Download The Great American Musical - Department of American Studies

Chris Rinaldi
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 201-893-8938
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 6:15-7:15 RAB 17
Spring 2010
HSB 201
MW 7:15-8:35
Topics in American Studies:
The Great American Musical
American Studies 01:050:281
Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Course Description: This course examines the relationships between American popular culture
and American musical theatre, their cross influences, and the social reflections which result. We
will explore the evolution of the American musical from its foreign and folk roots to the grand
scale Broadway productions of today. Influential artists, movements, and outside influences will
be examined as we explore what is American about these particular performing art spectacles.
Course Objectives:
An appreciation of American social shifts as reflected by American musical theatre.
Recognition of aspects of American popular culture influenced by American musical
theatre.
A greater understanding of the efforts of significant artists, technicians, producers,
corporations, and consumers of American musical theatre.
The formation of personal opinions based in artistic and social analysis to promote not
only greater learning, but a greater appreciation of our chosen medium of study.
Grading:
Midterm Exam (20% of Final Grade): An exam of the materials examined during the
first half of the semester will be administered on Monday, November 15 th.
Written Assignment (25% of Final Grade): A two to three page paper will be assigned
in class and will be due Monday, November 29th.
Final Exam (25% of Final Grade): A cumulative final exam of the entire course, with
focus placed on the second half of the semester, will be administered Monday, December
20th at 8:00pm in our usual classroom.
Participation (20% of Final Grade): Class participation is critical to the comprehension
and appreciation of our subject material. As such you are expected to engage the class
and prepare at least three comments based on the readings of that day’s class. Hand in
your comments at the end of each class.
Attendance (10% of Final Grade): Attendance will be taken at the beginning of every
class. One unexcused absence is permitted over the course of the semester, any absence
past one will be met with a 10% reduction in your final grade per absence. As a
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percentage of your grade is based on class participation and discussion poor attendance
will likely be detrimental to your participation grade as well.
*In the event of a weather emergency please call 732-932-7799 for the official
operating status of the campus.
Required Texts:
Kislan, Richard. The Musical: A Look at the American Musical Theater. New York: Applause
Theatre & Cinema Books, 1995. $18.95 Soft cover. ***Available free of charge via Google
Books.
Sternfeld, Jessica. The Megamusical. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2006. $29.95
Hardcover. $23.95 E-Book.
Jones, John Bush. Our Musicals, Ourselves: A Social History of the American Musical Theatre.
Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press, 2003. $27.95. ***An extensive limited preview is
available free of charge via Google books.
*All books have been placed on reserve at the Mable Smith Douglass Library. The prices listed
above are the prices listed by the publishers. All three books may be purchased for far less
money through Barnes & Noble as well as various internet sources.
Office Hours:
Office hours are held before class both Monday and Wednesday. Appointments, or
requests to meet at another time may be made after class or by e-mail.
Recommended resources:
IBDB. The Internet Broadway Database. www.ibdb.com
Bordman, Gerald. American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle. Third edition. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2001. $95.00. ***Fourth edition to be released in December. $125.
Green, Stanley. Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. Lavergne, TN: Da Capo Press 1976.
$22.00.
Plagiarism and Cheating:
Plagiarism is the act of representing someone else’s work as his or her own. It is one of
the most significant academic offenses possible and is not tolerated by Rutgers University. If
caught plagiarizing in this course the matter will be reported to the Office of Student Life who
will launch their own investigation. If found guilty of plagiarism the offense is recorded on a
student’s academic record and the student faces the possibility of expulsion from the University.
Please note that Rutgers considers all parties engaged in plagiarism as equally guilty, meaning
that if you assist in plagiarizing, or if you allow your own work to be plagiarized you face the
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same consequences as the individual who turns in the work. Any other forms of cheating on
assignments, quizzes, tests, or any other class related work will be met with similar action.
Please be aware that plagiarism is especially easy to catch in a course such as this. There
are only so many authoritative works on the subjects we will discuss in class and all Rutgers
academic faculty are granted access to Turnitin.com, a web resource which detects multiple
means and aspects of plagiarism. Web plagiarism is especially easy to spot as sources such as
Wikipedia are so frequently wrong on dates and figures, and are consistently tainted by opinion.
Avoid plagiarizing by properly citing your work. Guidelines for proper citation are
available at: http://amerstudies.rutgers.edu/documents/AcknowledgingSources.pdf.
Schedule:
Monday, October 25th: Introduction to the course, syllabus, and readings.
The Roots and Birth of ‘Modern’ American Musical Theatre - Major shows to discuss: Flora,
The Disappointment, The Temple of Minerva, The Prince of Parthia, The Beggar’s Opera,
Ziegfeld Follies, The Black Crook, Evangeline, H.M.S. Pinafore.
Wednesday, October 27th:
- Required Reading: Our Musicals, Ourselves: Introduction. The Musical: Chapter 1 (p. 1116), Chapter 2 (p. 19-38) and Chapter 3 (40-58).
Monday, November 1st:
- Required Reading: The Musical: Chapter 4 (60-80) and Chapter 5 (82-95).
The Golden Age - Major shows to discuss: Show Boat, Pal Joey, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, West
Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof.
Wednesday, November 3rd:
- Required Reading: The Musical: Chapter 7 (113-127) and Our Musicals, Ourselves:
Chapter 4 (123-140).
Monday, November 8th:
- Required Reading: The Musical: Chapter 8 (129-151) and Our Musicals, Ourselves:
Chapter 4 (140-160).
After the Golden Age - Major shows to discuss: Man of La Mancha, Cabaret, Hair, Follies,
Godspell,
Wednesday, November 10th:
- Required Reading: The Musical: Chapter 9 (154-167) and Our Musicals, Ourselves:
Chapter 7 (235-268).
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Monday, November 15th: MIDTERM EXAM.
- Required Reading: Our Musicals, Ourselves: Chapter 8 (269-293, 301-304) and Chapter 9
(305-322).
The Invasion of the ‘Megamusical’ - Major shows to discuss: Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Les
Misérables, Phantom of the Opera.
Wednesday, November 17th:
- Required Reading: The Meagmusical: Introduction (p.1-7), Chapter 1 (p. 7-28 and 54-66).
Monday, November 22nd:
- Required Reading: The Megamusical: Chapter 2 (p. 67-85 and 94-99) Chapter 3 (p. 112132 and 163-174).
Wednesday, November 24th: NO CLASS – Thanksgiving Break.
The American Theatrical ‘Product’ - Major shows to discuss: Beauty & the Beast, The Lion
King, Rent.
Monday, November 29th: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT DUE
- Required Reading: The Megamusical: Chapter 6 (p. 273-291) and Chapter 7 (p. 292-304
and 319-328).
Wednesday, December 1st:
- Required Reading: Our Musicals, Ourselves: Chapter 9 (p. 322-330) and Chapter 10
(p.331-358).
The American Musical Theater Since 2000 - Major shows to discuss: Assassins, The Producers,
Shrek, American Idiot, The Adams Family.
Monday, December 6th:
- Required Reading: The Megamusical: Chapter 8 (p. 334-352) and The Rise and Fall of the
Broadway Musical (p. 211-214).
Wednesday, December 8th:
- Required Reading: The Rise and Fall of the Broadway Musical: (p. 11-12, 115-118, 167168, 277-315).
The Future of the Great American Musical: 2011 and Beyond
Monday, December 13th:
- Required reading TBD.
Final Exam: The final exam will be held on Monday, December 20th at 8:00pm in our usual
classroom.
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