Course Syllabus

THEA 2032 Theatre History and Literature: Modern

Course Description

This course is an exploration of the principal literary periods and styles of drama from the nineteenth century through the theatre of today. Students will examine the rise of realism, modernity and postmodernity in theatre through the critical lenses of structuralism, semiotics, and identity. The course will investigate changes in written form as well as the role these works played in society, the physical spaces in which they were performed, the manner in which they were acted, and cultural attitudes toward the art form itself. Course may be taken out of sequence.

Justification

This course is offered by most theatre departments throughout the state and has been articulated for transfer to most USHE schools as part of a theatre major's track, if not for general education credit.Theatre is the art and craft of play production. It includes the study of dramatic literature and theory, theatre history, acting, set design, lighting design, costume design and film. In addition to the scholarly exploration of these subjects, the theatre program emphasizes the practical application of knowledge gained and skills learned through annual performances before live audiences. Theatre also explores the historical, cultural and social milieu that produced significant works of dramatic literature.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to articulate the dynamics of the creative process including the development of a lifetime sensibility as it applies to the disciplines of dance, music, theater, or visual arts
2. Students will be able to provide an informed synopsis of the performing and/or visual arts in the context of culture and history through reading and interpreting pertinent information using a variety of traditional and electronic media.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the conceptual and elemental principles fundamental to the creation of various forms of artistic expression.
4. Students will be able to exhibit an ability to critically analyze artistic works using appropriate techniques, vocabulary, and methodologies.

Course Content

Students will explore how the new paradigms of science, democracy, and a larger but fractured global society created ever closer approximations to “real life” on stage, and will consider how those same forces would come to question and reinvent all theatrical conventions previously accepted. This course uses a selection of period- and style-specific plays and related academic articles to examine the ever-changing role of people on stage, both in dramatic form and presentation. Students will demonstrate critical thinking, text analysis, and research of these concepts through quizzes, exams, and two projects throughout the semester.Students will be required to read selected plays representative of each dramatic period covered in class. Such plays could include but not be limited to:· The Beggar’s Opera, by John Gay · Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe · A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen · Miss Julie, by August Strindberg · Cherry Orchard, by Anton Checkov · The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde · Mrs. Warren’s Profession, by George Bernard Shaw · Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht · Endgame, by Samuel Beckett · Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams · Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller · A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry · Buried Child, by Sam Shepard· Angels in America (Millenium Approaches), by Tony Kushner · Fires in the Mirror, by Anna Deavere Smith · Eurydice, by Sarah RuhlPlays will include varied perspectives, with characters and playwrights from different backgrounds. Class discussion and exploration will focus on "whose story is told" and 'whose voice is heard." Student research projects in the semester are required to focus on playwrights and works that broaden their understanding of other's viewpoints and the theatrical landscape.