Theatre History I - Classical to the 1700's

Contemporary Drama

ENG 411 Summer 2005

Linfield's Adult Degree Program: Chemeketa Community College

Instructor: Dr. Janet Gupton	Office Hours By Appointment:
Phone: 503-883-2293	Home Phone: 503-474-4582
E-Mail: jgupton@linfield.edu

REQUIRED TEXT:

Edited by Michael Greenwald, Roberto Dario Pomo, Roger Schultz & Anne Marie Welsh

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Three-credit version of 319. (IA, WI) Trends in 20th century drama. Techniques of presentation as well as themes embodied in the works. This class is designed to fulfill the Linfield Curriculum’s Arts & Images requirement by exploring the creation, performance and critical appreciation of artistic expression. The course also fulfills the writing intensive requirement as well.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This course is designed to examine the trends in contemporary drama beginning with Ibsen and realism and continuing to the present times to understand the evolution of the drama as dramatic literature as well as a performance based art. Related course objectives include the ability to read a play critically and discuss issues, themes, and techniques for staging. The student is expected to have read assigned plays and texts, be ready to participate at all times and learn to express themselves articulately in class discussions and papers. Formal evaluation will be through quizzes, class discussion of assigned plays, written examinations and a dramaturgical analysis of a play. Additionally the student will deepen his/her knowledge of the production and reception of literature in terms of the diverse historical, political, and social contexts shaping that literature, develop his/her response to imaginative literature, write effectively on drama, and think critically and creatively about issues in the history of literary criticism.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

§ Quizzes on Reading Assignments

§ Play Review Paper

§ Dramaturgical analysis of a play

§ Final written exam

§ Class participation

The Writing Intensive Requirement:

Because this course fulfills the college-wide requirement for a writing intensive course, the writing intensive assignments contribute to at least one-third of the overall grade. This class reinforces the role of writing as a tool for thinking and communication. One of the central goals of this course is to enhance students' understanding of the formats, conventions, and habits of mind appropriate to the theatre's disciplinary investigations. This class stresses writing as a process - or series of steps or stages - professionals follow, and will give students the experience of having written at a professional or near-professional level in this field.

Academic Dishonesty/Cheating/Plagiarism: Academic work is based on the assumption that the work presented is the student's own, unless designated otherwise. Anything less is unacceptable and is considered academically dishonest. Please refer to the Linfield Course Catalog for clarification of those instances, which constitute academic dishonesty for further clarification or ASK ME ABOUT PROPER CITATION OF SOURCES AND IDEAS, including internet sources!!!! THIS IS A SERIOUS OFFENSE AND COULD RESULT IN EXPULSION FROM LINFIELD.

no late work is accepted!!!

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS AND quizzes missed due to tardiness or absence may not be made up unless permission is obtained in advance of the DUE date!!!

Disability Statement:

Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information I should know of, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with me as early as possible, no later than the first week of the term.

GRADING:

Grading of the examinations and written work will be based on clarity and organization of thought, use of documentation and pertinence of conclusions. These factors, along with the quality of research and general literacy of expression will also constitute the basis for grading the writing intensive assignments.

Quizzes on reading assignments 20%

Play Review 15%

Dramaturgical Analysis 30%

Final Written Exam 25%

Class participation/leading discussions 10%

Grading Scale: Based on 1000 total points

930-1000 A	730-769 C
900-929 A-	700-729 C-
870-899 B+	670-699 D+
830-869 B	630-669 D
800-829 B-	600-629 D-
770-799 C+	Below 600 F

Tentative Schedule

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH PRIOR NOTICE FROM THE PROFESSOR IN ORDER TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CLASS!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ASSIGNED READINGS SHOULD BE READ PRIOR TO THE DAY THAT WE WILL BEGIN DISCUSSION.

ALL PAGE NUMBERS REFER TO PAGES IN YOUR TEXTBOOK.

F 6/24 6-9:30

read pp. 6-13

Realism – Read PART ONE pp.31-43

Ibsen’s A Doll’s House pp. 44-77

Sat 6/25 9:00-12:00 Checkhov’s The Cherry Orchard pp.82-107; and pp. 110-111

watch Miss Julie and discuss

12-1:00 Lunch break

1-5:00 The ISMs

Read pp. 196-201; 204-08

F 7/08 6-9:30 Brecht’s Epic Theatre

Read: pp.201-204 “Epic Theatre, Brecht and Berliner Ensemble”

Read: The Good Woman of Setzuan pp.280-316

Sat 7/09 9:00-12:00 Read pp. 363-368

Watch Death of a Salesman

12-1:00 Lunch break

1-5:00 Absurdism

Read pp. 461-462

Watch some of the Samuel Beckett video materials

Watch Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf and discuss

F 7/15 6:00-9:30 Postmodernism

Read: pp. 486-505

Performance Art/Alternative Theatres/Docudramas

Sat. 7/16 9:00-12:00 Read Zoot Suit pp. 652-687

and True West pp.717-745

12-1:00 Lunch break

1-5:00 Read: pp. 648-651 and Top Girls pp.792-825

F 7/22 6:00-9:30 Read Angels in America pp.898-937

Sat. 7/23 9:00-12:00 Final Written Exam

12-1:00 Lunch break

1-5:00 Present dramaturgical analysis