This course focuses on several literary trends that manifest themselves
in Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, and France after 1890.
Through the exploration of an assortment of plays and texts, students will
be able to visualize the clear movement of European theatre along the paths
of Expressionism, Futurism, Dada, Surrealism, the Theatre of Cruelty, and
the Theatre of the Absurd in its quest for antirealism.
Students will view stage productions on film, volunteer for acting roles,
write frequent, short, informal questions and answers on assigned readings,
co-present a text, and produce a term paper/project on the oeuvre of a
single author of choice.
Final grades of participants are computed on a ten-point scale, with
+/-.
Late work will only be accepted by prior arrangement with the instructor.
In case of serious illness that threatens to make you miss a class, contact
the instructor ASAP. (See contact info above.)
Your text is Cardullo and Knopf. Theater of the Avant-garde 1890-1950.
Yale UP, 2001.
Additional readings will be available through Randall Library or electronic
reserve.
Come prepared to share ideas, try out scenes, and think creatively. You will need to leave your shyness at the door. As a courtesy to all students, please make every attempt to stay on topic, and please do not monopolize the discussion. We value everyone’s participation.
Schedule of Meetings
Aug. 21 The Avant-Garde in Context
Aug. 28 Franco-Russian Symbolism
Read section 1 in Cardullo (41-76). Write a discussion question
on the theatre of Maeterlinck or Briusov.
Sept. 4 Pataphysical Theatre
Read section 2 in Cardullo (77-125). Respond to discussion question.
Write a discussion question on Pataphysical Theatre.
Sept. 11 Italian Futurism
Read section 5 in Cardullo (187-206). Respond to discussion question.
Write a discussion question on Italian Futurism.
Sept. 18 German Expressionism
Read section 6 in Cardullo (207-263). Respond to discussion question.
Write a discussion question on German Expressionism. View The Cabinet
of Dr. Caligari.
Sept. 25 Dada Performance
Read section 7 in Cardullo (265-289) and Dada texts (xerox).
Respond to discussion question. Write a question on Dada Performance.
View Dada film.
Oct. 2 The Beginnings of Surrealism
Read Guillaume Apollinaire's Tiresias's Breasts (on reserve).
Respond to discussion question. Write a question on the beginnings
of surrealism.
Oct. 9 The Theatre of Pure Form
Read section 8 in Cardullo (291-326). Respond to discussion question.
Write a question on The Theatre of Pure Form.
Oct. 16 French Surrealism
Read section 9 in Cardullo (327-372). Respond to discussion question.
Write a question on French Surrealism. View Le Chien andalou.
Oct. 23 The Theatre of Cruelty
Read section 10 in Cardullo (373-388). Respond to discussion
question. Write a question on The Theatre of Cruelty. View
film of Marat/Sade.
Oct. 30 No meeting
Nov. 6 Russian Oberiu
Read section 11 in Cardullo (389-420). Respond to discussion question.
Write a question on Russian Oberiu
Nov. 13 The Beginnings of the Theatre of the Absurd
Read Ionesco’s Bald Soprano (reserve). View film version Waiting for
Godot. Respond to discussion question. Write a question on Ionesco
or Beckett.
Nov. 20 The Theatre of the Absurd
Read section 13 in Cardullo (4670497). Respond to discussion
question. Write a question on The Theatre of the Absurd.
Nov. 27 Thanksgiving holiday
Dec. 4 “State of the Project” meetings with the professor.
Bring 5 pages of edited writing. (Notes and lists of ideas will
not be acceptable.)
Dec. 11 Class Presentation of Avant-garde Theatre
Mark your calendars and invite your colleagues and friends.
Dec. 16 Final essays/projects are due before 2PM.
Late work will not be accepted without PRIOR approval of the instructor.