A survey of theatre history from prehistoric times through the Renaissance. Students examine literature and personalities from representative periods and movements.
THEA 201Theatre History I
Please note: This is not a course syllabus. A course syllabus is unique to a particular section of a course by instructor. This curriculum guide provides general information about a course.
I. General Information
Department
Visual, Performing, and Liberal Arts
II. Course Specification
Course Type
General Education
General Education Competency
GEM Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing
Credit Hours Narrative
3 Credits
Semester Contact Hours Lecture
48
Grading Method
Letter grade
III. Catalog Course Description
A survey of theatre history from prehistoric times through the Renaissance. Students examine literature and personalities from representative periods and movements.
IV. Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:
- Demonstrate he/she has developed the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable one to value, reflect upon, and gain an understanding of the arts, philosophy, and cultural diversity by demonstrating proficiency in at least three of the following five student learning outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate how the arts, philosophy, or languages reflect and shape humanity and the values of cultures.
- Students will analyze major artistic and philosophical works from representative periods and movements.
- Students will recognize and gain an understanding of cultural diversity as reflected in languages, the arts, or philosophy.
- Students will develop the skills to critically evaluate artistic and philosophical works and their contribution to the human experience.
- Students will possess the skills to initiate and sustain conversations in which they can communicate competently at the level appropriate to their language exposure and experience.
V. Topical Outline (Course Content)
This course is designed to educate the student by exposing him or her to the field of Theatre History. Students will explore the history of major cultural developments represented by major movements in the arts. (Prehistory, Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, Restoration, etc.) Students will examine how the arts affect and are affected by changes in culture and learn to discern and evaluate those relationships. This course has two broad goals: 1. To provide students with an understanding of the major artistic and philosophical movements which occurred from prehistoric times through 1800 as represented in the theatrical art form so that the student might better comprehend the complexity of theatre art, recognize the multitude of factors that influenced its development, and appreciate the importance of the arts as they have influenced and been influenced by western civilization. 2. To help the student utilize the foregoing knowledge to develop and improve skills in the following areas (concentrations dependent on instructor and class size): Critical Thinking Organizational Skills Reading and Writing Discernment Creativity
Topics for the course include but are not limited to:
Theatre History Introduction The Origins of Theatre Egypt Theatre and Drama in Ancient Greece Pompeii and Herculaneum Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides Aristophanes Aristotle Oresteia Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Theatre European Theatre in the Middle Ages Medieval Playwrights English Theatre to 1642 English Renaissance English Renaissance Playwrights Shakespeare Spanish Theatre to 1700 Spanish Playwrights De Vega and Calderon Italian Theatre to 1700 Italian Renaissance Commedia del Arte French Theatre to 1700 French Playwrights English Theatre to 1800 Italy and France to 1800 Northern European Theatre to 1800 Continental European Theatre in the Early Nineteenth Century Romanticism English Language Theatre in the Early Nineteenth Century
VI. Delivery Methodologies
Required Assignments
1. Demonstrate an understanding of theatre history, terminology, methods, and practices. 2. Students will submit related articles, pamphlets, precis, etc. and will pass objective examinations on each chapter and a comprehensive final. 3. Demonstrate that they can evaluate the influence of the works of an individual or a system on the period studied by working out a scheme of presenting that information in both written and oral presentation and by submitting a 5+ page research paper; following MLA or APA guidelines on an aspect of Theatre/Drama showing proper use of terminology and demonstrating ability to converse knowledgeably about the field.
4. Explore the cultural diversity of the world population as expressed in the arts and evaluate the differences and similarities of different ages, peoples, and movements and demonstrate that ability by submitting a portfolio at the end of the semester and passing the final comprehensive exam. 5. Discuss the importance of the arts as an influence in their own lives and as evidence of our culture in order to understand the importance of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and understanding by participating in class discussions and group projects. 6. Appreciate the importance of creativity in their own work and in the works of others as demonstrated by keeping a journal through the semester which should include notes, articles, materials provided in class, evaluations, research materials, and progress reports.
Required Exams
This class meets either online through Canvas or in class on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in person in the classroom from 10:00 to 10:50. Students may participate either in class or online in sessions between 10:00 and 10:50 or they may participate by responding to the session at another time at their own convenience but live participation online with the professor is only available at that hour. Students may also choose to combine online participation with in class participation. Students must respond to each daily session to receive credit for the course. Participation will consist of attendance in the classroom, or online during classroom instruction, or by responding to session questions posted on the discussion board. Each session will include discussion of information pertinent to weekly reading assignments and study guides. Weekly reading assignments are to be completed by Friday and the study guides associated with those reading assignments are due on Friday. The following week the same will be true for Chapter 2 but in addition an online Exam for Chapter 1 must be taken before class on that second Friday. (For example: In week one Chapter 1 is assigned on the first Monday of class, the study guide for chapter 1 is due on Friday of that week and the Chapter Exam for Chapter 1 is due by the Friday of the Second Week.) In addition to the Reading, Study Guides, and Chapter Exams a Term Paper of 5+ pages on an aspect of theatre history is due at the end of the semester and a comprehensive Final Exam will be given during Final Exam Week.
Required Text
History of the Theatre. Oscar G. Brockett and Franklin Hildy. Tenth Edition: ISBN: 13:978-0-205-51186-0
Specific Course Activity Assignment or Assessment Requirements
1. Demonstrate an understanding of theatre history, terminology, methods, and practices. 2. Students will submit related articles, pamphlets, precis, etc. and will pass objective examinations on each chapter and a comprehensive final. 3. Demonstrate that they can evaluate the influence of the works of an individual or a system on the period studied by working out a scheme of presenting that information in both written and oral presentation and by submitting a 5+ page research paper; following MLA or APA guidelines on an aspect of Theatre/Drama showing proper use of terminology and demonstrating ability to converse knowledgeably about the field.
4. Explore the cultural diversity of the world population as expressed in the arts and evaluate the differences and similarities of different ages, peoples, and movements and demonstrate that ability by submitting a portfolio at the end of the semester and passing the final comprehensive exam. 5. Discuss the importance of the arts as an influence in their own lives and as evidence of our culture in order to understand the importance of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and understanding by participating in class discussions and group projects. 6. Appreciate the importance of creativity in their own work and in the works of others as demonstrated by keeping a journal through the semester which should include notes, articles, materials provided in class, evaluations, research materials, and progress reports.
This class meets either online through Canvas or in class on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in person in the classroom from 10:00 to 10:50. Students may participate either in class or online in sessions between 10:00 and 10:50 or they may participate by responding to the session at another time at their own convenience but live participation online with the professor is only available at that hour. Students may also choose to combine online participation with in class participation. Students must respond to each daily session to receive credit for the course. Participation will consist of attendance in the classroom, or online during classroom instruction, or by responding to session questions posted on the discussion board. Each session will include discussion of information pertinent to weekly reading assignments and study guides. Weekly reading assignments are to be completed by Friday and the study guides associated with those reading assignments are due on Friday. The following week the same will be true for Chapter 2 but in addition an online Exam for Chapter 1 must be taken before class on that second Friday. (For example: In week one Chapter 1 is assigned on the first Monday of class, the study guide for chapter 1 is due on Friday of that week and the Chapter Exam for Chapter 1 is due by the Friday of the Second Week.) In addition to the Reading, Study Guides, and Chapter Exams a Term Paper of 5+ pages on an aspect of theatre history is due at the end of the semester and a comprehensive Final Exam will be given during Final Exam Week.