Theatre Arts 100: Introduction to Theatre, Fall 1999

Theatre Arts 100
INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE ARTS
Professor Mazer
Fall 1999

Bennett Hall 305, x7382; cmazer@english.upenn.edu
Office Hours: Tu 1:00-3:00; Th 11:00-Noon, and by appointment

September 9: Introduction: What is Theatre? September 14: Theatre and Representation

Reading:
- Susanne K. Langer, "The Dynamic Image" and "Creation," from Problems of Art (bulkpack)

September 16: Theatre and Representation (cont.)

Reading:
- Bernard Beckerman, "Imitation and Presentation," from Theatrical Presentation: Performer, Audience and Act (bulkpack).

[REQUIRED THEATRE GOING: William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Theatre Arts Program, Studio Theatre, Annenberg Center, Sept. 16-18]

September 21: Theatre in Performance I: A Midsummer Night's Dream.

September 23: Acting and Behavior

Guest Lecturer:
- Jim Schlatter, Theatre Arts
Reading:
- Robert Cohen, "Playing the Situation: Out of the Self," from Acting Power: An Introduction to Acting (bulkpack).

September 28: Acting and Action

Reading:
- Bernard Beckerman, "The Theatrical Segment" and "The Dramatic Segment," pp. 44-64, from Dynamics of Drama: Theory and Method of Analysis (bulkpack).

September 30: Action and Character I

Reading:
- Arthur Schnitzler, La Ronde
- Beckerman, Dynamics of Drama, pp. 64-77 (bulkpack).

October 5: Action and Character I (cont.)

Reading:
- La Ronde(cont.)

[APPROXIMATE DUE DATE: FIRST TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENT]

October 7: Action and Character II (cont.)

Reading:
- Henrik Ibsen, A Doll House
- Bert O. States. "The Anatomy of Dramatic Character" (bulkpack).

October 12: Action and Character II (cont.)

Reading:
- Ibsen, A Doll House (cont.).

October 14: Action and Character III

Reading:
- Aristotle, The Poetics.

[Fall Break]

October 19: Character, Action, and Place

Reading:
- Ibsen, A Doll House
- Bert O. States, "The Scenic Illusion: Shakespeare and Naturalism," from Great Reckonings in Little Rooms: On the Phenomenology of Theater (bulkpack).

[REQUIRED THEATRE GOING (dates[s]) to be determined), Henrik Ibsen, A Doll House, Lantern Theatre Company, St. Stephen's Theatre (between 9th and 10th and Market and Chestnut), October 20-November 14.]

October 21: Character, Action, and Place

Guest Lecturer:
- Peter Whinnery, Theatre Arts.
Reading:
- Ibsen, A Doll House.

October 26: Representation and Place

Reading:
- William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Alan C. Dessen, "Shakespeare and the Theatrical Conventions of his Time" (bulkpack).

[APPROXIMATE DUE DATE: SECOND TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENT]

October 28: Defining the Audience:

Guest Lecturer:
- Marcia Ferguson, Theatre Arts
Reading:
- Oscar Brockett, Chapter 6, "Redefining Theatre," from Perspectives on Contemporary Theatre (bulkpack)
- Washington Irving, "The Audience of the First Park Theatre" (bulkpack)

[REQUIRED THEATRE GOING: Friedrich Drrenmatt, The Physicists, Theatre Arts Program, Studio Theatre, Annenberg Center, Oct. 28-30]

November 2: Theatre in Performance II: The Physicists.

November 4: Language, Action, and the Actor

Reading:
- Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
- John Barton, "The Two Traditions" and "Using the Verse," Playing Shakespeare®MDUL¯ (bulkpack).

November 9: Music, Action, and the Actor

Guest Lecturer:
- David Fox, Theatre Arts
Reading:
- (to be announced)

November 11: IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT

[REQUIRED THEATRE GOING: Beth Henley, Abundance, Theatre Arts Program, Studio Theatre, Annenberg Center, Nov. 11-13, 18-20]

November 16: Acting Alternatives I: Presentation and Ideology

Guest Lecturer:
- Jim Schlatter, Theatre Arts
Reading:
- Essays by Bertolt Brecht: "The Modern Theatre is the Epic Theatre," "Theatre for Pleasure or Theatre for Instruction," "Alienation Effects in Chinese Acting," "The Street Scene," and "A Short Organum for Theatre." (bulkpack)

November 18: Re-Defining the Audience:

Guest Lecturer:
- Marcia Ferguson, Theatre Arts
Reading:
- Susan Bennett, Chapter 2, "Theories of Reading and Viewing," from Theatre Audiences: A Theory of Production and Reception (bulkpack)

November 23: Theatre in Performance III: Abundance.

[Thanksgiving]

November 30: Presentation and Ideology

Reading:
- Brecht, The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

December 2: Acting Alternatives III: Performance, Ideology, and Gender

Guest Lecturer:
Rose Malague, Theatre Arts

Reading:

Gay Gibson Cima, "Strategies for Subverting the Canon," and Rhonda Blair, "'Not...but'/'Not-Not-Me': Musings on Cross-Gender Performance," from Upstaging Big Daddy (bulkpack)

December 7: Acting Alternatives II: Representing Others

Guest Lecturer:
- Rose Malague, Theatre Arts
Reading:
- Bert O. States, "The Actor's Presence: Three Phenomenal Modes" (bulkpack)
- "Anna Deavere Smith: the Word Becomes You," an interview by Carol Martin (bulkpack).

December 9: Script to Performance (an intensive look at a script and/or performance from earlier in the semester, or one in preparation for next semester; readings and guest lecturer to be announced).

In addition to the two take-home essays and the in-class exercise, there is a choice of EITHER a final examination, at the date scheduled by the registrar, OR a 12-15 page final term paper, on an open topic, due TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14. ALL TERM PAPER TOPICS MUST BE APPROVED BY ME BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30. Late term papers will not be accepted; if you cannot complete your paper by the deadline, you must take the exam.

Books (including La Ronde, Ibsen Plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Aristotle's Poetics, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle) can be purchased at the Penn Book Center (at 34th and Sabsom Sts.); the Bulkpack can be purchased at the Campus Copy Center, 39th and Walnut.

YOU ARE REQUIRED to see (and you will almost certainly be asked to write about) productions and performances around the Philadelphia area over the course of the semester, including productions in the Studio Theatre of the Annenberg Center sponsored by the Theatre Arts Program, as noted on the syllabus. Additional required productions may be added over the course of the semester.

The listserv for this course is mazer100@english.upenn.edu . You have been subscribed automatically. If you do not seem to be on it, or if you drop the course and wish to be unsubscribed, please send a note to cmazer@english.