Module Identifier DRM0120  
Module Title PERFORMANCE: TEXT, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION  
Academic Year 2004/2005  
Co-ordinator Professor Richard Gough  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Dr Daniel Meyer-Dinkgrafe, Dr Daniel P Watt, Professor Ioan M Williams, Ms Karoline Gritzner, Professor Mike Pearson  
Course delivery Other   14 hours of contact time  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment 5,000 words  100%
Further details 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  

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:



Aims

To provide students with a foundation in critical theory which may serve as a common basis for the exploration of the theatre-related topics under discussion throughout the rest of the degree scheme.

Content

Performance theory and critical theory will be explorwed so as to provide a standpoint, from which students may develop an understanding of the underlying concepts involved in critical interpretation, of the circumstances in which critical methodology has evolved and of the various discourses which converge in contemporary criticism. Particular attention will be paid to the specific criteria of critical interpretation when applied to performance and to the historical evolution of theatre/perofrmance in the context of Western Europe and North America. Using Counsel and Wolf's Performance Analysis as a course-book, this module will introduce students to the theorised analysis of performance through reading a wide variety of key texts and watching vidoe documentary of performance. THemes to be covered include:

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Counsell and Woolf (2001) Performance Analysis : A Coursebook Routledge/Taylor and Francis
** Recommended Background
Calvino, Italo (1995) Six memos for the New Milennium Vintage
Etchels, Tim (1999) Certain fragments Routledge/ Taylor Francis
Marcus, Greil (2002) Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century Faber and Faber
Kane, Sarah (1998) Crave Methuen
Marranca, Bonnie (ed.) (1995) The theatre Images PAJ
Muller, Heiner Hamletmachine PAJ
Reinelt, Janelle and Roach, Joseph R (eds.) (1992) Critical Theory and Performance Ann Arbour:Michigan university press
Schimmel, Paul (1998) Out of Actions: Between Performance and the Object 1949-1979 THames and Hudson

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7