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Office: 313 Daggy
335-5161
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Office Hours:
2:10-3:10 M, W, F
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![](wtsyllabus.gif) |
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Lomhlaba Unzima, Lohmhlaba.
[This world is a harsh place, this world.]
Zulu Proverb
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What a time!
What a civilization!
Cicero (106 - 43 B. C.)
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Through readings, videos, and interactive internet projects, we will examine the richness and diversity of contemporary theatre and drama from a global context. More people with differing cultural heritages and religious outlooks live more closely together today than in any other period, and with this in mind, this course centers around a single pivotal question:
When contrasting cultures collide, what is the outcome, and how has theatre from around the world dramatized this question? |
Between e-mail, faxes, and jumbo jets, the world has gotten smaller and smaller and never before in human history has there been such a world wide concern with the common problems such as environmental pollution, overpopulation, urban sprawl, and nuclear warfare. The two specific clusters of focus for this course are:
PostColonial Drama:
Cultures Apart and Together
Contemporary theatre and drama from former British colonies such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, India, and The West Indies will be studied. Gender, race, and class become key issues in understanding the ramifications of these colliding cultures.
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African-American and Asian-American Drama:
Spiritual Downsizing
Right here on the homefront there is much to learn about the conflicting feelings of being caught between two cultural worlds. Downsizing is everywhere, and many theatre artists are quick to remind us that there has been a kind of spiritual downsizing as well as an economic one. Such discontent and insecurity generate even more tension than usual when different cultures come together.
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Colliding cultures as the theme for this course helps promote cultural sensitivity, appreciation, and understanding in what has rapidly become aptly named our global village. For many years, the U.S., has exported rock music, movies and television giving the rest of the world an insight into our culture. As the United States and Europe become less dominant in world affairs, it becomes increasingly important to abandon our smug isolationism and to absorb other lifestyles and philosophies to successfully participate in the global economy. The study of contemporary world theatre provides the student with a window through which to study the important issues confronting people in different cultures.
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1. |
Course Packet (articles, projects, study guides & cover sheets) |
(bring to each class)
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2. |
Between Worlds: Contemporary Asian-American Plays.
ed. Misha Berson. New York: T. C. G., Inc.
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ISBN: 1-55936-004-6 |
3. |
Fugard, Athol. Master Harold & the Boys. (South Africa)
Samuel French. 1984. .
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ISBN: 0-573-64039-4 |
4. |
Henry Hwang, David. M. Butterfly (Asian-American)
Dramatists Play Service
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ISBN: 0-8222-0712-5 |
5. |
Higgin, Colin & Cannan Denis, The IK. (England)
adapted from the book The Mountain People by Colin Turnbull
Dramatic Publishing Co.
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ISBN: 0-87129-306-4 |
6. |
Karnad, Girish. Naga-Mandala
London: Oxford Univ. Press. 1994 |
ISBN: 0-19-562622-2
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7, |
Nowra, Lous. The Golden Age. (Australia)
Dramatic Pub. Co. 1990.
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ISBN: 0-87129-015-4 |
8. |
Shepard, Sam, Buried Child. (United States)
Samuel French, Inc.
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ISBN: 0:8222-1511-X |
9. |
Soyinka, Wole. Death and the Kings Horseman. (South Africa)
FS&G., Noonday Books. 1990.
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ISBN: 0-374-52210-3 |
10. |
Walcott, Derek. Dream on Monkey Mountain (West Indies)
Samuel French.
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ISBN: 0-374-50860-7 |
11. |
Wilson, August. The Piano Lesson (African-American)
Plume
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ISBN: 0-452-26534-7 |
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A pivotal part of this course is an interactive web site which is designed to further stimulate class discussion by extending it outside the bounds of the traditional classroom. To help insure that this really happens, all students are required to have web access and current e-mail accounts.
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When you enter the site you will be welcomed by a menu with the following items:
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![](145Web.jpg) |
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TALK of the CLASS PROJECT: |
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The heart and soul of Virtual World Theatre is the Talk of the Class Project. The intent of this project is to encourage you to talk to each other both BEFORE and AFTER a play is formally discussed in class. Talking" means posting public notes to each other on a state-of-the-art, interactive message board. You type directly onto the web page, and with a single press of a button, your note immediately appears for all to see who are currently viewing the page.
The interactive capability of this program creates, in effect, a virtual class discussion, with the added advantage that there is a permanent record of what everyone has said. At any time, day or night, you can respond to what somebody has said, or you can create a totally new "thread" of discussion.
Printouts of your specific contributions to the Talk of the Class are due four times during the semester. The due dates for each of the four printouts are coordinated with the four in-class exams and, in fact, the printouts become worth 50% of each of your exam grades. Details about this project are available online.
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THE FINE PRINT OF YOUR CONTRACT |
- There will be no make-up Quizes. Points for missed quizes can be made up by submitting possible quiz or discussion questions on the class website.
- Makeup exams will take the form of a 5 page (double spaced) comparison paper.
- Makeup exams must be completed within one week of the original test.
