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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.