Art Of DramaENG 245 R 1

Art Of DramaENG 245 R 1

DAYS(S)/ HOURS: Mondays and Wednesdays: 11:00 AM-12:20 PMLOCATION: WCCC Main Building / E207Class 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

Art Of DramaENG 245 R 1

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.

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 arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions.

What is art?

“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

help him endure and prevail.”

The artist’s duty:

William Faulkner

JFK at Amherst on the politics of art

Our Mission:

To consider theatre as an art form

What are the elements or media of the the arts?

‘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.

What is Drama?

Video store visit.......

For starters........

Panoramic view of the Greek theater at Epidaurus

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.

The Roman theorist Horace introduced another view of these poetic forms when he suggested that their purpose was to either delight or instruct.

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.

It began in Greece.......

Mutual Interview

Introduce your partner to the class. Discover his/her likes dislikes, goals, etc.

Focus particularly on any theatrical or artistic preferences.

• Setting

• Characters

• Motivation

• Dialogue

• Conflict

• Plot/Rising Action

• Climax

• Resolution

• Theme

• Motif

(recurring thematic element)

• Symbols

Dramatic Elements To Be Considered:

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

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.

Assessment: GRADING SYSTEM

Grade Points

A = 90-100B+ = 87-89B = 80-86C+ = 77-79C = 70-76D = 60-69F = Below 60WP = Withdrawal passingWF = Withdrawal failingWX = Administrative WithdrawalAU = Audit

Assessment:Activity Description

Final Project Individual or small group presentation 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 & Final Exams

Comprehensive in-class essay tests based on covered material.(40% of final grade)

Tentative Schedule:

Jan 21, 2009 Syllabus/ Art of Drama Overview

Jan 26, 2009 Death of a Salesman

Jan 28, 2009 Death of a Salesman

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

Dramatists Play ServiceTel- 212-683-8960Fax- 212-213-1539Dramatists Play Service, Inc.Customer Service Dept.440 Park Avenue SouthNew York, NY 10016

DEATH OF A SALESMANPrice: $7.50ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-0290-5INHERIT THE WINDPrice: $7.50ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-0570-8THE GRAPES OF WRATHPrice: $7.50ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-0475-6THE TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOONPrice: $7.50ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-1114-3UNCOMMON WOMEN AND OTHERSPrice: $7.50ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-1192-1YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOUPrice: $7.50ISBN/Code: 978-0-8222-1287-4

Samuel French Inc.45 West 25th StreetNew York, NY 10010-2751Phone (212) 206-8990Fax (212) 206-1429

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest ~ Dale Wasserman from Ken Kesey - M17,F5

ISBN-10: 0573613435ISBN-13: 9780573613432

Our TownThornton WilderISBN: 0573613494 / 0-573-61349-4

The RainmakerN. Richard NashISBN 10:057361461XISBN 13:9780573614613

ValoreBooks.com

Sunday in the Park With Georgeby Stephen SondheimISBN-10: 1557830681ISBN-13: 9781557830685

Addition Resource:

Drama Book Shop, Inc.

250 W. 40th St.New York, NY 10018Tel: (212) 944-0595Fax: (212) 730-873

http://www.dramabookshop.com

• Setting

• Characters

• Motivation

• Dialogue

• Conflict

• Plot/Rising Action

• Climax

• Resolution

• Theme

• Motif

• Symbols

Dramatic Elements To Be Considered:

Revisit:

• Setting

• Characters

• Motivation

• Dialogue

• Conflict

• Plot/Rising Action

• Climax

• Resolution

• Theme

• Motif

• Symbols

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.

A: Hey.B: Hello.A: Do you want a mint?B: No thanks.A: Sure.B: Wait, why?A: No special reason.B: Oh.A: Want one?B: OK, thanks.A: Thank you.

A. You’re late.

B. I know. I couldn’t help it.

A. I understand.

B. I thought you would.

A. I have something to give you.

B. Really?

A. Yes, this.

In your group, prepare two presentations of each of the following scenes. Consider the variation in the

dramatic elements for each presentation.

For Next Time: Monday, January 26

ReadDeath of a Salesman

byArthur Miller