Section A—T/TH 12:45-2:00pm, RM??? / Spring 2012
3 Credit Hours
Dathan A. Powell
Asst. Professor of Theatre/Technical Director
502-863-8161Box 305
/ Theatre House (SH), 001
Office Hours: TBD
All others by appointment
Course Description and Overview
Catalog Description – FDN112/THE171 will introduce students to the study of Formalist Script Analysis and how it relates to the creation of live theatrical events and filmed adaptations while continuing the skills development begun in FDN111. Students will examine works from the Western canon of dramatic literature, beginning with Ancient Greece and continuing into modern times, and apply their analysis to projects within the class ranging from dramatic critique to designer presentations, scripting to speaking words on stage. The class will also offer the unique experience of attending live theatrical presentations within the area. Special feefor tickets will apply.
Goals – The following are Foundations and Core Programoutcomes specific to FDN112:
The course will continue an emphasis on skills taught in the Foundations 111 course, equipping students with the tools:
- To read (that is, to examine carefully and evaluatively) written and other kinds of texts forcontent and meaning, and, to some degree, to attend to questions of structure and form as they impact and/or shape meaning.
- To compose logical, original, and critical (that is, objective, evaluative, and analytical) responses to texts, problems, and questions.
- To argue coherently and persuasively, displaying knowledge of the elements and inner workings of argument--that is, using logical organization, adequate support, independent thought, and sound reasoning, as modeled in many of the arguments in course readings.
- To engage, deeply and meaningfully, with course material—including texts, problems, and questions—and with others in critical discussions of that material, both in the sense of participating in college-level class discussions, and in the sense of entering into written and other kinds of larger cultural discourses at a pre-disciplinary level.
- To self-assess by reflecting thoughtfully on both their understanding of course content and their development of target skills; in other words, self-assessment here refers to the skill of “knowing when we know something.”
- To demonstrate a core of knowledge addressing major questions from the natural and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities, religious studies, and especially fine arts.
- To demonstrate lower-level proficiency in the use of the academic skills and methods of inquiry associated with disciplines in the five areas of inquiry.
The following are departmental goals specific to THE171
- Students understand the basic historical development of theatrical performance and itscorporate parts
- Students analyze dramatic and cinematic texts from performance and production perspectives
- Students evaluate the two styles of artistic expression as a means of enhancing writing skills
Methods – The course is composed of the following assignments that are designed to achieve the goals stated above:
- Participation connects students to the world of dramatic production to broaden their understanding of the performing arts
- Quizzes examine the ability to read a text for understanding from the discipline’s various lenses
- Performance reviewsengage ability to critique performance using the language of the disciplineCumulative Projects foster deeper understanding of particular elements of theatre production
- Era papers synthesize knowledge of the contextual elements of the period in which the plays were written and understanding of the needs of performance as it relates to the texts
Outcomes – Uponcompletion of this course, students can:
- Describe common practices and styles in theatrical production
- Interpret the themes and motifs of various dramatic writing
- Recognize major achievements in dramatic writing and how they represent an understanding of/reaction to the times in which they were produced
- Analyze the needs of a particular script from varied theatrical perspectives
- Criticize the work of theatrical professionals effectively and appropriately
Course Policies
Theatre Department Attendance Policy
Theatre is a collaborative art form that requires active participation in a variety of degrees. First directors and designers must commit to a production, spending time in planning and designing the concept of the show. Second there is a commitment to rehearsing and building the various elements of the show. Next comes the performance, during which a theatre company relies on its members to participate to their fullest, but also requires the audience to join as active spectators. Finally all of the participants must engage in critique and review in order to promote the best work possible.
Because participation is so important to the training and work of theatre artists, students in theatre classes must also play an active role. The Department of Theatre and Performance Studies requires that students attend no less than 80% of the classes for a given course during the semester. This accounts for all absences from the class, whether personal or school-related*. Students unable to meet this requirement will be asked to drop and/or retake the course at a later date.
Participation:Participation and collaboration arekey to success in theatre. Aside from completion ofindividual quizzes and assignments, students will be evaluated on their conduct during class discussions and presentations, and on their decorum during live events.
At no time during any class function is the use of hand-held devices acceptable without prior consent of the instructor.
*An excused absence is one that is verified by a Georgetown College professor/coach for a school-related event, or a medical emergency documented by a doctor or health-care professional. Please note that the departmental attendance policy (above) still applies to these situations
Academic Honesty: Academic Honesty is governed by Georgetown College as stated in the policy of the College Catalog. The instructor will not give credit for work that demonstrates a violation of this policy. In severe cases, students may receive a penalty for the course work in question and be reported to the Honor Council.
