Survey of World Theater - Text S10
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Spring 2010
Wednesdays, 9:10 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. E197
Instructor: Dr. Anne García-Romero
Teaching Assistants: Erin Brewster, Christian Gibbs, Shanna Malcolm
Course Fee: $40
Course Description
Survey of World Theater - Text is designed to accomplish the following:
- Provide a survey of twentieth century theater history with an emphasis on world theatre by studying the work of select playwrights;
- Examine the selected plays/texts, investigating their innovation, structure, language, theme influence and how this might inform our work;
- Develop analytical response skills, as well as an ability to apply this to the presentation of work (written and performance);
- Explore the plays/texts through a variety of assignments, including critical writing, creative projects, and performance.
The course will include the following components:
- First part of each session will consist of lecture, discussion, and a presentation in order to place the plays/texts in historical context as well as experience the plays/texts.
- Second part of each session will consist of dividing into three sections for in-depth discussion of the plays/texts. The sections will be taught by teaching assistants: Erin Brewster, Christian Gibbs, and Shanna Malcolm
- Each week, a response paper or creative project will be due.
- Each week, a group of students will do a presentation of a scene from one of the plays/texts to be examined that week.
- Guest artists will occasionally visit to discuss their work.
Syllabus
February 3: Course Introduction
Handout on the "Well-Made Play:" File:SOWTT WellMadePlay.pdf
First Day Questionnaire: First Day Questionnaire
Schedule for in-class presentations: File:SOWTT Presentations.pdf
February 10: Norway: Realism and Naturalism
Reading: Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen (trans. Rudall)
File:SOWTT Realism Naturalism.pdf
Assignment 2/10: Realism and Naturalism
February 17: Germany: Expressionism
Reading: Transformation by Ernst Toller (trans. Pearlman)
Assignment 2/17: Expressionism
February 24: Spain: Surrealism ***PRESENTATIONS BEGIN***
Reading: The Public by Federico García Lorca (trans. Livings)
March 3: Germany: Epic Theater
Reading: Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht (trans. Manheim/Willett)
File:SOWTT EpicTheater handout.pdf
March 10: U.S.: Documentary Theater
Reading: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith
Assignment 3/10: Documentary Theater
GUEST ARTIST VISIT: CHRISTOPHER BARRECA
March 17: South Africa: Political Theater
Reading: Ubu and the Truth Commission by Jane Taylor, with William Kentridge & the Handspring Puppet Co.
File:SOWTT Political theater handout.pdf
March 24 – Spring Break
March 31: Mexico: Theater of Transculturation
Reading: I Too Speak of the Rose by Emilio Carballido (trans. Oliver)
Assignment 3/31: Transculturation
April 7: U.S.: Community-Based Theater
Cornerstone Theater Company
Reading: A Beautiful Country by Chay Yew
File:SOWTT Community Based Theater.pdf
Assignment 4/7: Community Theater
April 14: Argentina: Theater of Crisis
Reading: The Walls by Griselda Gambaro (trans. Feitlowitz)
Assignment 4/14: Theater of Crisis
GUEST ARTIST VISIT: LESLIE TAMARIBUCHI
April 21: China: Theater of Ritual
Reading: The Other Shore by Gao Xingjian (trans. Fong)
Assignment 4/21: Theater of Ritual
April 28: Course Wrap-Up
