Theatre History Dra210a; Fall 2006

Transcription

1 Theatre History Dra210a; Fall 2006 Time: MW15:00 Location: J119 Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Harries Office: Morris House #3 Office Hours: MW 11:00-1:00; TTH 3:00-4:00 Telephone: , ext. # Aims: The course should give the student a more detailed introduction to the study of theatre history. As well as providing a good basis of knowledge, the course aims to provide several approaches to theatre history, discuss some of the particular difficulties with the study of theatre history. Because of the great span of time covered in this course, certain historical issues, including the relationship of theatre to surrounding social structures and the history of design, will be the principal focus. Required Text: There is only one required text for this course: The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre. Ed. John Russell Brown. Oxford University Press This text is currently available in the bookstore. Policy on Attendance and Lateness: Your attendance is required. Students missing an outstanding number of classes (ten or more) without reason may be prohibited from taking the final. See the policy in the University calendar. Late assignments will lose 5% a day. Extensions will be given for reasonable cause. Computer problems, difficulties with research and participation in drama department productions are not acceptable excuses. If you are having trouble obtaining sufficient research materials or with any other aspect of your term paper, contact me early. Policy on Academic Honesty: Bishop s University has a clear policy concerning plagiarism outlined in the University calendar. Evaluation: First Assignment: 15% Midterm Examination : 20% Final Assignment: 30% Final Examination: 30% Class Participation 5% Essays will be marked for research and comprehension of course material (one third of grade), strength and coherence of argument (one third of grade) and use of correct style, diction, grammar, spelling and citation format (one third also). Evaluation of seminars will follow similar lines, but the final third of the grade will be earned by an effective presentation of one s ideas.

2 Meaning of Grades: 90%+ A+ An outstanding achievement, suitable for publication % A Meets all the requirements of the assignment with a high degree of quality in all three major areas of evaluation. Combines originality of thought and persuasive reasoning with a sophisticated level of expression % A- Like A except for one area which requires improvement % B+ This grade represents a very good result. There is at least one outstanding aspect but also two minor areas for improvement % B Good work: a B assignment has fulfilled all the requirements, but it lacks the depth of research, insight and originality of the A % B- Like the B except one area needs considerable work % C+ One aspect of the C+ assignment is above average % C Satisfactory: the work is complete but perfunctory. All areas could be somewhat bettered % C- Represents a slightly less than satisfactory effort % D A pass in all but name the D is not a satisfactory effort. The work does not fulfill the requirements of the assignment in at least one respect. 0-49% F The work is unsatisfactory in all major respects. Schedule (required chapters due the week above which they are listed) Sept Greek Theatre by Oliver Taplin Sept. 11 Sept Theatre in Roman and Christian Europe by David Wiles Sept. 18 Sept Beginnings of Theatre in Africa and the Americas by Leslie du S. Read Sept. 25 Sept. 27

3 4. Italian Renaissance Theatre by Louise George Clubb Oct. 2 Oct. 4 Thanksgiving Holiday 5. No text this week Oct. 16 Oct. 18 Review Midterm Examination 6. Spanish Renaissance and Neo-Classical Theatre by Victor Dixon Oct. 23 Oct English Renaissance and Restoration Theatre by Peter Thomson Oct. 30 Nov French Renaissance and Neo-Classical Theatre by William D. Howarth Nov. 6 Nov. 8: First Assignment is due. 9. Eighteenth-Century Theatre by Peter Holland and Michael Patterson Nov. 13 Nov Nineteenth-Century Theatre by Michael R. Booth Nov. 20 Nov South Asian Theatres Nov. 27 Nov East Asian Theatres Dec. 4 Final assignment is due.

