Word: spartanism
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Moreover, the cast also seems to be up against financial constraints. Judging from the xeroxed program and the spartan set, it appears that Producer Anne Dowden had limited financial resources. Yet in spite of these apparent budgetary constraints, both costumes and set reflect a careful attention to taste and detail. The set--like the scope of the play--is appropriately simple...
...conquering style in the arts, however, is safe from a return of the vanquished, often dressed as an avantgarde. Today spartan modernism has been surprised in its sleep by a postmodern taste for ornament and the revival of moribund styles. Partly as a result, some artists are garnishing the edge again. Trompe l'oeil frames, tutti-frutti borders and jigsaw-cut silhouettes are multiplying in galleries that not long ago featured only trim metal runners...
Despite Miss Manners' spartan dedication, it seems hard to believe that the perplexed readers who write her 10,000 letters a year are really inspired by either idealism or altruism. Yuppies, in particular, are pragmatic people who expect a dollar's value for a dollar spent. Such expectations apply to etiquette guides too. As Marjabelle Stewart puts it, "In today's competitive society, manners are a matter of survival...
...with most existential dramas, the costuming and special effects are critical in establishing the play's message and mood. The spartan, if somewhat bizarre, backdrop of black plastic effectively sets the tone, while the often colorful costumes relieve the heavily symbolic drama. Some of the subtler special effects, however, detract from the atmosphere: the use of wet wine glasses as musical instruments, for example, is both superfluous and affected...
...concept of the sleeping module came from Japan, where 100 budget-price "capsule hotels" have become popular among thrifty business travelers and other customers since they were first introduced in 1979. The MAC1 is spacious enough for Western frames and comes with extras not available on the more spartan Japanese models. The basic module, made of plastic lined with fire-resistant foam, costs $2,500 and comes with a twin-size foam mattress, overhead light and climate-control unit. More lavishly equipped versions, costing up to $3,900 each, feature color TV, radio, telephone, tape deck and hot-drink dispenser...