Master Syllabus Course Title: Major Movements in Western Theatre History Course Number: THE 2410 Credit Hours: Three Prerequisites: None Course Description: This course surveys the history of theatre from its beginnings through the eighteenth century, emphasizing the ways in which theatre functions as a social political and economic institution in a variety of representative settings. We will pay particular attention to the physical spaces of performance, methods of scenic design, lighting, costuming, staging, acting, and the organization of theater as a social event; in other words, we will try to reconstruct what the theater event was like in other times and places. We will also read representative plays from each period, and look at developments in the practice of playwriting. Required Text: The text currently required is Living Theater: History, Wilson. ISBN 978-0-07-338220-3. http://www.theatrehistory.com/ http://www.cwu.edu/~robinsos/ppages/resources/theatre_history/ http://pages.towson.edu/quick/rlqguideth.html http://www.suite101.com/theatrehistory Online Resources: This course will use various internet resources, which you are responsible to read online, download, or print. Assignment guidelines, certain readings, and focus questions will be posted on Blackboard, and it is your responsibility to check it on a regular basis. Various Objectives: Core Learning Areas: The Core Learning Areas represent a common body of skills and knowledge to which all graduates with associate s degrees should be exposed and for which the college may determine certain levels of competency which will be assessed through the general education curriculum. Cultural Awareness Cultural Awareness is the ability to discern the interdependence of local and transnational political, social, economic, artistic and cultural networks in the context of their aesthetic and historical importance. Competency in this area is measured by the ability to: 35. Explain how culture, social structure, diversity, and other key elements of historical context have an impact on global and individual perception, action, and values 36. Articulate how historical change shapes the arts, ideas, and social and political structures. 37. Demonstrate an appreciation of the creative process 1
38. Demonstrate an understanding of the essential role of humanities literature and fine arts in the human experience Specific Course Objectives: Read plays from a variety of periods and places as blueprints for performance. 1. Use historical and cultural research to understand plays and their staging, including the research appropriate for a director, actor, or designer. 2. Compare diverse performance traditions and contexts. 3. Compare theatres of the past to present-day theatre and film. 4. Write clearly structured essays combining specialized terminology with the student's own voice. 5. Describe what is known, what is not known, and what is in dispute about particular topics in theatre history. Theatre and Dance Program Goals: 1. Students will communicate with clarity, sound reasoning, and understanding an appreciation of the theatre arts. 2. Students majoring in both Theatre and Dance will present a portfolio for each academic year at the college. 3. Students will be able to discuss, describe, critique, and analyze works in the theatre arts using the appropriate vocabulary of historical, literary and theoretical knowledge of drama and/or dance forms. 4. Students will demonstrate development in the theatre arts, including communication, critical thinking skills, and performing arts skills, and creativity. 5. The division will provide a venue and opportunities for students, faculty, administrators, staff, and the Southern Maryland community to experience a variety of theatrical performances. Typical Class Schedule: Chapter 1: Theatre: Its Origins and Its History Chapter 2: Greek Theatre Chapter 3: Roman Theatre Chapter 4: Early Asian Theatres Chapter 5: Medieval Theatres in Europe Chapter 6: The Theatre of the Italian Renaissance Chapter 7: The Theatre of the English Renaissance Chapter 8: The Theatre of the Spanish Golden Age Chapter 9: French Neoclassical Theatre Chapter 10: The Theatre of the English Restoration Chapter 11: Theatres in the Eighteenth Century Chapter 12: Theatres form 1800 to 1875 Chapter 13: Theatres form 1875 to 1915 Chapter 14: Theatres form 1915 to 1945 Chapter 15: Theatres form 1945 to 1975 2
Chapter 16: Contemporary Theatres: The Americas Chapter 17: Contemporary Global Theatres: Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia Potential Course Requirements and Evaluation: Requirements for the following assignments will be discussed in class and explained in assignment guides posted on blackboard. You are responsible for consulting and understanding these guidelines. 1. One brief group presentation on the material in Living Theatre: A History 2. Two interim exams 3. A final exam 4. A research and analysis project resulting in a paper, 7-10 pages, submitted in two installments 5. Participation: includes discussions, peer evaluations, and in-class writing. Course Requirements and Policies: Attendance: You must attend class. If you must miss a class due to illness or emergency, notify me in advance if at all possible. Each unexcused absence will detract from your participation grade, as will any absence (excused or not) beyond the third. Perfect and punctual attendance in itself will result in a B+ grade for participation; to receive an A requires active participation; that is, comments and questions that reveal thoughtfulness and preparation Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit offered. Written Work: Though relatively short, the written assignments require careful organization and clear expository writing. Spelling, grammar, and the mechanics of composition are an integral part of all your written work. You are expected to submit papers which you have proofread and edited, and which reflect the highest level of compositional skill. If you need help with your writing, please make an appointment with the course faculty member who will be glad to give you some useful tips and advice. Type your essays on plain white paper, one-inch margins, double spaced, 12-point type, Times or Times New Roman font. Insert a header at the top right-hand side of each page with your last name, the assignment title, and the page number. Staple together the pages of your written work at the top left corner. Don t neglect this format!! Course and College Policies: All students are bound by the guidelines and regulations as set forth in the current Student Handbook. If you do not have a copy, please obtain one from the Dean of Student Affairs. Disability Services: College of Southern Maryland seeks to provide appropriate academic adjustments for all qualified individuals with disabilities. This College will comply with all applicable federal, states, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines, specifically Section 504, of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with respect to providing appropriate academic adjustments to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the 3
