English 184, Fall 2010 (revised 7/14/10) Contemporary Drama: Race/Gender/Identity
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English 184, Fall 2010 (revised 7/14/10)Contemporary Drama: Race/Gender/IdentityProf. David DeRose Office Hours: XXX or by appointment Dante 312 631-8131 / dderose@stmarys-ca.edu Course Agenda and Goals: “The question of [dramatic] form runs parallel to the question of the way the world is set up. If you are questioning form in the theatre, then you are questioning the form of the world." -- Suzan-Lori Parks As the voices and experiences of women, persons of color, and other potentially marginalized populations find their way onto our stages, playwrights are experimenting with new dramatic models to serve those voices and give shape to their experience. This course will offer a study of many contemporary writers and their dramatic responses to the question of how gender, race, and the politics of personal identity are reshaping the way we think about plot, character, and theatrical style. We will place a strong emphasis on issues of “form” as well as “content.” That is, we will be discussing not just what we think a play means, but how we think it creates meaning through its form and structure. These are new plays, some of them are shocking plays, but they all expand our conceptions of what a play can be. I have consciously avoided any attempt to “group” the plays in this course into sub-categories – either by virtue of subject matter, form, race, or gender -- so expect to be changing gears rapidly from class to class, play to play. Required Texts (in bookstore): Cloud Nine, Caryl Churchill Top Girls, Caryl Churchill Yankee Dog You Die, Philip Kan Gotanda Gum, Karen Hartman The Laramie Project, Moises Kaufman Angels in America, Part One, Tony Kushner Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet Topdog/Underdog, Suzan-Lori Parks Venus, Suzan‑Lori Parks Roosters, Milcha Sanchez-Scott How I Learned to Drive, Paula Vogel Additional Required Readings/Videos are in library, on Blackboard, and/or in reader, as noted. Schedule (subject to change): 8/30 Introduction. “The question of dramatic form…” 9/3 Philip Kan Gotanda, Yankee Dawg You Die 9/6 Labor Day 9/10 Milcha Sanchez-Scott, Roosters 9/13 Caryl Churchill, Top Girls, Act I 9/17 Top Girls, Act II Handout: “Not My Revolution” essay 9/20 David Henry Hwang, Bondage 9/24 Caryl Churchill, Cloud Nine 9/27 Mickey Birnbaum, Bleed Rail Handout: Slaughterhouse/Meat Industry Article 10/1 Paula Vogel, How I Learned to Drive Handout: post-trauma – mind/body split reading 10/4 Anna Deavere Smith, Fires in the Mirror (view video in library) First Essay Due 10/8 Moises Kaufman, The Laramie Project Handout: Culture Clash / staging America essay 10/11 George Wolfe, The Colored Museum Culture Clash, Mission Magic Mystery Tour 10/15 Naomi Iizuka, Skin (in Fringe) 10/18 Sam Shepard, States of Shock Luis Valdez, Soldado Razo (handout) Handout: Teatro Campesino / Chicano Theatre articles
& Moraga, The Hungry Woman, Act I (Fringe) 11/1 The Hungry Woman, Act II Second Essay Due 11/5 Tim Miller, My Queer Body Handout: The NEA Four and freedom of expression 11/8 Tony Kushner, Angels in America (Part One) 11/12 Octavio Solis, Lydia 11/15 Over Week-end, attend: Angels in America, Lefevre Theatre 11/19 11/22 “Sphinxes without Secrets” (in-class video) Thanksgiving 11/29 David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross 12/3 TBA Take-Home Final Distributed Written Requirements: -- Daily written responses to readings (neatly written or typed, must be submitted on day play is due! No late responses!) -- 2 Short Essays Each of the essays should be 4 - 5 pages, typed and double-spaced. Always make sure you have a copy of an essay before submitting your original! Most essays will be argumentative in nature -- you will begin with a thesis statement and argue your viewpoint, supported with evidence from the text. You may be required to undertake additional reading for the second essay. Papers must be turned in on the date due, so plan ahead! Extensions will be given only if requests are made at least one class period in advance of due dates. No exceptions. Late papers will me marked down ½ grade per day. -- 1 Take-Home Final Exam (essay form -- or something creative???-- 3-4 pages) Participation / Attendance Policy: Since this course is based on discussion, it cannot be "made up" -- you must attend in order to participate. Excessive absences (more than two) will result in a lowered semester grade. There are no “excused absences.” You have the responsibility to prepare well for class discussion and to participate actively in the discussion. You will be graded, in part, on the degree to which you demonstrate in class that you have read and thought about the assigned reading. If you are consistently silent in class, I will assume you are not prepared. If you miss a class, you are personally responsible for checking with a classmate to assure that there have been no assignments given and no changes in the syllabus. Grading: Roughly: 25% attendance/in-class participation (including responses*); 25% each of two papers; 25% Final Exam. *Failure in area of in-class participation and responses can lead to failure in course regardless of grades in other areas.
This course supports and upholds the conditions of the Academic Honor Code. Any suspected violations of that code will be discussed with the student involved and, if not resolved, brought before the Academic Honor Council. Student Disability Services Student Disability Services extends reasonable and appropriate accommodations that take into account the context of the course and its essential elements, for individuals with qualifying disabilities. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Student Disability Services Coordinator at (925) 631-4164 to set up a confidential appointment to discuss accommodation guidelines and available services. Additional information regarding the services available may be found at the following address on the Saint May’s website: http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/academics/academic-advising-and-achievement/student-disability-services.html Directory: sites -> default -> files -> attachments -> files files -> English 126: Hitchcock and the Critics mwf 2: 15-3: 15 pm in Dante 220 files -> English 105--children's Literature Spring 2011 files -> Aligning and Assessing our Efforts to Improve Student Writing in Composition and Collegiate Seminar Conclusions, Recommendations and Next Steps files -> A literary tour of canada english 163, Other English Literatures Spring 2012 files -> Engl 125: Introduction to Film History & Film Analysis files -> History 10: Introduction to Historical Methods files -> History 133: Era of the Civil War and Reconstruction files -> Department: Art and Art History Title of course files -> Smc core Curriculum Course Proposal Form Fall 2013 files -> Course: engl 140, Studies in Literary Genre Name of proposer: Sandra Grayson Download 40.5 Kb. Share with your friends:
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