COURSE OUTLINE THET-216 Contemporary Drama: Topics in Diversity 3 Credits Fine Arts, Humanities and Literature Core Course HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE Description 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 are introduced to the formalist conventions and characteristics, terms and concepts, and critical theory of drama in order to master skills in interpretation, analysis, and critical evaluation Students also discuss the impact of gender, race, culture, and sexual orientation studies on dramatic material. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL 121. NOTE: Also listed as ENGL-216. Statement on General Education and Liberal Learning A liberal education prepares students to lead ethical, productive, and creative lives and to understand how the pursuit of lifelong learning and critical thinking fosters good citizenship. General education courses form the core of a liberal education within the higher education curriculum and provide a coherent intellectual experience for all students by introducing the fundamental concepts and methods of inquiry in the areas of mathematics, the physical and natural sciences, the social sciences, the arts and the humanities, and composition. This course is part of the general education core experience at Howard Community College. Overall Courses Objectives Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Evaluate live theatre effectively, giving intelligent and sensitive reactions to the production as well as the literary work. 2. Identify and apply literary and theatrical terms, concepts, devices and characteristics. 3. Demonstrate verbally or in writing an understanding of the role of the script in theatre, as it relates to dramatic structure, form, and style. 4. Demonstrate verbally or in writing an understanding of the role and importance of the audience and critical perspective. 5. Perform basic research and use MLA-style documentation. 6. Discuss the major global trends in contemporary theater including diversity issues, post-modernism and performance studies. 7. Distinguish the effects of major global political events and theories on the theatre particularly in the avant-garde. 8. Demonstrate verbally or in writing an understanding of the major trends in contemporary theater throughout the world. 9. Discuss issues of cultural identity related to class, gender, sexuality and race as they are represented in contemporary theatre. 10. Analyze how drama reflects human values. 11. Demonstrate an understanding of the conventions of writing about theater.12. Demonstrate aesthetic appreciation through clear and intelligent discussion and written evaluations. Major Topics I. Commercial vs. non-Commercial Theatre II. Authority, Access and Authenticity III. African-American Theatre IV. Avant-Garde V. Post-Modernism VI. Feminist Theatre VII. Gay Theater VIII. Theatre of the Oppressed IX. Multicultural Theatre Course Requirements Grading to be determined by instructor but must follow the writing intensive expectations: 1. Students will use writing as a means to learn, to integrate information, to review what they have learned, and to clarify their responses to assigned works. 2. Students will write at least three interpretive papers. The required papers will communicate with a specific audience and meet the minimum standard of proficiency for college level writing. Papers will be evaluated not only on content, but also on clarity of expression and style. (A total of at least 2,500 words of formal, graded writing is required.) 3. At least 60% of the final grade will be based upon writing, both formal and informal. 4. Students will study a minimum of eight works. Other Course Information This course is a General Education Literature, Arts and Humanities core course. This course is an Arts and Sciences, English, Arts and Humanities