Modern European Drama (Fall 2011)

Salome

ENLT 375, Tuesdays 5:30-8 in DI 179
http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/md11.html
<http://english.montclair.edu>

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 1b, 3 and TE 3c (drama), 4a(Multi), and 4e (Class), 2011 Pre-1900 (1c or 1d), 2011 International Issues (3a), 2011 Class Issues (3d).

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, contribution to class discussion, discussion questions, peer review)--10%:
#3: In-class Midterm (Unit I)--30%: No make-up dates!

#4: Performance Paper (incl. participation in at least 1 of our 2 Process Writing workshops)-- 30% (assignment TBA)

#4: Journal Portfolio (critical intro., 5-6 originals + at least 1 revision that highlights your editing skills, and all original journals with my comments on them)--30%: Students will write at least one entry for nearly every author we read. Each entry begins with any key passage from the work. After copying this passage, write a 1-2 page (250-400 word) analysis. You are encouraged to use these entries as an opportunity to develop skills in close analysis and to track key themes, techniques, or issues in a text. Journals are not graded until they are presented in a revised Journal Portfolio (see below). Bring a copy to class--the only copy which I will read and comment on--and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well, so that other students can learn from your work, and you can better understand your reading audience. Owing to scheduling difficulties, I am afraid I am NOT able to read late journal entries, although I do expect to see them in the final Portfolio. I will NOT accept emailed journal entries. If you cannot attend class, I suggest you ask a fellow participant to bring your hard copy to class. If you are unable to turn in your journal on time, I suggest you ask a fellow student to read and evaluate the work-in-progress.

The final Journal Portfolio includes a c
ritical intro., your TOP 5 entries + at least 1 revision that highlights your editing skills, and all originals you submitted with my comments on them. If you wish to submit all 6 assigned journals, you may (I score the top 5). The cover letter should self-evaluate your own journals and address the following questions: How have these writing exercises aided your thinking this semester? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your journals? What is your best journal entry, and why? What grade would you give yourself for this assignment? Consider the following guidelines in averaging your grade:
Although you are only required to revise one journal entry, if you revise others, I will reevaluate them. Immediately following the cover letter, place your mandatory revised journal, any other revised journals, each followed by the original journal. You should also include any journals that you’re handing in late. Here’s a final list of everything you should include the following in this order: 1) Cover letter; 2) Mandatory revised journal; 3) Any other revised journals; 4) Original Journals with my comments on them following each revised one; 5) Any late Journals. Please simply staple everything together, or use a binder clip. No cover pages or folders, please. Please also upload a copy of all journals to Safe Assign.

Policies: Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/md11.html> for updates
Date
Class Activities
Homework Due
T 9/13 Course and Student IntroductionElements of Drama; Anti-Aristotelian Drama Next Tuesday's reading assignment is in the cell below; acquire textbooks!
 
Unit I: The 19th Century
T 9/20 A Doll's House; personae assigned 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 9/27 Review; Hedda Gabler; the New Woman Read Ibsen, Hedda Gabler and theater reviews; Journal #1 (Ibsen): Write a close analysis of the passage you think most significant in Doll's House or Hedda Gabler. Bring a copy to class for the instructor and post your response to Blackboard/Journals so that other students can learn from your point of view, and you can understand your audience.
T 10/4
Review; Hysteria in Freud and Dora
Read Freud, Dora; DISC. 2: Post 1 or more questions about Dora to Bb/DB/Dora.
T 10/11
Review; Twilight

Read Bernstein, Twilight; Journal #2 (Freud/Bernstein): Write a close analysis of the passage you think most significant in Dora and/or Twilight. Bring a copy to class (instructor) and post to Blackboard/Journals (students).
T 10/18 Strindberg, The Father; Strindberg and Helium Read Strindberg, The Father and theater reviews; Journal #3 (Strindberg): Write a close analysis of the passage you think most significant in The Father. Bring a copy to class and post to Blackboard/Journals.
T 10/25 Review; Miss Julie & Naturalist Theater; Midterm Review + Tips Read Strindberg, Miss Julie and theater reviews; DISC. 3: Post 1 or more questions about Miss Julie to Bb/DB
T 11/1 Midterm Exam--NO MAKE-UP DATES! Bring books and page of notes to class
Unit II: The 20th Century
T 11/8  Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession  Read Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession and theater reviews; DISC. 4: Post 1 or more questions about Mrs. Warren's Profession to BB/DB. Journal #4 (Shaw): Write a close analysis of the passage you think most significant in Shaw.
T 11/15 Wedekind, Spring Awakening + Performances Read Wedekind, Spring Awakening and theater reviews; Journal #5 (Wedekind): Write a close analysis of the passage you think most significant in Wedekind.
T 11/22 Review; Pirandello, Six Characters; Performance Paper Pirandello, Six Characters; and theater reviews. DISC. 5: Post 1 or more questions about Six Characters to Bb/DB. Journal #6 (Pirandello): Write a close analysis of the passage you think most significant in Pirandello.
T 11/29 Library Tutorial 5:30-6:45 in Sprague 230; Timeline; Modernism; Dada, Surrealism, etc.; Brecht (epic theater) and Artaud (theater of cruelty) Editing Journals Read Brecht/Artaud; DISC 6: Post 1 or more questions about Brecht or Artaud to Bb/DB. bring journals you want to revise to class; post your paper topic to Blackboard this week (instructions TBA)
T 12/6 Journal Portfolios

Hard copy of Final Journal Portfolio due (see under Requirement #5, above) due in class, where you will either a) present what you've learned through writing these exercises (critical intro./cover letter or b) read one of your close analyses aloud. Failure to participate = -5 points off of Final Journal Portfolio. Upload copy of all journals to Safe Assign as well.
T 12/13
Expectations; Drafting and Editing of Performance Paper
Finish draft of Performance Paper, bring draft to class, and post on Blackboard (more details TBA); Optional: Participation Packet due (staple/print all discussion questions and online responses)
T 12/20
Performance Papers 5:30 - 7pm 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 = -5 points off of final paper). 

W. C. Nielsen, ENLT 375: Modern Drama, English Dept., Montclair State University, Aug. 2011