Contemporary Theatre

Course Details

Course Number: 3003  Section Number: 101

Fall 2012

Location: Fain Fine Arts Center

Classroom Number: C111

Course Attachments

Textbooks
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Ron Fischli   
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Course Objectives

 

To comprehend important developments in Western drama that have occurred since the mid-20th century.  [Related departmental learning outcome:  knowledge of development of theatre]

 To experience (through scripts, films, and productIons) a number of plays that illustrate these developments and to analyze these plays both orally and in writing.  [Related departmental learning outcome:  knowledge of development of theatre]

 To articulate the impact of important writers and other theatrical personages who have shaped the contemporary theatre.  [Related departmental learning outcome:  knowledge of development of theatre]

 To experience live theatrical productions at MSU (Almost, Maine by John Cariani and The Bacchae by Euripides) and the Dallas Theatre Center (Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz) or the Winspear Opera House (WarHorse:  book by Michael Morpurgo, stage adaptation by Nick Stafford).  [Related departmental learning outcome:  theoretical/conceptual knowledge and application]

 The dates and times for the MSU and Dallas Theatre Center productions are as follows: 

  • Almost, Maine, Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre
  • Thursday through Saturday, October 4-6, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 7, 2:30 p.m.

 

  • The Bacchae, Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre
  • Thursday through Saturday, November 15-17, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, November 18, 2:30 p.m.

 

  • WarHorse, Winspear Opera House
  • September 12 through 23
  • Special student/educator performance ($15), September 20, 2 p.m.

 

  • Chad Deity (Latino-Latina drama), Wyly Theatre
  • October 19 through November 11; starting times = 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

 

NOTE:   Attendance at both Chad Deity and WarHorse earns 25 bonus points


Course Expectations

 

Required Scripts

 AFRICAN AMERICAN DRAMA

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hans berry

Dutchman by Amiri Baraka (script provided)

Fences by August Wilson

Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks

LATINO-LATINA DRAMA

Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz

MACHISMO DRAMA

Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet

FEMINIST DRAMA

The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler

 Recommended Text

 Edwin Wilson and Alvin Goldfarb, Living Theatre:  History of the Theatre (New York:  McGraw Hill, 2008)

 Movies to Be Viewed (in whole or in part)

 AFRICAN AMERICAN DRAMA

A Raisin in the Sun with Sidney Portier and Ruby Dee

MUSICAL THEATRE

Sweeney Todd with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury

MACHISMO DRAMA

Glengarry Glen Ross with Al Pacino and Jack Lemmon

FEMINIST DRAMA

The Vagina Monologues with Eve Ensler

GAY AND LESBIAN DRAMA

Torch Song Trilogy with Harvey Fierstein, Matthew Broderick, and Ann Bancroft

 

Selected Readings  (to be distributed as handouts)

 

 Graded Assignments

 Regular quizzes or the assignment of short written responses to the readings

 Historical-perspective papers of 2-4 pages (no more than 4, PLEASE) for seven of the plays read/viewed during the course.  Papers will be graded both on content (75%) and writing style (25%).

 Two tests will be administered, each covering approximately one-half of the course.

 Points will be awarded for one of the following independent endeavors:

  1. Attendance at the Dallas Theater Center’s production of Chad Deity and/or the Winspear Opera House’s production of WarHorse confirmed by a ticket stub and the submission of a paragraph reacting to the production OR
  2. A 3-5 page paper on one of the following plays/personages:

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee (drama that broke previously accepted

boundaries for language and sexuality)

Angels in America:  Perestroika by Tony Kushner(gay/lesbian drama (companion play to Angels in America:  Millennium Approaches)

Fat Pig by Neil LaBute (feminist drama)

How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel (drama about pedophilia)

Robert Wilson

Julie Taymor

Ann Deavere Smith

Mabou Mines

A U.S. regional theatre company


Grading Standards

 

Evaluation

 

Attendance/participation ................................................................................................. 100

