THEA 201: Theatre Aesthetics
Credit Hours: (3)
This is a course in the practice of the art of theatre and is designed for theatre and cinema majors. The course will cover how to read and analyze a play, how various theatre artists begin to interpret dramatic literature for production, a basic vocabulary for analysis and production, an orientation to the department and a working knowledge of communicating as part of a production team.
Note(s): Student cannot receive credit for both THEA 110 and THEA 201.
Detailed Description of Course
1. The students will acquire knowledge of the department: personnel, physical facilities, season, and student handbook.
2. The students will be acquainted with all academic and production policies and procedures. This would include such items as professional etiquette, course sequence, participation in productions, and expectations within and outside the department.
3. The course will focus on how to read a play and how to analyze dramatic literature by means of a variety of approaches and readings and their applications to a brief list of plays.
4. The course will then trace how various theatre artists interpret dramatic literature for the stage. Representatives from each of the production areas of the department will, referencing these methodologies, provide input on how their particular area would interpret each of the plays for the stage. The areas include: Directing, Acting, Scene Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design, and Technical Production.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
1. Lecture by principal instructor.
2. Readings of different means of analyzing and responding to dramatic literature (i.e., Aristotle, Robert Edmond Jones, Peter Brook.)
3. Read and analyze one of the selected plays according to the discussed methodologies.
4. Read a second selected play and have representatives of the various production areas of the department discuss how they would interpret this script for the stage.
5. Read a third selected play and have the student do a written analysis interpreting the play in relation to their particular area of study.
6. Lectures by guest instructors.
7. Students will be required to attend all departmental productions.
8. Attendance of professional productions in the area will be sought.
9. Selected videos of productions will be viewed.
Student Goals and Objectives of the Course
1. To gain a knowledge of the department, its policies and procedures.
2. To learn a systematic approach to play analysis.
3. To expand one’s knowledge of dramatic literature.
4. To understand how plays are interpreted for presentation.
Students will be assessed by their class attendance and participation, performance on group projects and written work.
Other Course Information
Review and Approval
Revised April, 2009