Module Identifier
DR10120
Module Title
INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE STUDS 1
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Sabine Sorgel
Semester
Semester 1
Co-Requisite
DR10220
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials Seminars 1 x 1 hour per week (Students to be informed of their group allocations)
Lecture Lectures 2 x 1 hour per week
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Exam 2 Hours   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  40%
Semester Assessment Essay 1 (2000 words )  25%
Semester Assessment Essay 2 (2000 words)  25%
Semester Assessment Class Contribution  10%
Supplementary Assessment Written Essays/Exam. Failed work must be resubmitted or retaken. To resit class contribution the student will be asked to submit a 1500 word essay.  100%

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module students should be able:

to respond analytically to a range of theatrical texts and modes of live performance
to articulate an awareness of relationships between texts, performances and cultural contexts
to demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and methodologies within theatre and performance studies

Brief description

This introductory module covers representative play-texts and performances across a broad chronological timescale (including Ancient, Neo-classical, Renaissance, Restoration, Expressionism, Naturalism, Realism)

Aims

- To examine some of the methods and problems of studying theatre and performance
- To examine certain key aspects and concepts of Western theatre and performance, in their theatrical, historical, social, religious and intellectual contexts
- To apply these concepts to a series of exemplary dramatic and performance texts



Content

Texts and examples of theatrical and performance practices from the Western theatrical tradition, with particular attention being paid to the following aspects and concepts: the actor; the director; the audience; theatres and performances.






Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication Communication skills will be developed in seminar sessions.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students will receive feedback on written assignments.
Information Technology IT and information handling skills will be demonstrated through students individual research (library and web) and through written work (word processing).
Personal Development and Career planning Students will have the opportunity to explore specific areas which reflect and strengthen their individual career needs
Research skills Students will demonstrate the results of individual research in the form of essays, examinations and oral contribution.
Subject Specific Skills Students are encouraged to develop the use of critical and analytical vocabulary in their written and oral response to representative examples from the canon of Western drama (text and performance). Upon completion students should be able to: - to respond analytically to a range of theatrical texts and modes of live performance -to articulate an awareness of relationships between texts, performances and cultural contexts - to demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and methodologies within theatre studies and Western Drama.

Reading List

Essential Reading
Balme, Christopher (2008) The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Studies Cambridge University Press Primo search Brecht The Threepenny Opera Methuen Primo search Calderon The Great Theatre of the World Departmental Reader Primo search Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard Methuen Primo search Counsell, Colin and Laurie Wolf (Eds) (2001) Performance Analysis: An Introductory Coursebook Routledge Primo search Euripides The Bacchae Methuen Primo search Fischer-Lichte, Erika (2004) History of European Drama and Theatre Routledge Primo search Genet, Jean The Blacks: A Clown Show Grove Press Primo search Pavis, Patrice (2003) Analyzing Performance: Theatre, Dance and Film University of Michigan Press Primo search Pavis, Patrice (1999) Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts and Analysis University of Toronto Press Primo search Pfister, Manfred (1983) The Theory and Analysis of Drama Cambridge University Press Primo search Shakespeare, William Henry V Arden Shakespeare Primo search Styan, J L Modern Drama in Theory and Practice - Vol. 1-3 Cambridge University Press Primo search Taylor, Jane (1998) Ubu and the Truth Commission University of Capetown Primo search Zarrilli, Phillip (2006) Theatre Histories Routledge Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4