Download American Drama THE 4401-001 Online 15 Weeks Instructor: Dr

American Drama
THE 4401-001
Online 15 Weeks
Instructor:
Dr. Denis Calandra http://theatre.arts.usf.edu/dcala.htm
TAR 247
974-2701
Office hours: by arrangement.
[email protected]
Course Description:
Using play texts, historical and scholarly documents, and films this course will survey 20th
century American drama in socio-political and aesthetic contexts. We will consider writers,
directors, actors, designers. Among the topics are a.) the development of the art of the
American drama; b.) censorship; c.) the relationship between ideology and public art; d.)
politics, civil rights, and popular arts as they influence the art of the theatre; e.) film scripts
vs. stage scripts.
Required Texts:
NOTE: you must acquire the specific editions listed here. For the most part these are the
editions theatre professionals use. They are also the least expensive paperback editions and
the ones with the pagination I will use in all assignments. I will post additional material
online.
1. Arthur Miller: Death of a Salesman. 1980. Dramatists Play Service. ISBN: 08222-0290-5.
2. Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire. 1981. Dramatists Play Service.
ISBN: 0-8222-1089-4.
3. Edward Albee: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 2004. Dramatists Play Service
ISBN: 0-8222-12492.
4. August Wilson: Piano Lesson. 1984. Penguin ISBN: 0-452265349.
5.
David Mamet: Oleanna. 1993. Dramatists Play Service. ISBN: 0-8222-1343-5.
6. Tony Kushner: Angels in America. (Parts one AND two) 1995. Theatre
Communications Group. ISBN: 1-55936.231.6.
7. Margaret Edson: Wit. 1999. Dramatists Play Service. ISBN: 0-8222-1704.
8. Robert Ingalls: United States Since 1945. Wiley. 2009. ISBN: 9781405167147.
Required DVDs:
Purchase the DVDs new or used from whichever source is least expensive. Most of them are
also available from Netflix and other rental services. There will, however, be no allowances
for late papers because of problems with Netflix or another rental service. I will also
order enough copies for the class through USF Tampa’s Barnes and Noble. It is essential
you buy the specific editions listed here. Comparing specific texts and specific performances
is at the heart of the course.
(Note: there will be copies of each of the DVDs in the Tampa library media reserve: ( 3 hour
checkout.)
1.
Death of a Salesman. (Dustin Hoffman) UPC 014381140620
2. A Streetcar Named Desire. (Marlon Brando) UPC 085393893224
3. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Elizabeth Taylor) UPC 012569821095
4. Piano Lesson (Charles Dutton) VHS if available. (Excerpt online.)
5. Oleanna (William H. Macy) UPC 9780792858171
5. Wit (Emma Thompson) UPC 026359178122
6. Angels in America (Al Pacino) UPC 026359229923
Course Topics:
1. Introduction to 20th century American theatre.
2. Generation and distinctive features of texts and productions by key theatre artists.
3. Collaborative processes: the 'road to Broadway (or equivalent)' of writers
working with directors, designers, actors, producers; the 'road to Hollywood (or
equivalent)' for select plays.
4. Special topics: ethnic theatre; alternative theatre; feminist theatre; formalist
theatre; censorship; commerce and theatre; technology and theatre; acting
'schools' and styles; American culture and public performance.
Course Objectives:
To help students:
1. Learn to read and understand the great American play texts.
2. Learn to analyze American plays with an eye to performance and production.
3. Learn to study documents and videos about premieres of American plays and
their derivative films as a means of making critical judgments of the acting and
directing of the plays.
4. Learn to critique performance choices made by directors and actors of classic
American plays.
5. Learn to express ideas about plays and their film versions as they relate to key
issues of 20th/21st century U.S.
Student Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the essential differences of style of key
American playwrights and how that understanding might affect performance and
production.
2. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the need to understand the cultural bases
which contribute to the shaping of American plays, films, performances.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the different artistic processes important American
playwrights have gone through to bring their work to the public.
4. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the complex interconnection between artistic
work and cultural context. How does one compare similar works in different
performance circumstances?
ASSIGNMENTS:
NOTE: (Before the first class instructor will post full semester schedule.)
A.
SEVEN BLOG ENTRIES ON PLAYS AND BACKGROUND READINGS
(28 points: 7@ 4)
The nature of this writing is less formal than the critical papers, but you need to be clear
and to the point. Graded for thoroughness. These are private blogs, but select entries may
at some point in the semester be opened for all to see. Entries will have questions from
one or more items: from the CAMBRIDGE GUIDE TO AMERICAN DRAMA
(ONLINE TEXT); from THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1945; from streamed library
videos; from other provided texts.
1. Cambridge Guide to American Theatre . Entries in the guide range from one
paragraph to three pages. (online text)
2. Author biographical and professional information. Instructor will set
questions related to linked online reserve and web site sources. (online text)
3. Brief ‘historical documents’. One to three page readings from documents
related to the ideas in the plays. (UNITED STATES SINCE 1945).
4. Short video interviews/documentaries on the writers and theatre practices
covered in the course. Instructor will link students to Theatre in Video. (online
site available through USF library)
B.
SIX CRITICAL ANALYSIS PAPERS (One @ 1500 wds; Five @ 1000 wds).
(42 points: 6@7)
These assignments will be graded for content and style. This is formal writing rather than a
test or blog entry. SOURCES must be cited. SAFE ASSIGN will ferret out plagiarism. For
each paper you are to use questions set by your instructor to help you organize a fluent
analysis of scenes and the theatrical means used to explore ideas..
C.
ONE CLASS DISCUSSION
(18points)
The one week Discussion will focus on the VERY LONG 2 part play ANGELS IN
AMERICA. We will read it, watch the Al Pacino/Meryl Streep movie, and in small groups
discuss the play in the context of the themes covered in the course, and as the play relates to
the other plays and background materials you have read. The precise grading criteria will be
posted on the site.
D.
FINAL EXAM
(12 points: ‘A’ @ 9; ‘B’ @ 3)
1. Part ‘A’. An essay question which requires you to draw on precise details from the
ANGELS discussion; further readings from UNITED STATES SINCE 1945; prior
class assignments. Instructor will provide a study guide for the FINAL one week
before it is due. You will have 24 hours to complete your essay question.
2. Part ‘B’. A series of short answer and identification questions that test your
knowledge of the plays, characters, themes, background readings.
3. NOTE: the best student preparation for the final is the thorough completion of all
course work prior to the test date.
PLAGIARISM IN ANY FORM RESULTS IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE. NO
EXCEPTIONS. ALL PAPERS WILL BE SCANNED FOR UNACKNOWLEDGED
TEXT.
OTHER DETAILS
Make up Assignments: the FIRST FIVE critical analyses may be rewritten and posted one week
following the graded date. Missed papers may not be submitted after the due date.
INSTRUCTOR WILL ONLY ACCEPT RE-WRITES OF THOROUGH AND SERIOUS
ATTEMPTS TO COMPLETE THE ANALYSES BY THE ORIGINAL DUE DATES.
Religious observances: students who anticipate difficulties completing assignments on due dates
because of religious observances are required to inform the instructor of the dates and reasons by
the second week of the semester.
Accommodation: USF’s policy on reasonable accommodation in cases of handicap applies to
this course.
Recording and re-distribution of course materials. The instructor does not give permission to
record or re-distribute materials from this course.