SEMESTER AT SEA COURSE SYLLABUS University of Virginia, Academic Sponsor

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1 SEMESTER AT SEA COURSE SYLLABUS University of Virginia, Academic Sponsor Voyage: Summer 2014 Discipline: Drama SEMS : Comparative Theatre: Page to Stage to Screen Division: Upper Faculty Name: Geno Carr Credit Hours: 3; Contact Hours: 38 Pre-requisites: None COURSE DESCRIPTION In this class, students will trace a play s journey from the written words of the playwright to its realization on the theatrical stage and finally to its cinematic interpretation(s). Along with exploration of American works, several of the plays and playwrights studied will tie in directly with the countries visited on the voyage. By exploring these plays and their various incarnations, students will employ critical thinking about theatrical performance, its relationship to the society of which it is a part and its past and present significance as an art form. The field component of the class will be attendance at a live theatrical performance as well as participation in a discussion with artists involved in the production. COURSE OBJECTIVES To develop an understanding of, appreciation for and the analytical tools necessary to critically evaluate, compare and contrast a play s journey from text to stage to filmed performance. To make students aware of the ways in which theatre reflects a society s values, history, hopes and fears. Discover and investigate common thematic connections found in drama and better understand the universal nature of theatre as a reflection of the human condition. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AUTHOR: Arthur Miller TITLE: Death of a Salesman PUBLISHER: Penguin Classic ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 1998 AUTHOR: Henrik Ibsen (in a new version by Frank McGuinness) TITLE: A Doll s House PUBLISHER: Faber and Faber ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 1997 AUTHOR: William Shakespeare (SparkNotes, Editors) 1

2 TITLE: A Midsummer Night s Dream (No Fear Shakespeare) PUBLISHER: SparkNotes ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: Study Guide Ed., 2003 AUTHOR: John Patrick Shanley TITLE: Doubt PUBLISHER: Theatre Communications Group ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 2008 TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE June 16: Depart Southampton June 17: C1-June 18: Orientation Why Do We Love Stories?/What is Theatre? C2- June 19: Script Analysis/Breaking the Code C3- June 20: Script Analysis/Breaking the Code/Why is Meryl Better Than Keanu? READ DEATH OF A SALESMAN June 21-24: Lisbon C4- June 25: The American Dream/Existential Crises/Death of a Salesman C5- June 26: Death of a Salesman June 27-30: Bilbao C6- July 1: Death of a Salesman C7- July 2: Death of a Salesman READ PETER PAN C8- July 3: Why Do Adults Love Children s Stories Too?/Peter Pan July 4-7: Glasgow C9- July 8: Peter Pan/Animated Storytelling C10-July 9: Peter Pan/Musical Theatre Storytelling READ A DOLL S HOUSE July 10-13: Dublin 2

3 C11- July 14: Theatre As Social Commentary/A Doll s House C12- July 15: A Doll s House C13- July 16: A Doll s House July 17-20: Bergen and Oslo C14- July 21: Exploring Thematic Commonalities in Storytelling NO CLASS C15- July 23: The Universality and Humanity of World Theatre READ A MIDSUMMER NIGHT S DREAM July 24-28: St. Petersburg C16- July 29: The World s Most Popular and Enduring Playwright/A Midsummer Night s Dream C17- July 30: A Midsummer Night s Dream July 31- August 3: Stockholm C18- August 4: A Midsummer Night s Dream C19- August 5: A Midsummer Night s Dream READ THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST August 6-9: Helsinki C20- August 10: Why We Love Sitcoms and The Hangover/Parody and Satire/The Importance of Being Earnest C21- August 11: The Importance of Being Earnest READ DOUBT August 12-15: Gdansk C22- August 16: Parables/Fear/Doubt C23- August 17: Doubt STUDY DAY 3

4 C24- August 19: Final Exam FIELD WORK Field lab attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. Please do not book individual travel plans or a Semester at Sea sponsored trip on the day of our field lab. FIELD LAB (At least 20 percent of the contact hours for each course, to be led by the instructor.) The class will attend a live theatrical performance and talkback in one of our ports of call. The port, performance and other pertinent details will be determined as the voyage approaches. Whenever possible, students are encouraged to seek out and experience performances of any kind throughout the voyage. FIELD ASSIGNMENTS Students will submit a two to three page reaction paper reflecting upon their Field Lab experience (as well as incorporating any other performances they attended). These papers will discuss how the performance/talkback (and other performances) related to classroom studies, explore cultural and artistic similarities and differences, as well as include any number of other discoveries and insights. METHODS OF EVALUATION / GRADING RUBRIC Attendance/Participation (40%) Students are expected not only to attend class, but also to actively participate in and contribute to classroom activities. A majority of the time spent in class will consist of observations, discussions and analyses of plays and their filmed adaptations, so attendance and participation are absolutely necessary. Quizzes/Assignments (40%) Content quizzes will be proctored and there will be various assignments and projects to be completed throughout the voyage. Field Assignment Reaction Paper (10%) Students will submit a two to three page reaction paper reflecting upon their Field Lab experience (as well as incorporating any other performances they attended). These papers will discuss how the performance/talkback (and other performances) related to classroom studies, explore cultural and artistic similarities and differences, as well as include any number of other discoveries and insights. Final (10%) The final exam will be in multiple choice and essay form, covering material from the entire semester and inviting students to reflect and expound upon their cumulative studies and experiences both in class and during the voyage. RESERVE LIBRARY LIST N/A 4

5 ELECTRONIC COURSE MATERIALS AUTHOR: J.M. Barrie JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (PDF) AUTHOR: Oscar Wilde JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: The Importance of Being Earnest (PDF) Others TBD As Voyage Approaches ADDITIONAL RESOURCES DVD/VIDEO CLIPS SELECTED FROM: Death of a Salesman (1951, 1985) Peter Pan (1953 Animated, 1960 Stage Musical) Hook (1991) A Doll s House (1973, Young Vic) Mabou Mines Dollhouse A Midsummer Night s Dream (1935, 1968, 1999) The Importance of Being Earnest (1952, 2002, 2011) Doubt (2008) Others TBD as Voyage Approaches *Some May Be Broadcast on CCTV HONOR CODE Semester at Sea students enroll in an academic program administered by the University of Virginia, and thus bind themselves to the University s honor code. The code prohibits all acts of lying, cheating, and stealing. Please consult the Voyager s Handbook for further explanation of what constitutes an honor offense. Each written assignment for this course must be pledged by the student as follows: On my honor as a student, I pledge that I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment. The pledge must be signed, or, in the case of an electronic file, signed [signed]. 5