This document is a syllabus for an "Art of Drama" college course. It provides information about the course including the days/times, location, instructor contact information, mission/goals, grading system, tentative schedule, and required texts. The course will cover several American plays through readings, discussions, presentations and exams. Students will learn about dramatic elements like plot, characters, dialogue and how changing these elements impacts a work.
2. Art Of Drama
ENG 245 R 1
DAYS(S)/ HOURS:
Mondays and Wednesdays: 11:00 AM-12:20 PM
LOCATION:
WCCC Main Building / E207
Class Web Site:
http://web.me.com/ascurato/Art_Of_Drama/Welcome.html
Instructor:
Bill Scurato
Campus Phone: 908-835-2310 (Donna DePalma, Academic
Services)
email: ascurato@gmail.com (preferred)
ascurato@warren.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
4. Universal symbol for theatre:
They represent the comedy and tragedy masks
that were worn in ancient Greece - during the
golden age, around 500 - 300 BC.
They also represent duality.
5. Our Mission:
To consider theatre as an art form
For our purposes in this class:
Art is the process or product of deliberately and creatively
What is art? arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or
emotions.
The artist’s duty:
“It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his
heart reminding him of the courage and honor
and hope and pride and compassion and pity and
sacrifice which have been the glory of his past.
The poet’s voice need not merely be the record
of man. It can be one of the props; the pillars to
William Faulkner
help him endure and prevail.”
7. Our Mission:
To consider theatre as an art form
What are the elements or media of the
the arts?
8. What is Drama?
Video store visit.......
For starters........
‘Drama’ is an Ancient Greek word meaning
‘act’ or ‘deed’. The Ancient Greek
philosopher Aristotle used this term in a
very influential treatise called the Poetics.
In this text, Aristotle classified different
forms of poetry according to basic features
he thought could be commonly recognized
in their composition. He used the term
‘drama’ to describe poetic compositions
that were ‘acted’ in front of audiences in a
theatron.
10. While Aristotle offered drama as a general
term to describe forms of poetry that were
‘acted’, he identified different types of
composition within this category, including
comedy and tragedy.
He regarded comedy as a form of drama
because it represented acts that made
audiences laugh and he considered tragedy a
form of drama because it represented acts that
made audiences feel pity or fear.
12. Although various definitions and developments
in drama must be considered in addition to
Aristotle’s original assessment of dramas,
many of the terms of classification he
introduced are still used or debated today.
14. Mutual Interview
Introduce your partner to the class.
Discover his/her likes dislikes, goals, etc.
Focus particularly on any theatrical or artistic
preferences.
16. To also consider.......
Drama is written to be performed
Theatre/drama is a collaborative process which includes:
• The Writer
• The Director
• The Actors
• The Scene Designers
• The Lighting Designers
• The Production Crews
17. So what is our charge in ENG 245 R 1?
........to read, envision, imagine, interpret, analyze,
assess, critique, experience
........a selection of American plays.
.......from the perspective of focused study and critical
thought.
18. Assessment: GRADING SYSTEM
Grade
Points
A
=
90-100
B+
=
87-89
B
=
80-86
C+
=
77-79
C
=
70-76
D
=
60-69
F
=
Below 60
WP
=
Withdrawal passing
WF
=
Withdrawal failing
WX
=
Administrative Withdrawal
AU
=
Audit
19. Assessment:
Activity Description
Individual or small group presentation
Final Project
highlighting a particular theatre work or
theatre innovator. It should define the major
contributions of the work or subject(s). This
should be a fifteen to twenty minute
presentation, accompanied by 2-3 page
summary with citations.
(20% of final grade. Rubric to follow.)
Participation Active participation in class forums and
group assignments.
(40% of final grade)
Mid Term & Comprehensive in-class essay tests based
Final Exams on covered material.
(40% of final grade)
20. Jan 21, 2009 Syllabus/ Art of Drama Overview
Jan 26, 2009 Death of a Salesman
Jan 28, 2009 Death of a Salesman
Tentative Schedule: Feb 2, 2009 Death of a Salesman
Feb 4, 2009 The Grapes of Wrath
Feb 9, 2009 The Grapes of Wrath
Feb 11, 2009 Inherit The Wind
Feb 16, 2009 Inherit The Wind
Feb 18, 2009 You Can’t Take It With You
Feb 23, 2009 You Can’t Take It With You
Feb 25, 2009 Mid-Term Exam
Mar 2, 2009 The Teahouse Of The August Moon
Mar 4, 2009 The Teahouse Of The August Moon
Mar 9, 2009 Uncommon Women And Others
Mar 11, 2009 Uncommon Women And Others
Mar 23, 2009 One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Mar 25, 2009 One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Mar 30, 2009 The Rainmaker
Apr 1, 2009 The Rainmaker
Apr 6, 2009 Our Town
Apr 8, 2009 Our Town
Apr 13, 2009 Sunday In The Park With George
Apr 15, 2009 Sunday In The Park With George
21. DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Dramatists Play Service Price: $7.50
ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-0290-5
Tel- 212-683-8960
INHERIT THE WIND
Fax- 212-213-1539
Price: $7.50
Dramatists Play Service, Inc. ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-0570-8
Customer Service Dept.
THE GRAPES OF WRATH
440 Park Avenue South
Price: $7.50
New York, NY 10016
ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-0475-6
THE TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON
Price: $7.50
ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-1114-3
UNCOMMON WOMEN AND OTHERS
Price: $7.50
ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-1192-1
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
Price: $7.50
ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-1287-4
22. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
~ Dale Wasserman from Ken Kesey -
Samuel French Inc. M17,F5
45 West 25th Street
New York, NY 10010-2751 ISBN-10: 0573613435
ISBN-13: 9780573613432
Phone (212) 206-8990
Fax (212) 206-1429
Our Town
Thornton Wilder
ISBN: 0573613494 / 0-573-61349-4
The Rainmaker
N. Richard Nash
ISBN 10:
057361461X
ISBN 13:
9780573614613
23. ValoreBooks.com
Sunday in the Park With George
by Stephen Sondheim
ISBN-10: 1557830681 Addition Resource:
ISBN-13: 9781557830685
Drama Book Shop, Inc.
250 W. 40th St.
New York, NY 10018
Tel: (212) 944-0595
Fax: (212) 730-873
http://www.dramabookshop.com
24. Revisit:
Dramatic Elements To Be Considered:
• Plot/Rising Action
• Setting
• Climax
• Characters
• Resolution
• Motivation
• Theme
• Dialogue
• Motif
• Conflict
• Symbols
25. A change in any one of these factors can
impact some or all of the others.
It may also dictate a total differentiation
in the eventual product of the work.
• Plot/Rising Action
• Setting
• Climax
• Characters
• Resolution
• Motivation
• Theme
• Dialogue
• Motif
• Conflict
Symbols
26. In your group, prepare two presentations of each of
the following scenes. Consider the variation in the
dramatic elements for each presentation.
A. You’re late.
A: Hey.
B: Hello. B. I know. I couldn’t
A: Do you want a mint? help it.
B: No thanks.
A. I understand.
A: Sure.
B: Wait, why? B. I thought you would.
A: No special reason.
A. I have something to give
B: Oh. you.
A: Want one?
B. Really?
B: OK, thanks.
A: Thank you. A. Yes, this.
27. For Next Time: Monday, January 26
Read
Death of a Salesman
by
Arthur Miller