Epic Theater: Mother Brecht and his Children
THEA 343
Spring 2027
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01
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One of the few theatre practitioners whose name has become an adjective, Bertolt Brecht¿s influence on theatre in the 20th and 21st centuries can hardly be overstated. His methods of presentation are also largely only superficially understood. In this class we will study Brecht¿s plays, his theoretical writings, and directing methods, as well as the many theatre artists and filmmakers who have incorporated, consciously or not, his ideas and techniques into their work. We will also look at influences on Brecht, including the Elizabethan Theatre of Shakespeare¿s time and the Classical Chinese Theater. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA THEA |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Theater) |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
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Texts by Brecht:
MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN
THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE
GALILEO
THE GOOD PERSON OF SZECHWAN
THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI
THE MEASURES TAKEN and other LEHRSTÜCKE
BRECHT ON THEATRE (essays)
Other plays:
Peter Weiss, MARAT/SADE
Suzan-Lori Parks, THE AMERICA PLAY
Tony Kushner, ANGELS IN AMERICA
Athol Fugard, BLOOD KNOT
Jackie Sibblies Drury, FAIRVIEW
Thornton Wilder, OUR TOWN
Paula Vogel, INDECENT
Robert Coover, THE PUBLIC BURNING (novel excerpts)
Greg Kotis, Mark Hollmann, URINETOWN
Stew, Heidi Rodewald, PASSING STRANGE
We will also look at filmmakers such as Lars von Trier, David Lynch, Spike Jonze, and Wes Anderson.
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Examinations and Assignments:
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As a theater methods course, there will be emphasis on articulating ideas on paper, so there will be a brief writing responses to the material due throughout the semester, as well as a short mid-term paper (5 pages) and a longer term paper (10 pages) at the final. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
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| Instructor(s): Dame,Nathan Times: .M..... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 12 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 3 | | |
| | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 3 | FR: 3 |
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