Modern European Drama (Fall 2012)


ENLT 375, Tuesdays 5:30-8 in DI 179
http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/12drama.html

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Office Hours: drop in T 2:30-5:30, & by appt. in Dickson Hall 352.
Email: nielsenw@mail . . . 

Texts available at University Bookstore (please use assigned translations):
Additional Texts Available on Blackboard http://blackboard.montclair.edu/:
Course description: What is the tragedy of the modern family? How are family members expected to “perform”? And can the theater even begin to portray the comedy and tragedy (or tragicomedy) that is modern life? So-called Anti-Aristotelian dramas, or the plays written and produced between ca. 1870 and 1930, address these and many other questions. This course covers Naturalist Drama to Theater of the Absurd. We will read and consider the performance histories of Scandinavian, German, Anglo-Irish, and Italian theater: Ibsen (Doll House, Hedda Gabler), Strindberg (The Father, Miss Julie), Ernst Rosmer (pseudonym for Elsa Bernstein, author of Twilight), Shaw (Candida, Mrs. Warren's Profession), Wedekind (Spring Awakening), and Pirandello (Six Characters in Search of an Author). Students will leave with a profound appreciation for the development of modern Europe and its playhouses. Satisfies pre-1900 (1b/1c or 1d), genre/drama (3/TE 3c), Multinational/International Issues (4a/3a), and Gender Studies/Women and Gender Studies (3d/3c).

Requirements: Click here to get an explanation of my shorthand on Style issues, and my criteria for grading: http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/correction.html

#1:The Spirit of a Democratic Classroom: Respect, Collegiality, and Integrity

#2: Participation (incl. regular attendance, fulfilling reading assignments, contribution to class discussion, discussion questions, peer review)--10%:
#3: In-class Midterm (Unit I)--30%: No make-up dates!

#4: Performance Paper-- 30% (assignment TBA)

#4: Close Analysis Portfolio--30%: See full instructions at this link: http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/12dramaca.html

Policies: This syllabus is subject to change. Please consult online regularly for changes, and check your email and Blackboard for updates.
Date
Class Activities
Homework Due
T 9/11 Course and Student IntroductionElements of Drama; Anti-Aristotelian Drama Next Tuesday's reading assignment is in the cell below; acquire textbooks!
 
Unit I: Naturalist Drama
T 9/18 Review; A Doll's House Read Ibsen, A Doll's House and theater reviews about A Doll's House (Bb/Readings/Theater Reviews: always bring copies to class); DISC. 1: Post at least one discussion question about Doll's House by clicking reply on Blackboard/Discussion Board/Doll's House/Discussion Ques.. These questions might include ones you would pose as an instructor of the class, things you are confused about in the reading, or a mix between the two. The purpose of discussion questions is to open a dialogue between you and me; to make this a student-centered classroom; and to help students become better writers by becoming critical thinkers, or people who question what they read. Discussion questions are not evaluated,  are not mandatory, but are taken into consideration for your Participation Grade.  Please feel free to respond to other students' queries if you feel inspired to answer; I will take such responses as extra credit for your Participation Grade (and enjoy reading them, of course).
T 9/25 Review; Hedda Gabler; the New Woman Read Ibsen, Hedda Gabler and theater reviews; Close Analysis (CA) #1 (Ibsen): Write a 1-2 pg. (250-400 words) close analysis on a passage from Hedda Gabler (see full assignment online). The citation (1-3 sentences) should be at the top of the page. Analyze specific literary elements in that passage and argue for their significance in understanding the rest of the book. Please avoid plot summary, and include a Works Cited. Although each individual analysis is not graded, I expect you to complete at least 3 of the 4 assigned Close Analyses, which will be graded when they are presented in a revised Close Analysis Portfolio. Bring a copy to class (will be collected for instructor's feedback) and post your response to Blackboard as well. I will NOT accept emailed submissions. If you cannot attend class, I suggest you ask a fellow participant to bring your hard copy to class.
T 10/2
Review; Strindberg, The Father; Strindberg and Helium Read Strindberg, The Father and theater reviews;  DISC. 2: Post 1 or more questions about The Father to Bb/DB.
T 10/9
Hysteria; Miss Julie  
Read Strindberg, Miss Julie and theater reviews; CA #2 (Strindberg): Closely analyze a significant passage from Miss Julie, bring a copy to class, and post to Bb.
T 10/16 Review; Twilight

Read Bernstein, Twilight; DISC. 3: Post 1 or more questions about Twilight to Bb/DB. CA #3 (Bernstein)
T 10/23 Review; Importance of Being Earnest; Midterm Review + Tips Read Wilde, Importance of Being Earnest, and theater reviews
T 10/30 Midterm Exam--NO MAKE-UP DATES! Bring books and page of notes to class
Unit II: Modernism
T 11/6 Wedekind, Spring Awakening + Performances; Upcoming Assignments Read Wedekind, Spring Awakening and theater reviews; CA #4 (Wedekind): Write a close analysis of the passage you think most significant in Wedekind. Midterm exam due online by Thursday 11/8 at 6pm
T 11/13 Pirandello, Six Characters Pirandello, Six Characters; and theater reviews. DISC. 4: Post 1 or more questions about Six Characters to Bb/DB.
T 11/20 Disc. of Portfolios; Writing Drama Exercise 
Close Analysis Portfolio due as hard copy in class, and upload a copy to Safe Assign (copy and paste into one document)  
T 11/27 Library Tutorial 5:30-6:45 in Sprague 203; Timeline; Modernism; Dada, Surrealism, etc.; Brecht (epic theater) and Artaud (theater of cruelty) Editing Close Analyses Read Brecht/Artaud; Post your paper topic to Blackboard this week (instructions TBA); Optional: Participation Packet due (staple/print all discussion questions and online responses)
T 12/4 Editing of Performance Paper (Online Class); office hours today 1:30-4:30pm; Writing Pitfalls
Post draft to Blackboard (at least 2 pages) and peer review at least one other paper
T 12/11
Discussion of Performance Papers Performance Paper due: Bring a hard copy of your final draft to class, stapled, paginated/numbered, and w/o any cover pages or folders. Be prepared to give a 5 min. summary of your project to the class (Failure to participate = -3 points).
T 12/18
Performance Papers returned
Pick up Performance Papers by 6:30pm in 352 DI  

W. C. Nielsen, ENLT 375: Modern Drama, English Dept., Montclair State University, Aug. 2012