Download Absurdism-Responding-task

St Columban’s College Arts Department
TASK
‘Creating Excellence’
9
YEAR 12 DRAMA
TASK 9 – EXTENDED RESPONSE (WRITTEN)
The Theatre of the Absurd has renounced arguing about the absurdity of the human condition; it merely
presents it in being--that is, in terms of concrete stage images. This is the difference between the approach of
the philosopher and that of the poet.
Martin Eislinn, The Theatre of the Absurd (2004)
This term your creative journey in Drama has exposed you to the styles of Absurdism and Surrealism,
examining the way the human condition is presented through considered acting, design and directorial
choices.
After viewing the production Kafka’s Monkey by Theatre for a New Audience, editors from the online theatre
publication Australian Stage have approached you to write an analytical essay about the performance. Your
task is to examine how the creative team has used the conventions of Absurdism and Surrealism to
present the human condition; is Kafka’s Monkey a strong example of the dramatic styles of Absurdism and
Surrealism?
You will need to analyse the performance holistically but should select three specific scenes to justify your
position. In your response you will need to:
 identify the human condition/s apparent in the play and/or specific scene,
 identify the conventions of Absurdism and Surrealism used in the scenes selected,
 identify the skills of performance used in the scenes selected
 analyse and evaluate how these conventions and skills present the human condition (dramatic
meaning) and why these choices may have been made by the creative team.
Within your analytical essay you must analyse and evaluate the production, building a clear thesis that
states your position in response to the question and examining some or a combination of the following
dramatic languages:
Elements of drama
Skills of performance
Conventions of style(s):
Role, relationship, situation, tension, space, place, time, movement, mood,
focus and symbol.
Direction, design – stage, props, lighting and sound, voice and movement.
Absurdism and Surrealism – presents the human condition; questions
existence and absurdity of life; both comic and tragic; pauses in voice and
movement; empty chatter, word play and fragmentation; direct address
and participatory action; distortion of time and space through cyclical
structure, flash-back, flash-forward and repetition; human/non-human
distinctions obscured through voice, movement, costume and make-up;
and visual/symbolic story telling.
CONDITIONS
 At least two weeks preparation time in and outside of class time
 Teacher consultation and feedback on one draft during preparation time.
 Draft submitted with final response
LENGTH
1000 – 1200 words
UNIT 4 – REPLACING THE BULB
ASSESSMENT ITEM NUMBER 9: RESPONDING
Extended response (written)
RESPONDING
STANDARD A
STANDARD B
STANDARD C
STANDARD D
STANDARD E
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:

discriminating analysis of
use of the dramatic
languages to facilitate
dramatic action and
meaning

informed analysis of use
of the dramatic
languages to facilitate
dramatic action and
meaning

analysis of use of the
dramatic languages to
facilitate dramatic action
and meaning

partial analysis of use of
the dramatic languages
in dramatic action and
meaning

explanation of aspects of
the dramatic languages
used in dramatic action

perceptive and thorough
evaluation with
discriminating supporting
evidence of effectiveness
of the dramatic action in
communicating meaning
to audiences

informed evaluation with
convincing supporting
evidence of effectiveness
of the dramatic action in
communicating meaning
to audiences

evaluation with
supporting evidence of
effectiveness of the
dramatic action in
communicating meaning
to audiences

partial evaluation with
evidence of how dramatic
action communicates
aspects of meaning to
audiences

explanation of aspects of
the dramatic action

discerning synthesis of
positions about dramatic
action and meaning
through use of relevant
language conventions
and drama terminology.

effective synthesis of
positions about dramatic
action and meaning
through use of relevant
language conventions
and drama terminology.

synthesis of positions
about dramatic action
and meaning through use
of language conventions
and drama terminology.

communication of
positions about aspects
of dramatic action and
meaning through use of
basic language
conventions and drama
terminology.

communication of
opinions using basic
language conventions.
COMMENTS: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Meets required length?
RESPODNING ________
Yes / No
Signature: __________________________
Date: ______________________________