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- Grading will be based on the following 200 point scale:
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Quizes (ea. 5 points) ............................................................................. |
70 pts |
Exam #1: (& the TALK OF THE CLASS PROJECT) ............................................. |
20 pts |
Exam #2: (& the TALK OF THE CLASS PROJECT) ............................................. |
20 pts |
Exam #3: (& the TALK OF THE CLASS PROJECT) ............................................. |
20 pts |
Exam #4: (& the TALK OF THE CLASS PROJECT) ............................................. |
20 pts |
Speak Easy Project ............................................................................... |
10 pts |
Play Analysis Paper .............................................................................. |
20 pts |
Perfect Picture Paper .............................................................................................. |
20 pts |
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A ....... 191 - 200 |
B+ ....... 171 - 180 |
C+ ....... 141 - 150 |
D+ ....... 111 - 120 |
A- ..... 181 - 190 |
B .......... 161 - 170 |
C .......... 131 - 140 |
D- ........ 100 - 110 |
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B- ......... 151 - 160 |
C- ......... 121 - 130 |
F .............. 0 - 99 |
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There will be four examinations which will cover both the reading assignments and the lecture/discussions. Each exam will consist of 40 multiple choice questions. Half of each exam grade will be the Talk of the Class Project (see packet pp. 5-8). |
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You will become part of a 3-4 person discussion group that is assigned three key questions centered around a specific play. The group is required to communicate with each other on the web, and then lead the discussion of these questions in class. |
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The project is designed to be done in two phases:
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The first phase involves attending a WSU performance of Neil Labute's The Shape of Things (Apr. 7, 8, 9), and then writing a 2 page, single spaced paper which compares the issues inherent in the perfomance with one of the plays we have read in class. The two page play analysis is to be posted on the web no later than Wed. April 13. |
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The second phase involves reading other students' posted play analyses, and then integrating other students' responses into a 3 page, single spaced paper. This second phase is due no laer than Wed. April 25. |
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The project is designed to be done in two phases:
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The first phase involves selecting one of the available web images and then writing a 2 page, single spaced paper that analyzes the significance of the picture in the context of two of the plays we have read this semester. This first phase paper is to be posted on the web no later than Wed., March 2. |
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The second phase involves reading other students' posted papers, and then integrating these respons- es into a 3 page, single spaced paper. Both content and quality of writing will be taken in consideration for grading. This second phase is due no later than Wed., March 23 (see packet, pp. 19-22) |
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On-Line Extra Credit is the perfect way to improve your final grade. An extra 10-15 points can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your final grade. All of the available web based projects are designed to stretch your thinking beyond the conventional classroom experience. Details about these innovative, on-line extra credit projects can be found at:
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Not including extra credit generated from submitted quiz and discussion questions, the amount of earned extra credit is limited to a maximum of 15 points
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DATE
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CLASS ACTIVITY
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READINGS
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WEEK 1 |
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Mon. |
Jan. 10 |
Wed. |
Jan. 12 |
Fri. |
Jan. 14 |
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Orientation |
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Buried Child
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Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 1-4, 37- 40. |
cont. disc. of Buried Child) |
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WEEK 2 |
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Mon. |
Jan. 17 |
Wed. |
Jan. 19 |
Fri. |
Jan. 21 |
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NO CLASS: (All University Holiday) |
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M. Butterfly |
Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 41-42.. |
(cont. disc. of M. Butterfly) |
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WEEK 3 |
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Mon. |
Jan. 24 |
Wed. |
Jan. 26 |
Fri. |
Jan. 28 |
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(cont. disc. of M. Butterfly) |
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The Sound of a Voice
(in Between Worlds) |
Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 43-48 & p. 89. |
(cont. disc. of Sound of a Voice) |
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WEEK 4 |
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WEEK 5 |
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Mon. |
Feb. 7 |
Wed. |
Feb. 9 |
Fri. |
Feb. 11 |
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The Wash
(in Between Worlds) |
Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 49-52. |
(cont. disc. The Wash) |
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And the Soul Shall Dance
(in Between Worlds) |
Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 53-54. |
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WEEK 6 |
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Mon. |
Feb. 14 |
Wed. |
Feb. 16 |
Fri. |
Feb. 18 |
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NO CLASS: President's Day
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Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 55-56. |
No Class (ACTF) |
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No Class (ACTF) |
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WEEK 7 |
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Mon. |
Feb. 21 |
Wed. |
Feb. 23 |
Fri. |
Feb. 25 |
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The Piano Lesson
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Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 55-56. |
No Class (ACTF) |
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No Class (ACTF) |
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WEEK 8 |
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WEEK 9 |
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Mon. |
Mar. 7 |
Wed. |
Mar. 9 |
Fri. |
Mar. 11 |
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Master Harold and the Boys |
Quiz (at start of class)
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(cont. disc. Master Harold ...) |
Read Packet, pp. 57-62 |
(cont. disc. Master Harold ...) |
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SPRING VACATION: Mar. 14-18 (Mon. Fri.)
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WEEK 10 |
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WEEK 11 |
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Mon. |
Mar. 28 |
Wed. |
Mar. 30 |
Fri. |
Apr. 1 |
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Dream on Monkey Mountain |
Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 63-70. |
(cont. disc. Dream on Monkey Mt.) |
Read Packet, p. 71-76 |
(cont. disc. Dream on Monkey Mt.) |
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WEEK 12 |
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WEEK 13 |
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WEEK 14 |
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Mon. |
Apr. 18 |
Wed. |
Apr. 20 |
Fri. |
Apr. 22 |
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The Golden Age |
Quiz (at start of class)
Read Packet, pp. 81-84. |
(cont. disc. The Golden Age) |
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SIMULATION #4 |
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WEEK 15 |
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