THE-220 Theatre His: Greeks Through 18th Century
This course surveys the global origins and development of theatre from its Antiquity to the 18th century within their historical, social, political and economic contexts. Theatre architecture, theatre technology, design concepts, acting styles, and significant dramatic works will be explored. Theatre traditions of non-Western cultures are also included. This course carries SUNY General Education Humanities and World History and Global Awareness credit.
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Course Outline
Department
Visual and Performing Arts
Course Description
This course surveys the global origins and development of theatre from its Antiquity to the 18th century within their historical, social, political and economic contexts. Theatre architecture, theatre technology, design concepts, acting styles, and significant dramatic works will be explored. Theatre traditions of non-Western cultures are also included. This course carries SUNY General Education Humanities and World History and Global Awareness credit.Credit Hours
3SUNY General Education Course
- Humanities
- World Languages
Course Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the structures, systems, and interrelationships among civilizations and cultures within historical and/or contemporary contexts, and their impact on wellbeing and sustainability of theatrical practices.
- Acknowledge the interrelationships among civilizations and cultures by relating works of literature to both their socio-economic and historical contexts, and to the available theatre technology, architecture, and performance practices.
- Present on production elements and conventions of a major theatrical style or period (Greek, Roman, Medieval, Noh, Kabuki, etc.).
- Write and present on the development of one aspect of theatre production from antiquity to the 18th Century (choosing from theatre architecture, stage technology, acting, drama, or a design element).
Topic Outline
- 1. Antiquity: beginning in ancient Egypt and the Near East
- a. Examine religious systems and civilizations that allowed theatrical performance to emerge and evolve
- 2. Ancient Greece
- a. Examine the relationships between cultures that contributed to the development of theatre and drama
- b. Theatrical practices and conditions
- 3. Hellenistic and Roman eras
- a. Developments in theatre architecture as a reflection of civilization
- b. Dramatic and theatrical practices
- 4. Asian, Byzantine, and early Western European theatre
- a. Asian theatre: India
- i. Sanskrit drama and performance
- b. Chinese literary drama (Yuan drama)
- c. Early professional theatre in Japan
- d. Theatre of Byzantium
- e. The rise of Islam
- f. Western European liturgical drama and staging
- 5. Europe in the Late Middle Ages: read medieval religious drama
- 6. England to 1642
- a. Tudor and Jacobean drama
- b. Theatrical conditions and practices
- 7. Spain and New Spain to 1700: read from the Golden Age of Spanish drama
- a. Theatre and drama: the Spanish Golden Age
- 8. Italy to 1700: Baroque
- a. Development of theatre architecture and scenic practices
- 9. France to 1700
- a. Neoclassicism
- b. Transmission of Italian scenic practices and conventions
- 10. Asian society to 1800: read Noh or Bunraku drama
- a. Focus on Japan, India, and China, comparing how each culture's societal structure, religion, and other factors influenced and are reflected in its dramatic performance
- i. India
- ii. China
- iii. Beijing opera
- iv. Japan
- (1) Noh theatre
- (2) Kabuki theatre
- (3) Bunraku theatre
- v. Other Asian countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma)
- 11. England 1642 to 1800: the Restoration; read Restoration drama
- 12. Continental European history to 1800