MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996

DTS2000

Ideas of theatre

C Worth

Synopsis An exploration of the processes of a number of kinds of theatre, in relation to the physical conditions of their enactment, the codes of meaning on which they rely in performance, and the ideological assumptions which they reflect. These issues will often be focused on a particular written play-text, but will involve the investigation of other dramatic events and materials as well. In 1996 the areas for specific attention in the lecture program will be Indonesian theatre, Greek tragedy, Commedia dell'Arte, and the theatre of French absolutism.

Assessment Essay (3000 words): 50% + Essay (2000 words): 30% + Class exercises and participation: 20%

Prescribed texts

• Euripides The Bacchae ed.Grene and Lattimore, U Chicago P
• Racine J (trs.) Cramphorn Britannicus Department of Romance Languages, Monash U
• Students will be required to buy Britannicus and collections of material on Commedia dell'Arte and Indonesian theatre from the centre during the course.

Recommended texts

• Carlson M Theories of the theatre Cornell U P, 1984
• Case S-E Feminism and theatre Macmillan, 1988
• Duchatre P The Italian comedy Dover, 1966
• Ferris L Crossing the stage Routledge, 1993
• Goldhill S Reading Greek tragedy CUP, 1986
• Gordon M Lazzi PAJP, 1983
• Howarth W Theatre in Europe: a documentary history, France CUP, 1995
• Loraux N Tragic ways of killing a woman Harvard U P, 1987
• Maskell D Racine Clarendon P, 1991
• Melrose S The semiotics of the dramatic text Macmillan, 1994
• Richards K and L The Commedia dell'Arte Blackwell, 1990
• Schechner R Between theatre and anthropology Pennsylvania U P, 1985
• Schechner R Performance theory Routledge
• Turner V From ritual to theatre PAJP, 1982
• Winkler J and F Zeitlin (eds) Nothing to do with Dionysos? Princeton U P 1989