Catalog Description

Formerly known as DRMA 13
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Addresses the impact of theatre as it mirrors the human condition. Covers the social and political impact in the major historical periods, styles, and genres of theatre demonstrated by procedures, production practices, and contributions of significant individual artists, such as playwrights, actors, designers, and directors. Course is open to both majors and non-majors interested in acquiring a critical understanding and appreciation of theatre as a performing art. Required theatre production attendance. (C-ID THTR 111) (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Describe and trace the development of production design and theater architecture through each major theatrical period.
  • CSLO #2: Examine the major periods of theatrical history.
  • CSLO #3: Identify and recall the historical development, common practices and terminology of Western and Eastern theatre.
  • CSLO #4: Identify and recall roles and responsibilities of theatre practitioners.

Effective Term

Fall 2018

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

Students will through oral and written work:
1. Analyze and evaluate the nature of theatre and its role in society.
2. Examine the major periods of theatrical history, including artistic, social, political and philosophical influences; identify and characterize at least one play and playwright from each period.
3. Compare and contrast distinguishing features found within and between each of the major theatrical periods, including business practices.
4. Identify and compare the differences between staging and production techniques in each of the major theatrical periods.
5. Describe and analyze the function, approach and relationship between the playwright, director, actor, designer, producer, and stage manager in contemporary American theatre.
6. Describe and trace the development of production design and theatre architecture through each major theatrical period.
7. Critically analyze dramatic literature, plays and performances.
8. Identify and examine theatrical components in production.
9. Explain the basic theatre experience, the socio-economic influences and the components that comprise the play.
10. Describe and compare theatre to other art forms.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Fine Arts
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - C1 Arts
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
      • IGETC - 3A Arts

    Articulation Information

    • CSU Transferable
    • UC Transferable

    Methods of Evaluation

    • Classroom Discussions
      • Example: Following class project presentations, students will be graded on participation of discussions commenting on effectiveness of the presentation including depth of information. Students will also receive question prompts to stimulate discussion of presentations.
    • Objective Examinations
      • Example: Students will be evaluated on knowledge of material via midterms and final examinations. Midterms and Finals will cover all sections studied ncluding types of theatres, theatre practitioners, major historical periods, genres, theatre movements, and architecture.
    • Projects
      • Example: Students will do research and give presentations on roles of theatre practitioners. For example, a small group may select the play Romeo and Juliet and show a PowerPoint presentation to the class with each student representing a particular designer's approach to the play (one student presents lighting design concept, another on costuming, and another on set design, etc.)
    • Reports
      • Example: Students write a report based on plays they have attended using the terminology and criteria presented in class. Analysis paper is graded based upon a rubric students receive as a part of their assignment

    Repeatable

    No

    Methods of Instruction

    • Lecture/Discussion
    • Distance Learning

    Lecture:

    1. Instructor will lecture on Commedia d'ell Arte stock characters and Melodrama's typical characters that arouse easy tears and engage students in discussion on how theatre has impacted stereotypes, citing both negative and positive take-aways from these types of caricatures.
    2. The instructor will demonstrate and display examples of group presentations and assign students to small groups to present their portion of director and designer concept of a play of the group's choosing.

    Distance Learning

    1. Students will respond to reading assignments in the online discussion forum. The instructor will initiate the discussion by providing questions that lend themselves to a lively discussion about the reading assignments.

    Typical Out of Class Assignments

    Reading Assignments

    1. The student will read the chapter from the textbook on Greek theatre and will be prepared to discuss the similarities between Greek theatre structures and theatre structures of today. 2. The student will read a scene from a Shakespearean play (such as A Midsummer Night's Dream) and will be prepared to identify and discuss differences in language styles utilized by various characters such as Iambic Pentameter, rhymed verse and prose.

    Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

    1. The student will write a paper discussing three plays currently open on Broadway. They will examine the plays from genre to style, from theatre configuration to number of performances, from actors to designers. 2. The student will attend two plays and write a formal analysis on the overall production values and their experience of the event.

    Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

    1. Short "research and identify" project to provide a photograph of a period performance space (such as Greek or Elizabethan) and identify the names and locations of the performance elements within the space.

    Required Materials

    • Theater: the Lively Art
      • Author: Edwin Wilson and Alvin Goldfarb
      • Publisher: McGraw-Hill
      • Publication Date: 2012
      • Text Edition: 8th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Theater: Brief Version
      • Author: Robert Cohen
      • Publisher: McGraw-Hill
      • Publication Date: 2010
      • Text Edition: 9th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • The Essential Theatre
      • Author: Oscar Brockett and Robert Ball
      • Publisher: Cengage Learning
      • Publication Date: 2013
      • Text Edition: Enhanced 10th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • The Theatre Experience
      • Author: Edwin Wilson
      • Publisher: McGraw-Hill
      • Publication Date: 2010
      • Text Edition: 12th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • The Enjoyment of Theatre
      • Author: Jim Patterson and Tim Donahue
      • Publisher: Pearson
      • Publication Date: 2014
      • Text Edition: 9th
      • Classic Textbook?: No
      • OER Link:
      • OER:

    Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.