20th-Century Drama: Politics of Performance

V41.0740 MW: 3:30 4:45; 194 Mercer St. Room 305 Professor Karin Badt Office Hours: Wednesdays 5:30 7:00, 19 Univ. Place email: karinbadt@yahoo.com COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of drama as a political forum. We study how 20th century forms of drama, such as expressionism, minimalism, and anti-realism, provoke and engage the audience. The construction of character, dialogue, setting, space and lighting, will be seen as political choices. Playwrights to be studied include Brecht, Ibsen, Williams, and Churchill. Alongside the plays, students will read (and enact) performance theory by Brecht, Growtoski, Turner, Boal etc. TEXTS: can be purchased at the NYU Bookstore. Bertoldt Brecht, The Good Woman of Szechuan (1948) Clifford Odets, Waiting for Lefty (1935) Henrik Ibsen, A Dolls House (1887) Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) (with movie) Edward Albee, The Zoo Story (1960) Samuel Beckett, "Waiting for Godot" (1952) (and Happy Days (1960)) Harold Pinter, "The Birthday Party" (1959) Caryl Churchill, Cloud Nine (1979) Sarah Kane, Psychosis 4:48 (1998) Sophocles, Oedipus Rex (427 BC) Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy (524 CE) Optional: David Mamet, Glengarry Glenross (1982) (with movie) Wole Soyinka, Death and the King's Horseman (1975) PHOTOCOPY PACKET: can be purchased at Advanced Copiers, on LaGuardia and 3rd

SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS may shift during the semester JANUARY 18 Intro to course. Bertoldt Brecht, The Good Woman of Szechuan (prologue) 23 25 30 Brecht, The Good Woman of Szechuan Brecht, The Good Woman of Szechuan Brecht, The Good Woman of Szechuan (plus readings of Brechts theory)

FEBRUARY 1 6 8 13 15 22 27 Clifford Odets, Waiting for Lefty Henrik Ibsen, A Dolls House (Act I): Henrik Ibsen, A Dolls House (Act II) Henrik Ibsen, A Dolls House (Act III) PAPER ONE DUE Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Act I) Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (II-III) Edward Albee, The Zoo Story

MARCH 1 6. 8 20 22 27 29 Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot (I) Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot (II) Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot/Happy Days (midterm essay due) Harold Pinter, The Birthday Party (I) Harold Pinter, The Birthday Party (II) Harold Pinter, The Birthday Party (III) Caryl Churchill, Cloud Nine

APRIL 3 5 10. 12 Caryl Churchill, Cloud Nine Sarah Kane, Psychosis 4:48 Sarah Kane, Psychosis 4:48 PAPER TWO DUE Sophocles, Oedipus Rex

17 19 24 26 MAY 1

Boethius, On the Consolation of Philosophy Boethius/Sophocles Boethius/ Todd Solondz, Happiness Presentations

Presentations

Final Exam

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: (20% each) Participation: creative in-class work; frequent homework assignments, quizzes, discussion. Note: all homework assignments are due in paper form at the beginning of the class, for credit. For response and criticism, they must be emailed to me by noon of the day before class meets. Paper l: 5-7 pages Paper 2: 5-7 pages Final Project Midterm Essay/Final Exam Papers must be both emailed and delivered in paper form. No late work accepted. All work must be typed. Proofread all work for spelling and punctuation errors. Avoid colloquial style in emailed homework reponses. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to email or call a student to find out the work that needs to be done. Attendance is reflected in the participation grade. Tardiness is unacceptable. More than three absences or excessive tardiness may result in a failing participation grade. No gum or food in class.