager, although not as lighting designer.
Later, she was designing lights for 100 of productions which includes, numerous
Broadway show, dances and many other. She was interested in designing lights and manging all
activities properly so that there will be no problem and work can be done according to that. She
was giving new ideas for light designing and manage all activities in a systematic way. She has
learned many things in school as well as from her teacher and according to that she is designing
light while dances, or in theatres (Schielke, 2019).
Role of development of light designing art
Light art can be defined as a visual form in which light plays a crucial role. In this digital
world, it is important that lights should be good and it helps in satisfying needs of customers. It is
an art form in which different lights are produced and manipulation of light. Different shadows,
colours or pictures are being presented while showing any movie or drama in theatres. It is
important to apply unique ideas so that better services can be provided. In theatres, customers
want good lighting which is suitable with the scene as it will help in creating an environment in
which people will enjoy pictures (Entwistle and Slater, 2019). Lighting art is nowadays very

famous and there are many courses which is available in this field. People who are interested in
this field can join course and they will learn how to attract customers and manage lighting in
theatres. Light art is an interaction of light with space and it creates environment for watching
film, drama or any dance if presented.
There are many career opportunities in lighting design because nowadays, people are more
involved in film industry and it has growth opportunities. Once, a person learns how to do light
art or manage any drama then it is easy to arrange dances or films. Light artist should be creative
and innovative because they have to make new plans so that people will get something different
which will attract them. in early times, no such services were provided but now, with change in
technology things are changing rapidly. In movies also it can be noticed that different colours,
backgrounds and unique ideas are being applied so that more people are attracted (Karlen,
Spangler and Benya, 2017).
Impact on present scenario
There is a drastic change in lighting design as now new techniques have come and due to
those designs are changed. There are many types of lights such as, bloom side light, downlight,
overhead side light which can be applied by artist to make innovation while presenting drama.
Downlight can be also referring to as, system, instrument or light beam organised by a person
who is at the back of stage and it is being originated directly above a person who is standing on
stage. In song or drama, main role is being highlighted by putting light on him or her. Lights play
a crucial role in making drama attractive and helps in building interest of public (Lenk and Lenk,
2017). For managing lights, proper course is being available and training is given so that show
can be presented properly and more people will be attracted.
Boom sidelight is being famous because of Jean Rosenthal as she has form this. From her
many contributions to the craft of lighting this is one of the best light design. This is unique and
new design; idea was given by Rosenthal because she was having interest in designing different
types of lights and boom sidelight is useful for all. Jena Rosenthal had worked hard for light
designing after a long time she was able to manage lighting and she had worked on more than
100 productions. She was having idea like, in which scene what type of lighting will be best and
according to that she makes plans. Lighting creates a unique environment which helps in
attracting more people. In a show, different type of lights should be used to attract people and
present in a better way (Natephra and et.al., 2017).

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it can be concluded that, lighting design plays a crucial role in
this digital world, because people want new and innovative things and if there will be different
lights or colours, then it will help in attracting more people. Career description of Jean Rosenthal
has been discussed in which her life and how she chooses lighting design as career. There are
many opportunities in designing light and proper training is being provided to persons so that
there will be no mistake.
According to my opinion Jean Rosenthal, worked vey hard for accomplishing targets and
she was having innovative ideas and passion for designing light. She has start learning from
school and giving different ideas to present drama or song. She had work on more than 100
productions and it will help in attracting more people. Lights create a positive impact on people
who are showing drama or movie because when proper lights are arranged then presentation is
good. There are different types of lights and this is because of rapid change in technology.
Nowadays, people want new and innovative products, when show is presented by applying
different lights then people will get attracted. So, Jean Rosenthal has worked hard and due to that
various lights such as, downlight, overhead light and boom sidelight is designed.

REFRENCES
Books and Journals
Acosta, I., and et.al., 2018. Smart controls for lighting design: Towards a study of the boundary
conditions. Int. J. Eng. Technol. 10(6). pp.481-486.
Cuttle, C., 2018. A fresh approach to interior lighting design: The design objective–direct flux
procedure. Lighting Research & Technology. 50(8). pp.1142-1163.
Dai, Q., and et.al., 2018. Spectral optimisation and a novel lighting-design space based on
circadian stimulus. Lighting Research & Technology. 50(8). pp.1198-1211.
Dugar, A. M., 2018. The role of poetics in architectural lighting design. Lighting Research &
Technology. 50(2). pp.253-265.
Entwistle, J. and Slater, D., 2019. Making space for ‘the social’: connecting sociology and
professional practices in urban lighting design. The British journal of sociology. 70(5).
pp.2020-2041.
Karlen, M., Spangler, C. and Benya, J. R., 2017. Lighting design basics. John Wiley & Sons.
Lenk, R. and Lenk, C., 2017. Practical lighting design with LEDs. John Wiley & Sons.
Natephra, W., and et.al., 2017. Integrating building information modeling and virtual reality
development engines for building indoor lighting design. Visualization in
Engineering. 5(1). pp.1-21.
Schielke, T., 2019. The language of lighting: applying semiotics in the evaluation of lighting
design. Leukos. 15(2-3). pp.227-248.