Shakespeare and London LNDN LITR 3312

Transcription

1 Shakespeare and London LNDN LITR 3312 Course Description A selection of Shakespeare's plays (from his early, middle and late periods) will be explored to uncover his style and craft within the genres of comedy, history and tragedy. Our exploration will reveal the range and depth of human emotion and experience that Shakespeare depicts in his works. Ultimately, we will engage in Shakespeare s timelessness and appreciate how vitally his ideas/themes/concepts move from the concerns of his day to our own. Readings for this course will be guided by the current offerings of Shakespeare production in and around the City of London. Course Aims/Objectives As a critical survey of Shakespeare s plays, our work will include textual analysis, and examinations of social, cultural and performance history. By the end of the course the student will be able to: (a) Be capable of reading Shakespearean verse easily, and demonstrate skills of paraphrasing and textual analysis (b) Describe the historical circumstances in which he wrote, and the conventions in his writing (c) Describe the relationship between one play and another, thematically (d) Analyse the structure of dramatic different genres Requirements and Prerequisites Although appropriate for Introductory level students, some familiarity with Shakespeare would be an asset. Learning outcomes At the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of each of the following content areas through written work and class discussions: (a) Scholarly and critical interpretations of Shakespeare s plays. (b) The interplay between written texts and performance. (c) An appreciation of the cultural, social, intellectual and theatrical legacy of Shakespeare s works. Students will also demonstrate proficiency in each of the following skills: (a) Use of academic research methods and resources. (b) Critical and comparative reading and writing skills. (c) Development of substantial written and possibly oral interpretative argumentation. (d) How to read a Shakespearean film. (e) Incorporation of historical and scholarly sources to support literary interpretation. (f) Articulation of the student s own critical responses to dramatic literature. Developmental Outcomes Students should demonstrate: responsibility & accountability, independence & interdependence, goal orientation, selfconfidence, resilience, appreciation of differences. Class methodology This course will be a blend of lecture, seminar, discussion and workshop. Where and when possible we will engage in practical discussions and workshops with leading actors and directors. The instructor will outline the structure in the first class meeting. Instructor will provide introductory overview in each session, outlining of topics to be covered pertaining to the

2 individual texts. Students are expected to acquaint themselves with the next text in advance, making notes and queries for class discussion. Each student will be responsible for indicating three (3) key issues, points or questions for discussion from each text. Students will be required to take an active role in leading and driving class discussion. Research Journal Students will be required to maintain a Research Journal. In the Research Journal students will record their Key Points for Discussion for each reading assignment, as well as document their observations and reflections of field visits, performances, workshops and other excursions. The research journal should also include detailed analysis of the correlation between field visits, excursions and textual reading assignments. The research journal will be collected and graded at a point during the semester, as a pop quiz or exam. Students are required to bring their research journal with them to each class meeting. Collection of journals for grading may be unannounced. My Education: out-of-class activities Students in this course will be required to attend two (2) of the following events: 1.) Directing Timon of Athens - Nicholas Hytner in Conversation The National Theatre - Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PX Assessment: Short Paper 2.) Shakespeare in Performance : Greg Doran (Artistic Director, RSC) and Sir Antony Sher in Conversation British Museum - Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG Assessment: Short paper 3.) Classical Theatre & The Black Audience - Paterson Joseph (Brutus, RSC Julius Caesar) in Conversation The National Theatre - Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PX Assessment: Short paper 4.) Q-n-A with Fiona Shaw Fiona Shaw in Conversation, The National Theatre - Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PX Assessment: Short paper Students will also be required to attend one (1) Shakespeare production in addition to the productions we will be seeing as a class group. Shakespeare production (In and/or around London) Each student must attend a performance of a Shakespeare play the student has found on his/her own. The goal of this assignment is to encourage students to engage with the City of London, and perhaps find Shakespeare off the beaten track. As a colleague of mine once stated: Seeing a production of Twelfth Night being performed in the backseat of a car is better than seeing no production of Twelfth Night at all! There are unlimited resources for finding productions in an around the Capital, Time Out magazine is a good place to start. Production visits for this assignment are not limited to London, so do consider going a bit farther afield! (NB. Theatre ticket from the production must also be submitted along with this review.) * Students are required to read the text of the play before seeing the production of their choice. Ticket prices: Variable [Student to cover individual cost of ticket] Assessment: Production review (2-4 pages) Out of class Screenings/viewings Students will be required to watch a selection of Shakespeare performances on DVD outside of class time. DVDs to be viewed will be made available to individuals for a 24-hour period only, and must be returned to the Library/Resource Centre promptly so that others may view. Group viewing organized by self-arrangement is advised. 2