                0 misses =     100 points

                1 miss    =         95 points

2 misses =       85 points

                3 misses =       75 points

                4 misses =       60 points

                5 misses =       40 points

                More than 5 misses = 0 points

Quizzes and/or short written assignments........................................................................ 100

Identification assignment .................................................................................................. 75

Historical-Perspective Papers (7x50 points each)............................................................... 350

Test 1............................................................................................................................... 150

                                    Test 2.. ............................................................................................................................ 125

Reader’s Theatre Presentation........................................................................................... 50

Attendance at Warhorse/Chad Deity or Additional Paper)................................................... 50

                                                                                                                                                                         Total  1000                                        

Final grade:  895-1000 = A, 795-894 = B, 695-794 = C, 595-694 = D, 0-594 = F

 

Scale for grading daily work (grades assigned to nearest percentage point):

A     (96-100%)            B+       (87-89%)              C+       (77-79%)              D+      (67-69%)

A-   (90-95%)              B         (83-86%)              C         (73-76%)              D         (63-66%)

                                        B-        (80-82%)              C-        (70-72%)              D-       (60-62%)

F      (below 60%)

 

*Note:  The instructor reserves the right to adjust or cancel assignments as the course progresses.  If, for some reason, assignments administered total somewhat more or fewer than 1,000 points, the method of obtaining the final grade will remain essentially the same:  the total points achieved will be divided by the total points possible to obtain a percentage, and a grade will be assigned according to the scale outlined above.


Final Exam12/10/2012  10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Submission Format PolicyNote: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

 

  1. Students should follow the syllabus to keep track of assignments and should take notes during lectures and discussions.  Keeping up with reading and notes is imperative to doing well on written assignments, quizzes, tests, and directing projects.
  2. Attendance at class sessions is expected.  Upon his/her fifth absence, excused or not, the student may be dropped from the class by the instructor.
  3. The instructor will not be held responsible for recording attendance for a tardy student.  The instructor reserves the right to disallow counting a student present who is extremely tardy.
  4. Make-up work may be given if—and only if (a) the student notifies the instructor before the missed class or presents a doctor’s excuse upon returning, and (b) the student takes responsibility for scheduling a make-up test (or other missed graded assignment) with the instructor on the first day of return.
  5. All graded assignments should be submitted on or before the deadline.  The instructor reserves the right to reject late assignments.  Grade deductions will be applied to late assignments that are accepted.

Other Policies

Student Rights and Responsibilities

PRIVACY

Federal law prohibits the instructor from releasing information about students to parties outside of the university without the signed consent of the student.  Thus, in almost all cases the instructor will not discuss a student’s academic progress or other matters with his/her parents.

 ADAPTATIONS AND ACCOMMODATIONS

If a student (1) needs course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, (2) has emergency medical information that needs sharing, or (3) requires special accommodations in case the building must be evacuated, he/she should make an appointment with the professor as soon as possible.

CONDUCT

Classroom behavior that interferes with either the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to profit from the instruction will result in the instructor’s removing the disruptive student(s) from the class.

 SOCIAL JUSTICE

Social justice is one of Midwestern State University’s stated core values, and the professor considers the classroom to be a place where students will be treated with respect as a human being, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability.  Moreover, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided the student can agree to disagree.  It is the professor’s expectation that ALL students be able to consider the classroom a safe environment.

 PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is (1) the use of source material of other persons (either published or unpublished, including the Internet) without following the accepted techniques of giving credit or (2) the submission for credit of work not the individual’s to whom credit is given.  If a student in the class is caught plagiarizing, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.  The Student Creed developed and adopted by the MSU Student Government reinforces the discouragement of plagiarism and other unethical behaviors.  The first statement of the creed reads, “As an MSU student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else to do so.”  Plagiarism is lying, cheating, and stealing.

 CELL PHONES AND COMPUJTERS

The use of cell phones in any way during class is forbidden.  The use of computers to take notes is permissible unless the student is tempted to take the opportunity to go online and “disconnect” from class activities and discussions.


Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.