4 First Assignment Topics: 1. Discuss the various theories as to the vexing question of whether or not there were women in the audience of the Theatre at Dionysus. 2. Who were mimes in Roman culture? You should define what is meant by this term, and proceed to reconstruct from available sources what the life and times of a mime may have been like. 3. Examine the origins of medieval church drama. How is it separate from the theatrical elements inherent to the liturgy? 4. Survey the lighting technologies available to medieval and early renaissance (before 1575) European cultures. 5. The mask is an integral part of many kinds of early theatre. Looking at a couple of examples from different cultures, analyze the different ways that masks function in the context of performance. 6. Why all this hate towards the theatre? Examine possible cultural/ideological explanations for the prejudice evinced by many societies towards the theatre. 7. You may select your own topic. Please check with me first. Some BU Library sources you may find useful: General works on theatre history: Arnott, Peter. The Theatre in its Time: an Introduction. Boston: Little, Brown, Brockett, Oscar. Robert J. Ball. The Essential Theatre, 8 th ed. Belmont, Ca. Thomson/Wadsworth, Brockett, Oscar. History of the Theatre. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Carlson, Marvin. Theories of the Theatre: a historical and critical survey from the Greeks to the Present. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, Fuller, Edward. A Pageant of the Theatre. New York: Cornell, Kernodle, George R. The Theatre in History. Fayetteville, Ark.: University of Arkansas Press, 1989.

5 Kuritz, Paul. The Making of Theatre History. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice Hall, Tidworth, Simon. Theatres, an Architectural and Cultural History. New York: Praeger Publishers, Wickham, Glynne. A History of the Theatre. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press, Wilson, Edwin, Alvin Goldfarb. Living Theatre: an Introduction to Theater History. New York: McGraw-Hall, On order: Fischer-Lichte, Erika. The Show and the Gaze of Theatre: A European Perspective (Studies in Theatre History and Culture). University of Iowa Press, Fischer-Lichte, Erika, Jo Riley. History of European Drama and Theatre. Routledge, Pearson, Mike, Michael Shanks. Theatre/Archaeology. Routledge, General works on Ancient Theatre Arnott, Peter J. Public and Performance in the Greek Theatre. London, New York: Routledge, Ashby, Clifford. Classical Greek Theatre: New Views of an Old Subject. Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press, Beachem, Richard C. The Roman Theatre and its Audience. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, Easterling, P. E. (Ed.). The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, Gebhard, Elizabeth R. The Theatre at Isthmia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Gentili, Bruno. Theatrical Performances in the Ancient World: Hellenistic and Early Roman Theatre. Amsterdam: Gieben, Green, John Richard. Theatre in Ancient Greek Society. London; New York: Routledge, Ley, Graham. A Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theatre. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

6 Ridgeway, Sir William. The Origin of Tragedy with Special Reference to the Greek Tragedians. New York: B. Blom, Vince, Ronald W. Ancient and Medieval Theatre: a Historiographical Handbook. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, Walton, Michael J. Living Greek Theatre: a Handbook of Classical Performance and Modern Production. New York: Greenwood Press, Wiles, David. Greek Theatre Performance: an Introduction. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, General works on Medieval and Renaissance Theatre Butterworth, Philip. Theatre of Fire: Special effects in early English and Scottish Theatre. London, Eng: Society for Theatre Research, 1998 Cohen, Walter. Drama of a Nation: public theater in Renaissance England and Spain. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, Greg, W. W. Dramatic documents from the Elizabethan Playhouses: stage plots: actors' parts: prompt books. London: Oxford University Press, Gurr, Andrew. Playgoing in Shakespeare's London. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]; New York : Cambridge University Press, Harris, John Wesley. Medieval theatre in Context: an introduction. London; New York: Routledge, Hattaway, Michael. Elizabethan Popular Theatre: plays in performance. London; Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul, Leggat, Alexander. English Drama: Shakespeare to the Restoration, London; New York : Longman, Nelson, Alan H. The Medieval English stage: Corpus Christi pageants and plays Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Simon, Eckehard (Ed.). The theatre of medieval Europe: new research in early drama Cambridge [England]; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1991 Tydeman, William. The Theatre in the Middle Ages: Western European Stage Conditions, Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, Wickham, Glynne. The Medieval Theatre. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1974.

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