3 3 Assessment Method Students will be assessed by their contribution and participation in weekly class discussions. They will also be assessed by written work (Research Journal, Production reviews), a mid-term examination and final exam. Grading Policy Group discussion/class participation 25% Written work (Research Journal, papers, reviews) 25% Mid-term Exam 25% Final Exam 25% Students must complete all required components for each course by the established deadlines. Failure to do so will result in a reduction of the course grade and may result in a grade of F for the course in question. Details of the Assessment Descriptor Alpha UK US GPA Requirement Excellent A Shows superior use and understanding A of extensive literature beyond the Good B+ B B- Average C+ C Below Average / Poor C- D+ D textbook and notes Shows significant use and understanding of extensive literature beyond the textbook and notes Shows a clear understanding and some insight into the material in the textbook and notes, but not beyond Fails to show a clear understanding or much insight into the material in the textbook and notes Fail F <40 <60 0 Shows little or no understanding of any of the material Textbook(s) and Recommended Readings Dress Code The instructor will give students advance notice if there any special considerations regarding dress code are necessary. eg., comfortable clothing for workshop sessions, etc. Textbook(s) i. Studio Shakespeare: The Royal Shakespeare Company at The Other Place Alycia Smith-Howard (Ashgate, 2006) Available from: ii. The New Cambridge editions are the preferred editions of Shakespeare s plays for this class. However, any reputable editions are acceptable. iii. Shakespeare Pro (Readdle) (Smart Phone application) Course Materials There will be supplementary readings in the form of holdouts and e-resources. ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

4 Please note that the regulations below are very strict for a specific reason, namely to respond to the expectations of your own colleges and universities. Therefore, please observe these rules; they are not complicated and simply require your attention to detail. Class attendance and participation CAPA has a mandatory attendance policy. Students are also expected to participate actively and critically in class discussions, and the participation portion of the class will be graded accordingly. Students must read assignments BEFORE the class, and come in on time. If you need to miss class for medical reasons or for a family emergency, you must send an to let the Director of Academic Programs (DAP) know at least one hour in advance of your class or meeting at the following excused.absence@capa.org. Note that calling the CAPA Center (Tel ) is accepted only if you do not have access to internet. An is still required as quickly as you can get access to internet again. You will need to provide evidence of the reason for your absence. If you miss any meetings without an excused absence by , your final grade will be dropped accordingly. And when you must miss a class or field trip, you are responsible to speak your instructor and make up any missed assignments. Participation is a vital part of your grade: students are expected to participate orally in seminars, and in online forums and discussions, in a critical and evaluative manner; to approach professors and fellow students with respect and tolerance; and to actively engage in debate, while avoiding derogatory or inflammatory comments on the cultures or attitudes of others in the class. CAPA Program and Instructor Policies The faculty expects from you, the student, a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic course depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work and class behaviour. A high standard of individual honor means that you, the student, must attend all classes and never be late (unless with a valid reason). You must be respectful of the professor and of other students by not talking/whispering in class when others are talking or presenting. Persistent lateness or lack of attention in class, ie reading materials other than the work set, may result in a low or zero grade for participation, and possible referral to the Chief Academic Officer (CAO). No electronic equipment will be used in class, including laptops, phones, ipods, ipads, cell phones, etc., unless you have express permission from the professor. If for any reason a student is obliged to work with electronic equipment, then permission must be obtained from CAPA's Academic Director prior to the class. Certain behaviours disrupt class, such as a student arriving late, a phone ringing, a student leaving in the middle of class. Lecturers have the authority to decide policies for their classroom regarding these and similar behaviours that may disrupt the learning environment. All members of the class are expected to respect the learning environment and the lecturer s efforts to maintain it. Academic Integrity Plagiarism and Cheating Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously, and will be referred to the Chief Academic Officer. Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit must be the student's own original work. If you present, as your own ideas, any material copied or extensively drawn from the work of others, then you are plagiarizing unless you give full citations for your sources. Plagiarism is unacceptable. If it is found, then this will immediately lead to an "F" (Fail) grade for that particular assignment. Of course, you may make full use of ideas, arguments and information obtained from books, journals, websites, etc., but you must make clear in a footnote whose work you are drawing from. This includes cases of paraphrasing where the idea or the thought of another writer is represented, though not directly quoted. Please note that a citation for paraphrasing is academically acceptable. It could say, for example, "This idea is borrowed from: Author's name, Title, Publisher/Website, (date you accessed the website), year of publication, page number." In addition, copying our own assignment entirely or partially to submit to a second or third professor in another class is considered plagiarism by duplication. This is unacceptable. The same is when you copy your own work, that was written for another assignment or in another context (news-journal, website, blog, etc.), without citation. While this does not implicate the writing of others as you are copying your own work, it is misrepresentation in academic terms because the work handed 4

