Module Identifier |
DR31130 |
Module Title |
CONTEMPORARY BRITISH AND IRISH DRAMA |
Academic Year |
2004/2005 |
Co-ordinator |
Professor David I Rabey |
Semester |
Semester 2 |
Other staff |
Mr David J Blumfield, Ms Karoline Gritzner |
Pre-Requisite |
DR10120 , DR10220 |
Course delivery |
Lecture | 10 x 2 hour |
|
Seminars / Tutorials | 10 x 1 hour |
Assessment |
Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
Semester Exam | 1 x 2 Hour
| 30% |
Semester Assessment | 2 x 2,500 word written assignments (30% each) | 60% |
Semester Assessment | assessment of class contributions via presentations and seminar discussion | 10% |
|
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
-
show an analytical understanding of a range of dramatic texts and production issues.
-
organize informed and original arguments reflecting research and independent thought in the subject area of the course.
-
demonstrate an intelligent awareness of current debates about the social purpose and ramifications of drama in the period under review.
-
co-operate as part of a group in presenting an argument in the analysis of course material.
Aims
To examine a selection of British and Irish drama texts, and to consider theatrical problems and consequences of previous and possible productions.
Brief description
This is a course of directed reading and weekly discussions, analyzing recent material which is purposefully challenging in both form and content, and is often imperfectly navigated by most of the existing literary criticism which ostensibly relates to it. Consequently, there is a strong emphasis on students developing original ideas about the specifically theatrical dimensions and demands of the texts under review.
Course issues are likely to recur in more than one session, but likely to include: successive dramatic bids to find language and images which interrogate conventional relationships between power, sexuality and morality; movements away from Naturalism and towards a New Expressionism; challenges posed to theatrical design, physical performance and audience comprehension; subversions of previous dramatic conventions and texts; the problems of staging violence; the role of humour; issues of national and sexual identity.
For information on due dates for submission of assessed work, please refer
to the departmental web pages at http://www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/duedates.shtml
Reading Lists
Books
** Recommended Text
Barker, Howard (2005) Death, the One and the Art of Theatre
Routledge
** Essential Reading
Churchill, Caryl (1989) Cloud Nine
NHB
McPherson, Connor (2001) Port Authority
NHB
Walsh, Edna (1998) Disco Pigs and Sucking Dublin
NHB
Cartwright, Jim (1990) Road
Methuen
Kureshi, Hanif (1992) Outskirts and Borderline in Outskirts and other Plays
Faber
Barker, Howard (2001) Ursula (in Collected Plays Five)
Calder
Rudkin, David The Sons of Light
Rabey, David (2004) The Wye Plays
Intellect Books
O'Rowe, Mark (1999) Howie the Rookie
London: NHB
Kane, Sarah (2002) Complete Plays
London: Methuen
Jones, Marie (2000) Stones in his Pockets and A Night in November
London: NHB
Churchill, Caryl (1994) The Striker
London: NHB
Cartwright, Jim (1996) I Licked a Slag's Deodorant
London: Methuen
Bond, Edward (1972) Lear
London: Methuen
Ravenhill, Mark (1996) Shopping and F***ing
London: NHB
Thomas, Ed (1998) Gas Station Angel and Song from a Forgotten City
Parthian Books
Wertenbaker, Timberlake (1996) The Love of a Nightingale in Plays: 1
London: Faber
** Recommended Background
Barker, Howard (1997) Arguments for a Theatre (3rd ed.)
London: Calder
Davies, Hazel Walford (ed) (1998) State of Play: 2 Playwrights of Wales
Llandysul: Gomer
Demastes, W. W. (ed) (1996) British Playwrights 1956-1995
Westport: Greenwood
Rabey, David Ian (1989) Howard Barker: Politics and Desire
Basingstoke: Macmillan
Rabey, David Ian (1997) David Rudkin: Sacred Disobedience
Amsterdam: Harwood
Rabey, David Ian (2003) English Drama Since 1940
London: Longman
Saunders, Graham (2002) Love Me or Kill Me: Sarah Kane and the Theatre of Extremes
Manchester: Manchester UP
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6