Theatre 305: Topics in Theatre History:
Gender Identity and Theatre History
Spring 20011 Prof. Melanie Blood
MW 1-2:15 Brodie 121
Brodie 210 X5840, blood@geneseo.edu, IM TheaProfonCall
Office hours: MWF 11:30, TR 10:30
The
successful student will
1. Read and analyze primary and secondary
sources in theatre, including
historical and theoretical documents, to examine gender identity as portrayed
in texts and onstage at specific times in theatre history.
2. Examine various theories of
gender and evolve his/her own theory of the relationship between (theatre) art
and gendered identity
3. Understand how various
historiographic and theoretical approaches can be applied to theatre art, using
the examples of feminisms and queer studies.
4. Analyze performances, not only
in four different traditional theatrical productions that foreground gender
issues, but in broader cultural contexts, for embodiment of gender
Required texts at College Bookstore and
Sundance Books:
Body Blows Six Performances by
Tim Miller, by
Tim Miller, Intro by Tony Kushner. U Wisc Press.
ISBN 0299176843
Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill. In
Wadsworth Anthology or Samuel French:
ISBN 0573618747
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. Dover Thrift.
ISBN: 0486264696
I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright. DramatistsÕ Play
Service. ISBN: 0822220245
Split Britches Lesbian Practice
/ Feminist Performance.
Ed Sue Ellen Case. Routledge. ISBN:
0415127661
The Burial At Thebes : A Version
Of Sophocles' Antigone,
by Seamus Heaney. Farrar, Straus, and
Giroux. ISBN: 0374530076
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. In
Wadsworth Anthology or New Directions. ISBN
0811214044
The Mystery Of Irma Vep And
Other Plays by
Charles Ludlam, intro by Tony Kushner. Theatre
Communications Group ISBN: 1559361735
The Rehearsal by George Villiers Buckingham.
Nabu 1141832925 (any edition fine)
Twelfth Night, Or, What You
Will, by
William Shakespeare. Digireads.com Publishing ISBN: 1420926225 (any edition
fine)
Required Readings in mycourses under ÒCourse
Materials.Ó The majority of the reading for the semester is available this way.
Course
Requirements:
1) Three
reading response papers
8-10 pages each; one for each of the three sections of the class. In each
position paper you should review the readings; give the main argument (if essay)
or major plot/character summary (if a play); identify what you see as strengths
and weaknesses of each; identify the authorsÕ points of view on gender and the
historical circumstances with underlying assumptions with which s/he writes,
and any historical/theoretical approaches. You will be graded upon how
thoroughly you understand the readings and how well you define your own ideas
in reaction to the readings. I strongly recommend you do this as you read each
week, then revise as the deadlines for submission arrive. Due 2/21, 3/28, 5/2.
45%, or 15% each
2) Lead
a class discussion.
You will select a day and play or essay in consultation with me. The reading
for the day you select must be over ten pages, and you canÕt pick the second
day on a play or topic. You should plan to take the class through 1) the
authorÕs major arguments if essay or literary and dramatic features if a play
(IÕd love it if we can do a semi-staged readings of most important parts), 2)
the authorÕs position (point of view or style, historical/theoretical approach,
underlying assumptions) and 3) connections between the reading and other class
readings, historical/contemporary events, and/or parallel topics. Turn in your
notes and prepared questions at the end of the class. Plan on 30-45 minutes of
discussion. 15%
3) Term
paper or paper/project.
A topic and three additional sources, beyond class readings, is due M 4/4. An outline of your argument or a
complete rough draft is due by F 4/30; you are encouraged to turn it in
earlier. The final essay, with an abstract, is due at the final examination,
Monday 5/2 at 12 noon. Select any topic that interested you in the course or
related to the course, and extend the required class readings into research of
your own. You must analyze performance using some theoretical approach derived
from class. Your term paper should be 12-15 pages, and you should summarize it
in a brief, one-paragraph abstract, placed after the title page and before the
essay. You will also distribute the abstract to the class and present it at the
final exam. Or, you can see me to select a combination of creative project and
essay; in that case you might act, direct, design or write a creative piece for
the bulk of your project. You are still expected to apply theoretical framework
from the course to a performance, and you essay (5-7 pp if you take this
option) should document what your chose to do and how you applied theory to
practice. Students are strongly urged to submit hold onto final papers and
projects for departmental essay competitions, GREAT Day, and eventual graduate
school applications. 25%
4) Participation. You should be present and
prepared for each class. A great deal of what you can learn in this class you
learn from one another, but this will not work if you do not attend and do
assigned readings before we are scheduled to discuss them. 15%
Computation of final grades
Three position papers: 45%,
15% each
Term
paper or paper/project: 25%
Participation
in class: 15%