THET 216 Contemporary Drama

Contemporary Drama studies works written for European and American theater from 1950 until current practice. Students discuss and appraise plays; identify basic elements which distinguish contemporary drama from earlier periods; evaluate performances of contemporary plays; and study what playwrights have said about the nature of drama. Students also discuss the impact of gender, race, culture, and sexual orientation studies on dramatic material.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. Identify, organize and apply critical theory by using basic literary and theatrical concepts, elements, and
   stylistic characters specific to the dramatic work.
2. Generate ideas, explore possibilities and alternatives to demonstrate innovation and risk-taking in following the steps necessary to bring a play to production from acting, design, and directing perspectives.
3. Analyze and evaluate texts through the lens of global and diverse social, intellectual, historic, and artistic contexts.
4. Develop techniques to evaluate productions and apply these techniques to other performances.
5. Discuss issues of cultural identity related to class, gender, sexuality and race as they are represented in contemporary theatre.
6. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant and properly attributed content that demonstrates the writer's understanding and the standard conventions of writing about theatre.

Course Objectives

1. Identify, organize and apply critical theory by using basic literary and theatrical concepts, elements, and
   stylistic characters specific to the dramatic work.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Written journal assignment

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT1
2. Generate ideas, explore possibilities and alternatives to demonstrate innovation and risk-taking in following the steps necessary to bring a play to production from acting, design, and directing perspectives.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT2
3. Analyze and evaluate texts through the lens of global and diverse social, intellectual, historic, and artistic contexts.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Performance review and production history

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT3
4. Develop techniques to evaluate productions and apply these techniques to other performances.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Essay

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT4
5. Discuss issues of cultural identity related to class, gender, sexuality and race as they are represented in contemporary theatre.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Essay

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric
6. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant and properly attributed content that demonstrates the writer's understanding and the standard conventions of writing about theatre.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Written journal assignments, Research projects and presentations