Theatre History 204
Associate Professor Richard Kalinoski
Spring 2009
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Arts and Communication Building AC S118
Tuesday and Thursdays 9:40 to 11:10 AM
OFFICE HOURS:
1:30 to 3:00 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays in office at 218 Arts and Communication West
Other hours by appointment
e-mail: kalinosk@uwosh.edu
Phone: 920 424 0937
CLASSROOM: AC South 118
Main text:
History of the Theatre: Living Theatre fifth edition Wilson/Goldfarb
Theatre as a part of the Liberal Arts
The liberal arts engage students in the study of the human condition by
exploring the disciplines broadly defined by the sciences, the arts,
culture, literature and history. THEATRE is a small component of
these human endeavors but its reach is ambitious. Theatre has been
historically dedicated to the act of imitating, replicating and
representing our lives. In many ways it is the ultimate
“liberal” art if one understands the word
“liberal” to mean generous or broadly encompassing.
Theatre’s mandate is to explore any and all facets of
lives—it demands intellectual rigor and multifarious artistic
abilities because theatre is primarily interested in uncovering the
truth about how we live. It is this search for truth that puts theatre
into the very core of liberal pursuits. Theatre is a genuine
liberal art.
On THEATRE HISTORY:
The nature of modern theatre is to expose, to provoke, to question and
to entertain. This class will examine carefully how theatre evolved out
of RELIGIOUS RITUAL and emerged much later as a way to explore the
human condition. The study of theatre history is the study of a very
gradual historical
movement away from the religious toward the secular. It is vital that students understand the role of RITUAL in the long evolution of the theatre.
The concept of secularity is fundamental to the course.
Theatre history is the study of civilization—that is, a study of
people organized enough to be able to conduct themselves civilly with
each other. Much of history is about war and chaos and theatre does not
thrive when chaos reigns. Ironically theatre (and plays specifically)
appear to be invented (or to have evolved) by people in order to help
explain the chaos (or danger) in their lives.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CLASS:
1. Students will demonstrate through writing and speaking
the fundamental historical relationship between religion and the
evolution of theatre.
2. Students will be able to articulate through speaking
one particular aspect of theatre history in the Western world.
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the societal
and cultural forces of ancient peoples through discussion and
writing.
4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the evolution of
theatrical conventions and traditions through writing and
speaking.
Other texts: Performances of plays on campus:
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley (Feb. 18-22);
Student One-Acts (titles TBA) March 12-14,
My Soldiers by Richard Kalinoski (March 16 7:30 PM) (reading);
Grapes of Wrath (April 29—May 3) and reading of playwriting contest winner (TBA).
Video of Shakespeare in Love.
Major assignment: You will be
expected to write a paper and make a presentation on a full length play
OF YOUR OWN SELECTION (approved by your Professor). You will be asked
to identify and choose one particular aspect (a question) of the
theatre history—research it and write about it…and finally
speak about it to the class.
Attendance policy: Come
to class and participate. If you miss more than two classes with no
legitimate excuse your grade will be lowered by ½ whole point
for each unexcused miss beyond 2 . Your steadfast attendance is one way
to demonstrate your seriousness as a student.
GRADES:
Quizzes……..20%
Tests………..20%
Critical responses (reflections) ……20%
Final paper (on selected question)…….15
Oral presentation………………… 10%
Class participation………………..15%
The schedule for Spring 2009:
February
3 Introduction. The
idea of a theatre. Profiles of students in the class (twenty
questions). Discussion of liberal education//article by Stanley Fish. Assign one page on the role of the theatre in American society.
5 Discussion of role of theatre in American society. Notes on Thomas Hobbes and the foundation of society/social contract. Assign pages 1-10
10 Quiz on pages 1 thru 10 and Hobbes. In class exercise on ritual. Assign pages 10 thru 23.
12 Discussion of challenges of studying theatre history. The notion of secularity. Assign pages 25 thru 33.
17 Quiz on pages 25
thru 33. Discussion of Greek Theatre. What about civil society
for the Greeks? Assign pages 33—46. Guidelines for
responding to DOUBT (opens 18 February).
19 Discussion of
fundamentals of Greek Theatre. Assign pages 47 thru 59 Discussion
of research paper (not yet to be assigned)
24 Collect responses to DOUBT. Discussion of DOUBT. Discussion of Aristotle and the POETICS; discussion of all of Greek theatre.
March
3 Test on all Greek, Hobbes and early ritual/religion. Assign Roman theatre—pages 62 thru 73.
5 Discussion of
Roman society/theatre/entertainment. Assign pages 73 thru 83.Assign and
discuss research paper—7 to 9 pages—one question from
theatre history.
10 Quiz on Roman
theatre….discussion of Roman Theatre compared to the theatre of
the Greeks. Assign pages 114 thru 125.
12 Discussion of My Soldiers
and student one-acts: assign questions/ guidelines for
responding. Lecture/discussion of Middle Ages—the
concept of fealty. Ages; Assign student one-acts; assign pages 125 thru
135.
17 Discuss the notion of Cycle plays. Discussion of My Soldiers.
Assign. Discuss Liturgical Drama and evolving secularity. Assign:
135 thru 141.
19 Quiz on theatre of the Middle Ages. Discussion of Middle Ages.
24 Spring break
26 Spring break
31 Collect proposed question of each student for research paper. Handout
details of oral presentations. Intro to the theatre of the English
Renaissance…lecture and discussion. Assign : pages 176 thru 187.
April
2 Quiz on pages
176 thru 187. Shakespeare and the Elizabethans… lecture
and discussion. Assign: 187 thru 200.
7 Film: Shakespeare in Love
9 Film: Shakespeare in Love
14 Discussion of film and pages 187 thru 200. Assign: 201 thru 213.
16 Writing and discussion about Elizabethans and post-Elizabethans.
Assign: pages 143 thru 153, the Italian Renaissance.
21 TEST on the English Renaissance Assign: 154 thru 159.
23 Discussion and writing about the Italian Renaissance. Assign pages 159 thru 170.
28 Discussion of verisimilitude and the Italian ideal. Assign Grapes of Wrath. Assign pages 170 thru 173.
30 Quiz on the Italians emphasizing Commedia and Opera and Classical
rules.
May
5 Due date for research papers. Discusss The Grapes of Wrath.
Lecture on American Theatre.
7 Lecture 2 on American Theatre. Collect responses to Grapes of Wrath.
12 oral presentations; short papers due on Playwriting reading; discussion re: same.
14 oral presentations and wrap up; Research papers returned.