Course Syllabus - Introduction to Theatre | THTR 1020, Lecture notes of Theatre

Download Course Syllabus - Introduction to Theatre | THTR 1020 and more Lecture notes Theatre in PDF only on Docsity! THTR 1020, Section 1 Introduction to Theatre 1:30-2:20 MWF Cox Center 101 Instructor- Dr. David Coley, decoley2@gmail.com Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00-10:20, other times by appointment. MDA 126. Overview Course Description: Introduction to Theatre is a general orientation to the creative and technical aspects of the art form. Theatre is a challenging discipline with a long and diverse legacy, and students will interact with the art and the artists through experiencing live theatre and learning about its mechanics and history. Course Objectives: 1. To recognize the theatrical impulse at work in society through both the art form and the culture at large. Theatre takes on many different forms, and I want you to be open to a broader interpretation of it. 2. To understand the nature of collaboration and the pivotal roles held by the various types of theatre artists. I’ll be introducing you to the wide range of jobs available in the theatre. There’s a lot more to it than acting. 3. To develop the skills to critique and appreciate the experience of live theatre. In today’s world, people have lost the knowledge of how to be part of an audience. As an audience member, you are just as important to the theatre as the artists on and off stage. 4. To understand and respond to the general styles and conventions seen in theatre history. Theatre is just as much about the past as it is the present. In order to understand theatre, you have to know the breadth of its legacy. This course is a General Education course. It is designed to help you think, describe, interpret and analyze the world. In this course, you will work on developing:* an effective command of written and spoken English; *an informed appreciation of the roles of the arts and humanities; *a familiarity with the nature and function of social sciences; *an appreciation of the methods of critical inquiry; *an ability to deal with moral and ethical issues; *an understanding of other cultures and times;*a comprehension of how knowledge is acquired and applied. Grading and Assignments Required Texts: • THINK Theatre, by Mira Felner. (May be found in LSU Bookstore). Grading: Point Breakdown: Exams: 350 pts. Production Attendance: 200 pts Ushering: 50 pts Participation/Quizzes: 200 pts Essay- 200 pts. Total Points- 1000 A = 1000-900 B = 899-800 C= 799-700 D = 699-600 F = 599-0 Exams, Tests, and Quizzes: There will be a 150 point midterm and a 200 point final exam. Both exams will be administered through the testing center. In addition, there will be simple quizzes and participation exercises adding up to 200 points. For these, the TurningPoint clicker system will be used (see below). The exams will cover material from the texts, information from lectures, and the plays that you are required to see. Quiz questions will cover reading assignments or that day’s lecture. Play Analysis Essay- Each student will write an essay dealing with one of the plays you will see this semester as a requirement of the course. You may choose which show to write on, out of the required productions (not the extra credit shows). The paper is worth 200 points, and the prompt will be posted on Moodle. There will be a different due date for each paper. No late essays will be accepted. An additional requirement of the course, worth 50 points, is ushering for one production this semester. For your time and effort you are compensated with a free ticket to the performance you usher. You can sign-up for ushering by visiting http://wp.theatre.lsu.edu/usher/. Classroom Policies Participation: There is no attendance policy, however, it is to your advantage to be at every class. I expect you to attend every class session on time and fully prepared. In-class activities, being prepared when you come to class, and responding to the lecture and discussions all contribute toward your participation points. In addition, violating class policies in a manner that disrupts class and/or keeps other students from learning will result in Lab Season The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds By Paul Zindel Studio Theatre February 13-17 2/13, 2/14, 2/15, 2/16, 2/17 at 7:30 pm 2/17 at 2:00 pm Check the LSU Theatre website (www.theatre.lsu.edu) for ticket information for Swine Palace and Mainstage productions. For Lab productions, tickets are $10.00 and available only at the door. It is recommended you get there early, as studio performances quickly sell out. Tickets go on sale an hour before the performance. In addition, two shows are available for extra credit. You may see only one of them for twenty points: Untitled An Original Work April 16-21 Studio Theatre Outworks 2013 Six Original Short Plays April 30-May 5 Studio Theatre Class Schedule 1/14- Introduction to the Course 1/16- What is Art? READING: A.V. Club- “Does what you like define who you are?” 1/18- What is Theatre? READING: Chapter One 1/21- MLK JR. DAY- NO CLASS 1/23- Performance and Media READING: A.V. Club- “Do sitcoms taped before a studio audience…” 1/25- The Audience READING: pp. 21-37 1/28- The Critic READING: pp. 38-44; A.V. Club- “What is worse?” 1/30- Dramatic Structure READING: pp. 47-68 2/1- Creating Characters, The Playwright READING: Thornton Wilder- “Some Thoughts on Playwriting” 2/4- Tragedy and Comedy READING: pp. 82-86, Tragedy and Comedy essays (on Moodle) 2/6- Ancient Theatre: Origins, Greece READING: pp. 72-74 2/8- Greek Drama, Ancient Theatre: Rome READING: Medea (Moodle) 2/11- MARDI GRAS HOLIDAY- NO CLASS 2/13- The Art of Acting READING: pp. 157-175 2/15- The Actor at Work READING: pp. 175-182 2/18- Marigolds discussion, Writing the Essay 2/20- Medieval and Renaissance Theatre READING: pp. 78-81, Twelfth Night (Acts 1-3) 2/22- English Renaissance, Shakespeare READING: pp. 75-76, Twelfth Night (Acts 4-5) MARIGOLDS PAPERS DUE 2/25- Non-Western Theatre: India and Africa READING: 97-103, 114-124 2/27- Non-Western Theatre: Japan and China READING: 103-114, The Snail (Moodle) 3/1- Review for Midterm Exam JEAN BRODIE PAPERS DUE 3/4- Midterm Exam- NO CLASS 3/6- Intermission 3/8- Intermission 3/11- The Art of Directing READING: 195-208 3/13- The Director at Work READING: 185-195 3/15- Notable Directors 3/18- The Art of Design: Scenery and Costumes READING: Chapter Eleven, 279-289 3/20- The Art of Design: Lighting and Sound READING: Chapter Thirteen 3/22- The Designer at Work- Guest Speaker RISING WATER PAPERS DUE 3/25-19th Century READING: pp. 87-94 3/27- 19th Century (continued) READING: Miss Julie (Moodle) 3/29- SPRING BREAK HOLIDAY- NO CLASS 4/1- SPRING BREAK 4/3- SPRING BREAK 4/5- SPRING BREAK 4/8- Behind the Scenes READING: pp. 339-346 4/10- Producing Theatre READING: pp. 325-339 4/12- Censorship READING: A.V. Club- “What is morally off-limits in pop culture?”