Art of Drama Spring 2007

Art of Drama (Spring 2007)

Art of Drama (Spring 2007: 14875)
MR 02:30-03:45PM in UN 2032
http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/artdrama07.html
http://english.montclair.edu

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Dickson Hall 324
Office Hours: M 11:30-1, R 4-5:30, & by appt.
Email: nielsenw@mail . . .

Texts available at University Bookstore:

Wadsworth Anthology of Drama (Brief 5th Edition, ISBN1413029183), ed. W. B. Worthen

Additional texts available online (please bring a copy to class when assigned):

E. Inchbald, The Massacre (online)
K. Maus, "'Playhouse Flesh and Blood'" (Blackboard)
Nielsen, "A Tragic Farce" (Blackboard)
D. O'Quinn, "Elizabeth Inchbald's The Massacre" (1999, online)
F. Shaw, "Interview" (Blackboard)
N. Slater, "The Idea of the Actor" (Blackboard)
Theater Reviews (Blackboard)

Course description:

This course examines the major features, epochs, and writers of world drama from ancient times to the present. We will read tragedies, comedies, dramas, and essays on the performance of theater. This wide variety of authors and plays includes (but is not limited to) Euripides’s Medea, Shakespeare, Aphra Behn’s The Rover, Elizabeth Inchbald, and Brecht’s Mother Courage. In addition to other assignments, students will write a theater review of a staged play. Class participants will leave this course with a broad appreciation for world drama and a deep understanding of the many ways in which drama expresses the tragedy and comedy of the human condition.

Requirements (all assignments posted on Blackboard):

Integrity, Collegiality, Respect
Participation--15%
Summariki--10%
Midterm (Pre-1800)--25%
Performance (prev. Theater) Review--10%
Short Analytical Paper--20%; see "Special Note" in Performance Review assignment
Final Exam--20%

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 should be submitted on time as stapled hard copies (no cover pages, loose pages, or folders please). With the exception of discussion questions, double space and 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. Click here to get an explanation of my shorthand on Style issues.
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 and put away cell phones, blackberries, and related electronics in class please; laptops should be used to write lecture notes only

Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/artdrama07.html> for updates

Date	Class Activities	Homework Due
1. R 1/18	Course and Student Introduction; Elements of Drama; What is tragedy? Sign up for Summariki	See cell below for Monday's homework
Classical Drama
2. M 1/22	Greek Theater Intro.; Aristotle; Elements of the Stage; Summary Questions	Read 1-24, 79-89
3. R 1/25	Review; Student Ques.: Sophocles, Oedipus Rex	Read 25-42; Bring 3 discussion questions to class (either ones you would pose as an instructor of the class, things you are confused about in the reading, or a mix between the two) and bring them to class (will be collected). 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 evaluated on a check (average, show you did the reading), check plus (insightful, original, possibly brilliant, probably shared during class), or check minus (you didn't do the reading or simply copied questions discussed in class) basis. Discussion questions are not mandatory but are taken into consideration for your Participation Grade. See also note in Policies above.
4. M 1/29	Review; Group Disc. Ques.; Theory: Performances of Oedipus the King	Read N. Slater, "The Idea of the Actor" and Theater Review (TR) of Oedipus (both on Bb) and bring copies to class
5. R 2/1	Oedipus Summ. Ques.; Euripides, Medea	Read 43-58; DISC. 2: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
6. M 2/5	Performance and Gender	Read F. Shaw, "Interview" & Theater Review of Medea (both on Blackboard); DISC. 3: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
7. R 2/8	Review of Stud. Ques.; Citing Sources; Midterm Rev. (Classical); 20 Ques. on Classical Char.; Performance Review assigned; Classical Summariki;	Classical Summariki
Renaissance
8. M 2/12	Free Write; Theater in England before 1800	Read 151-69, 181-82, 258-59; DISC. 4: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
9. R 2/15	Summary Ques. about Ren. Th.; Shakespeare's Hamlet (Act I and II)	Read 182-203
10. M 2/19	Conclusion of Hamlet	Read 203-28; DISC. 5: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
11. R 2/22	Model Perf. Review; Performances of Hamlet; Renaissance Summariki	Read Theater Review; Renaissance Summariki
Restoration Theater
12. M 2/26	Ongoing Edit: Summariki Responses; Midterm Review (Renaissance); Restoration Theory, Dryden, and Act I, The Rover	Read 263-69, 272-76, 378-87, 334-42; DISC. 6: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
13. R 3/1	Review; Aphra Behn's The Rover	Read 342-68
14. M 3/5	Gender & Performance; Midterm Review (through Restoration); Restoration Summariki	Read K. Maus, "'Playhouse Flesh and Blood'" and Theater Review of The Rover (Bb); Restoration Summariki
15. R 3/8	Midterm (open-book exam); NO MAKE-UP DATES!!!	Bring textbook to class
16. M 3/19	Clips from Restoration, Stage Beauty
Romantic Stage
17. R 3/22	E. Inchbald, The Massacre (1792, online); Women and Revolution	Read entire play (Acts I-III) and bring copy to class (download it here) and read D. O'Quinn, "Elizabeth Inchbald's The Massacre" (1999, online); DISC. 7: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
18. M 3/26	Theory	Read 391-401 and read Nielsen, "A Tragic Farce" (Bb)
Naturalist Drama
19. R 3/29	Review: Romantic Stage; A Doll House	Read 414-37
20. M 4/2	Theory	Read 401-10, 617-26; DISC. 8: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
21. R 4/5	Nora Onstage throughout time; Naturalist Summariki	Read Theater Review; Student *Feedback: Your Summariki performance! Last time to edit Summariki is Thursday, 5 Apr. 4pm; the Naturalist Summariki group can have until Monday, Apr. 9th at 12pm to edit their entries.*
Contemporary
22. M 4/9	Theory: Brecht and Artaud	Read 626-40; DISC. 9: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
23. R 4/12	Review + Free Write; Grammar Ex.; Peer Reviews of Performance Review; Summariki grades returned	Bring 2 copies of your work-in-progress to class and post draft to Blackboard/Discussion in plain text (no attachments please)
24. M 4/16	Performance Review due at the beg. of class--Presentation of Reviews in Class (Theater Talk)	Stapled, final copy of Performance (prev. Theater) Review due
25. R 4/19	Brecht's Mother Courage; Performance Review returned	Read 518-533; DISC. 10: Bring 3 discussion questions to class
26. M 4/23	Review; Conclusion of Brecht, Mother Courage; M. Streep as Mother Courage	Read 533-46 and read Theater Review
27. R 4/26	Short Analytical Essay Peer Review	Bring 2 copies of your work-in-progress to class and post draft to Blackboard/Discussion in plain text (no attachments please)
28. M 4/30	Short Analytical Essay due; Review for Final Exam; Announcements: Survey and picking up exams	Stapled, final copy of Short Analytical Essay due. Participation Portfolio due (optional: staple and submit old and/or missing discussion questions). Monday 4/30 is the last day to submit late assignments.
R 5/3	Final scheduled 1-3 pm (in class)	If you miss the exam, you get a 0 on it (no make-up dates). Come pick up your graded exams and Participation Portfolios Monday May 7, 3-5 p.m. in DI 324 or next semester before Halloween (check English home page for office hours, or email me). Grades will be posted under Blackboard/Tools.

Art of Drama (Spring 2007)

Classical Drama

Renaissance

Restoration Theater

Romantic Stage

Naturalist Drama

Contemporary