5 in to the instructor in this class was not originally written for this specific class, but for another publication or platform. Students risk receiving an "F" (Fail) grade for all the assignments done in classes for which they have duplicated their own work. An exception can be given if the student has obtained the professor's agreement in advance and has correctly provided a reference (citation in text or as footnote or endnote) to his/her other assignment or earlier work. Students, like any author, are allowed to cite their own earlier work. In cases of blatant and intentional misrepresentation, a student will receive a failing grade for the course and may face disciplinary action before the Chief Academic Officer, which, in extreme cases may result in dismissal from the Program. Helpful Resources and Tips on how to avoid Plagiarism 1. You quote it, you note it! An interactive tutorial guide on how to avoid plagiarism and how to cite sources: if you scroll down, you ll find links to all major styles and formats for citing and referencing. 2. How to cite and write a bibliography: Ask your instructor to tell you which citation format to use (the most common are APA, MLA and Chicago). The most important thing is to use one citation and referencing format consistently and accurately throughout your paper. Behaviour during Examinations During examinations, you must do your own work. Unless specifically instructed by the lecturer or instructor, talking during an exam is not permitted, nor may you compare papers, copy from others, or collaborate in any way. Any failure to abide by examination rules will result in failure of the exam, and may lead to failure of the course and disciplinary action. 5

6 6 Course Calendar SEPTEMBER Monday, 10 September Course Introduction and Outline (Journal, productions, etc). Lecture: Shakespeare s Enduring Legacy Reading Assignment: Julius Caesar Monday, 17 September Class visit to The British Museum. Shakespeare: Staging the World exhibition Please meet outside (inside if raining) The British Museum at 2:15 PM. * Please be on time! * Please bring your student IDs. Address: Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG Written assignment: British Museum reflection in Research Journal Reading assignment: Julius Caesar Monday, 24 September Class Discussion: Julius Caesar: Power, Persona, Populace Viewing Assignment: Screening of RSC production of Julius Caesar at The British Museum, Tuesday, 25 September, 8 PM. Tickets to be collected at the door. Reading Assignment: Taming of the Shrew (for 8 October) OCTOBER Monday, 1 October Topics for discussion: Julius Caesar. Writing Production reviews. Taming of the Shrew: Performance History Written Assignment: Production review for Julius Caesar due 8 October. Monday, 8 October Class visit to Shakespeare s Globe Please meet at The Globe at 2:15 PM. * Please be on time! * Address: (Please meet outside the Exhibition entrance, not the Theatre entrance) 21 New Globe Walk Bankside London SE1 9DT Written Assignment: Globe reflection in Research Journal Viewing Assignment: Taming of the Shrew at The Globe Theatre Written Assignment: Production review for Taming of the Shrew (due 15 Oct) Reading Assignment: Smith-Howard, chapter 3, pp. 51, 60-64; Timon of Athens (for 22 Oct) Monday, 15 October - In-class discussion: Taming of the Shrew. * Taming of the Shrew Production Reviews Due * Class visit to the Theatre & Performance Collection Victoria & Albert Museum. Reading Assignment: Smith-Howard, chapter 3, pp. 51, ; Timon of Athens (for 22 Oct) Reading Assignment (for after break): Henry V Monday, 22 October In-class discussion Timon of Athens: Stage & Page * Midterm Exam * Reading Assignment: Henry V Viewing Assignment: Timon of Athens, The National Theatre, Tuesday 23 October, 7:30 PM MIDTERM BREAK: 29 Oct-4 Nov NOVEMBER Monday, 5 November In-class screening: Henry V (Branagh) * ASH away at conference *

7 7 Out of class viewing: Henry V (Oliver) (Both Henry V DVDs will be available from Dr Dean s office for students to borrow.) Monday, 12 November Discussion: Timon of Athens and Henry V Reading Assignment: Smith-Howard, chapter 5, Approaches to History Reading Assignment: Richard III Monday, 19 November First half: Discussion on Henry V with Michael Maloney; Second half: Proving a villain: Richard III Reading Assignment: Richard III Reading Assignment: Measure for Measure (for 3 Dec) Monday, 26 November In-class viewing: Richard III DECEMBER Monday, 3 December Measure for Measure workshop with RSC actors Reading Assignment: The Tempest Monday, 10 December Discussion and viewing: The Tempest Assignment: Final Exam Monday, 17 December Final Exams and all additional Written Work DUE