responsibility of the student to register with and provide medical verification and academic schedules Disability Support Services (DSS) at the beginning of each semester and no later than the second week of school unless otherwise determined by the coordinator. The student also must contact the faculty member in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate academic adjustments. Contact Disability Support Services for further information or for assistance. Classroom Decorum: In order to facilitate a positive learning environment for all students, a minimum level of mutual respect and decorum is necessary: Turn off your cellular phones, beepers, personal stereos, and similar machines. If you must leave during class, notify me prior to the beginning of class. Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated at College of Southern Maryland. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, falsifying academic records, and other acts intentionally designed to provide unfair advantage to the student, or the attempt to commit such acts. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, intentionally giving or receiving unauthorized aid or notes on examinations, papers, or class assignments intended to be individually completed. Cheating also includes the unauthorized copying of tests or any other deceit or fraud related to the student's academic conduct. Plagiarism occurs when a student obtains someone else's work and presents those ideas or words as his or her own. Be very careful about lifting information directly from the Internet. In a university setting, plagiarism is an especially serious offense. If you cut-&-paste someone else s writing from the Internet and submit it as your own, you have committed plagiarism. As easy as it is for you to search the Web and cut-&-paste, it s that easy for me to do a Google search and find out you did so. Being found out will result in zero points for the assignment, the possibility of being dropped from the course, or even expulsion from the university. Don t risk it! If you don t know how to format quotes or cite sources, or if you re not sure if what you re writing constitutes plagiarism, talk to me or refer to one of the style manuals listed above. FX Grade: A grade of FX is given at midterm and at the end of the semester if a student has not been attending the class. If the student has not attended for an extended length of time, the grade of FX should be given. In the case of students in distance learning courses, an FX grade may be assigned to students who have never participated or ceased to participate in the course. The grade will appear on the transcript and equate to an F in the grade point calculation. Incomplete (I) Grades: The grade of "I" should be treated as an exception. An "I" may be given if the student's work has been qualitatively satisfactory and if circumstances beyond the student's control are responsible for the student's failure to complete course requirements. Students need to consider that their financial assistance eligibility may be jeopardized by an incomplete grade. If the instructor feels that an "Incomplete" is justifiable under the circumstances, the student and instructor must then fill out a contract (see Contract for Grade of Incomplete) stipulating the 4
work remaining to be done and the expiration date by which the work will be submitted to the instructor. In establishing the expiration date the instructor should consider the work required, the nature of the material and the student s individual circumstances. Generally fewer than eight weeks should be allowed for completion of the work. In extraordinary circumstances the instructor may establish an expiration date up to six months after the class end date. Grades which remain I after the expiration date will automatically become F grades. The Contract for Grade of Incomplete Form (available from the department chair) must then be submitted by the instructor to the department chair for approval. Incomplete contracts must be submitted prior to submission of the final grade sheet for any student receiving an "I" grade. Unauthorized Persons in the Workplace: With these guidelines the college clarifies its position with regard to the presence of unauthorized persons in the workplace. These guidelines, in compliance with liability insurance requirements, apply to all students and employees and seek to 1) ensure a safe environment for students and employees; 2) safeguard the integrity of the classrooms*, laboratories, and offices; 3) promote efficient and effective work in the college. These guidelines also recognize, however, that emergency situations may occur. Students: The college strongly discourages students from bringing unauthorized persons into the classroom or laboratory while instruction or testing is ongoing. If childcare difficulties, for example, prevent you from attending class, you are encouraged to comply with the instructor's policy on absenteeism, including informing the instructor and arranging to make up the work missed. Such an arrangement might include use of the Testing Center to make up tests. It is important to recognize, however, that your grade may be jeopardized as a result of excessive absences, regardless of the reason for them. Audit: A student may audit a class. If you are auditing this class you will be held to the same standards that your classmates will be held, as you will be used in the group projects and other class room assignments. This means that you will need to provide supporting material to those that are not auditing the class. Students receive no credit for an audited class. One may change from credit to audit or audit to credit, with the instructor s permission, at any time before the end of the withdrawal period. The appropriate form must be used (Request for Audit Form and Request for Credit Form). In the case of change from credit to audit the reasons for making the change and the requirements for eventually receiving a grade of AU must be specified. If the student does not fulfill the requirements for the audit, a grade of WD will be recorded for the course. Audited courses require the same tuition and fees as regular courses. Students auditing a course will be expected to meet requirements set by the instructor. A student who does not fulfill the terms of audit as explained by the instructor on the syllabus may not change from audit to credit. Audited courses do not meet prerequisite requirements. Audited courses are noted on the transcript as having a grade of AU. The AU grade is not calculated in the GPA. 5