Modern Drama Spring 06

Prof. W. C. Nielsen Modern European Drama

Aubrey Beardsley, Wilde’s Salomé (1893)

ENLT 375-01
Spring 2006; MR 4-5:15
DI 179--sorry, no food or drink allowed in this room
Class Page: <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/drama06.html>
English Dept.: <http://english.montclair.edu/>

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Dickson Hall 324
nielsenw@mail.montclair.edu
Office Hours: M 1-2:30; R 10:00-11:30; and by appt.

Texts available at University Bookstore:

Henrik Ibsen, Ibsen: Four Major Plays, vol. I (trans. R. Fjelde, Signet): A Doll’s House; Hedda Gabler
August Strindberg, The Father (Dover)
Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (Dover)
Luigi Pirandello, Six Characters in Search of an Author (trans. E. Bentley, Signet)
Jean Genet, The Maids and Deathwatch (trans. B. Frechtman, Grove/Atlantic)
Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot (Grove/Atlantic)

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 1950, 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, Irish, French, and Italian theater: Ibsen, Strindberg, Wilde (The Importance of Being Earnest), Pirandello, Beckett, and Genet. Students will leave with a profound appreciation for the development of modern Europe and its playhouses. Satisfies 1b (pre-1900); Drama; multinational; gender studies

Requirements--Respect, Collegiality, Integrity, and:

Participation (incl. discussion questions, homeworks)--15%
Performance Project--30%
Midterm (Unit I)--30%
Final Exam (Unit III plays, with concepts from Unit I & II)--25%
Optional but strongly encouraged: attend a performance of one of these plays

Grading Rubric: 98-100 A+; 93-97 A; 90-92 A-; 87-89 B+; 83-86 B; 80-82 B-; 77-79 C+; 73-76 C; 70-72 C-; 67-69 D+; 63-66 D; 60-62 D-; 0-59 F

Policies:

Attendance policy: Students must attend a majority of class sessions in order to pass the class; long-term and repeated absences are unacceptable. Your first 3 absences are automatically excused and need no explanation please. Beyond that, you will need a note from your physician or the Dean of Students in order to excuse an absence for medical reasons or family death. Attendance is a part of your Participation Grade, which is also determined by your active and enthusiastic participation in class discussions; original and thought-provoking discussion questions; and informal writing assignments. Please make a friend in class to cover material missed while absent.

Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and submitted on time. Use twelve-point type, in Times New Roman or CG Times (or 10 pt. in Veranda, etc.). 2 points are deducted from formal writing projects for every class day they are late.
Late homework assignments (discussion questions, all ungraded writing assignments, etc.) cannot be accepted, but you may include these in an optional Participation Portfolio at the end of the semester.
To teach students to avoid plagiarism, lectures will also include instruction in MLA documentation of all work. This course engages in questions of authorship, including web authorship (online link: web.html). Submitting work and words that are not your own will result in failing this course and disciplinary action by the Dean of Students.
Accommodations are always arranged for students with documented disabilities. Please call, email, or see the instructor personally, as well as Services for Students with Disabilities (Linda A. Smith in Morehead Hall 305, X5431).
Turn off cell phones in class please.

Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/drama06.html>

Date	Topic	Readings/assignments due
	Unit I: Pre-1900 Naturalist Theater
1. R 1/19	Course + student introduction; Performance Project assigned; Elements of Drama; Anti-Aristotelian Drama	See cell below for Mon.'s h.w.
2. M 1/23	Review; Ibsen bio; Map of Norway	Read Ibsen 39-93
3. R 1/26	Upcoming Performances; A Doll's House; Student Ques.	Ibsen 94-114; Bring 3 disc. ques. to class (will be collected)
4. M 1/30	Class meets in Sprague Library, Rm. 110
5. R 2/2	More questions; Interpretive Questions; Some examples of theater research; Meet in groups to discuss Performance Projects	HW: How would you stage a scene from A Doll's House? What decisions about lighting, casting, scenery, and music would you make? Write your 5-10 sentence response and bring it to class or post it to Blackboard/Discussion.
6. M 2/6	Hedda Gabler	Ibsen 217-47
7. R 2/9	Hedda Gabler	Ibsen 248-304; Bring 3 discussion ques. to class
8. M 2/13	Performance Project #1: Hedda Gabler; Review	HW for rest of class (not Group 1): How would you stage a scene from Hedda Gabler? What decisions about lighting, casting, scenery, and music would you make? Write your 5-10 sentence response and bring it to class or post it to Blackboard/Discussion.
9. R 2/16	Map of Sweden; Strindberg, The Father	Strindberg 1-29
10. M 2/20	Review; Performance Project; Review + Survey posted; Strindberg, The Father; Student Ques.; Omphale; Strindberg & Helium	Strindberg 30-41; Bring 3 discussion ques. to class
11. R 2/23	Review; Survey posted Performance Project #2: The Father; Orig.Father and Swedenborg	HW for rest of class (not Group 2): How would you stage a scene from The Father? What decisions about lighting, casting, scenery, and music would you make? Write your 5-10 sentence response and bring it to class or post it to Blackboard/Discussion.
12. M 2/27	Review; The Importance of Being Earnest	Wilde 1-20
13. R 3/2	The Importance of Being Earnest; Midterm Review Questions	Wilde 21-54; Bring 3 discussion ques. to class
14. M 3/6	Performance Project #3: Importance of Being Earnest; Midterm Review	HW cancelled
15. R 3/9	Midterm Exam (open book)	Study for midterm--No make-up dates for midterm--be there and on time! Bring all 3 books read thus far to class
	Unit II: Theater of the Absurd
16. M 3/20	The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)
17. R 3/23	Timeline; Modernism; Dada, Surrealism, etc.; Brecht (epic theater) and Artaud (theater of cruelty)	Read Brecht and Artaud (Blackboard / Online) and bring a copy or laptop to class
18. M 3/27	Six Characters in Search of an Author	Pirandello 3-45
19. R 3/30	Six Characters in Search of an Author	Pirandello 46-80; bring 3 disc. ques. to class
20. M 4/3	Performance Project #4: Six Characters in Search of an Author	HW for rest of class (not Group 4): How would you stage a scene from Six Characters? What decisions about lighting, casting, scenery, and music would you make? Write your 5-10 sentence response and bring it to class or post it to Blackboard/Discussion.
21. R 4/6	The Maids	Genet 33-70
22. M 4/10	The Maids	Genet 71-100; bring 3 disc. ques. to class
23. R 4/13	Existentialism	Sartre in Genet, 7-31
24. M 4/17	Performance Project #5: The Maids	HW for rest of class (not Group 5): How would you stage a scene from The Maids? What decisions about lighting, casting, scenery, and music would you make? Write your 5-10 sentence response and bring it to class or post it to Blackboard/Discussion.
25. R 4/20	Waiting for Godot	Beckett 1-59; Prospectus for Performance Project due on Blackboard/Disc. (2 pages!)
26. M 4/24	Waiting for Godot	Beckett 62-109; 3 discussion questions
27. R 4/27	Performance Project #6: Waiting for Godot	HW for rest of class (not Group 6): How would you stage a scene from Godot? What decisions about lighting, casting, scenery, and music would you make? Write your 5-10 sentence response and bring it to class or post it to Blackboard/Discussion.
28. M 5/1	Review of Semester; Final exam: Gender Issues in Modern Drama	Performance Projects due; Participation Portfolio (incl. discussion questions and homeworks) due--Optional
Finals Week	Sorry, no office hours during finals week	Final exam Thursday May 4, 3:15-5:15 p.m. in DICKSON 272 !!!!