Late Work: Students must hand in all assignments by the due dates listed or receive a 10 point reduction in the grade for each day late. It is the responsibility of the student to assure that assignments are handed in the event that the student must miss class on such a date.
Required Texts
Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers, James Thomas, Fourth Edition ISBN:9780240810492
Anthology of Living Theater,Wilson and Goldfarb, Third Edition ISBN: 9780073514130
Arcadia: A Play, Tom Stoppard ISBN: 9780571169344
Course Pack of Additional Readings
Skills Handbook
Assignments
All written work must be submitted as Word Documentsin the Moodle drop-boxes.
Quizzes (12 of 13): Quizzes for each of the required plays will be taken on Moodle. Quizzes must be taken by the first class period for which the play is listed, unless otherwise noted in class. The student may drop the lowest quiz score from his/her overall grade.
Performance Reviews (3): Students see will see and respond to a variety of live and taped performances or films chosen by the instructor. The reviews will require a critical understanding of the dramatic texts and how the performances enhance or detract from those texts.
Cumulative Projects (2): The projects will move the students beyond simply analyzing texts to exploring how theatre artists communicate their ideas to each other. A variety of multi-media approaches will be explored, allowing students to choose the one which suits them best.
Era papers (5): Students will choose one play from each Era and write an analysis paper that focuses on one aspect of theatre production and how the respective artist would approach the task of producing his/her element of the performance
- Participation connects students to the world of dramatic production to broaden their understanding of the performing arts
- Quizzes examine the ability to read a text for understanding from the discipline’s various lenses
- Performance reviewsengage ability to critique performance using the language of the disciplineCumulative Projects foster deeper understanding of particular elements of theatre production
- Era papers synthesize knowledge of the contextual elements of the period in which the plays were written and understanding of the needs of performance as it relates to the texts
Grading
Grading Scale / Final Grade Breakdown920-1000
880-919
820-879
760-819
700-759
600-699
<600 / =A
=A/B
=B
=B/C
=C
=D
=F / Participation
Quizzes (12 of 13)
Performance reviews (3)
Cumulative Projects (2)
Era papers (5)
Total / 100
180
120
100
500
1000
Tentative Spring 2012 Course Calendar
(Subject to change with appropriate notice)
WEEK / DAY/DATE / Class Focus / What’s Due1 / T – 01/24 / Introduction / Theatre Forms and Expression
H – 01/26 / A Brief History of Theatre
2 / T – 01/31 / Studying Scripts
H – 02/02 / Studying Scripts
3 / T – 02/07 / Antigone / Quiz 1
H – 02/09 / Antigone
4 / T – 02/14 / The Menaechmus Brothers / Quiz 2
H – 02/16 / The Menaechmus Brothers / Era 1 Paper
5 / T – 02/21 / Abraham and Isaac / Quiz 3
H – 02/23 / Abraham and Isaac / Hamlet / Quiz 4
6 / T – 02/28 / Hamlet / Review 1
H – 03/01 / Hamlet / Era 2 Paper
7 / T – 03/06 / Tartuffe / Quiz 5
H – 03/08 / Tartuffe / The Busy Body / Quiz 6
8 / T – 03/13 / Spring Break – No Class
H – 03/15 / Spring Break – No Class
9 / T – 03/20 / Presentation Day / Project 1
H – 03/22 / A Doll's House / Quiz 7 / Era 3 Paper
10 / T – 03/27 / A Doll's House / A Dream Play / Quiz 8 / New Play Getaway (weekend) – ATL
H – 03/29 / A Dream Play
11 / T – 04/03 / The Good Woman of Setzuan / Quiz 9 / Review 2
H – 04/05 / The Good Woman of Setzuan
12 / T – 04/10 / Krapp's Last Tape / Quiz 10
H – 04/12 / Krapp's Last Tape / Era 4 Paper
13 / T – 04/17 / Joe Turner's Come and Gone / Quiz 11
H – 04/19 / Joe Turner's Come and Gone
14 / T – 04/24 / Far Away / Quiz 12
H – 04/26 / Far Away / Review 3
15 / T – 05/01 / Arcadia / Quiz 13
H – 05/03 / Arcadia
16 / T – 05/08 / Final Wrap-up/ Presentation Day / Project 2
H – 05/10 / Reading Day—No Class
FINALS / W – 5/153:00-5:00pmEra 5 Paper Due
FDN112/THE171—From Page to Stage: Creating 3-D Drama from the 2-D Surface, Spring 2012