2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL3252 Opposition Theatre

20 creditsClass Size: 20

School of English

Module manager: Dr Lourdes Orozco
Email: L.Orozco@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Pre-requisite qualifications

Grade B at 'A' Level in English Language or Literature or equivalent or an achieved mark of 56 or above in a Level 1 module in English.

PLEASE NOTE:- This module is restricted to Level 2 & 3 students.

Module replaces

ENGL3226 Opposition Theatre and Performance

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

Through a series of tutor and student led seminars and workshops, this module attempts a practical and theoretical exploration of political theatre from in the 20th and 21st centuries. In doing so, it will examine issues of performance and space, the commodification of performance and its potential to engage in political and social processes and concepts such as radical. Furthermore, it will aim to conceptualise and challengue concepts such as 'radical', 'political and 'traditional' in relation to European theatre and performance.

Objectives

This module aims to explore the ways in which European theatre has reacted against the political status quo in which it is produced. Thus, the module encourages students to research practically the different ways in which theatre and performance can create confrontational responses to politics.

Learning outcomes
Students will have developed:
the ability to use written and oral communication effectively;
the capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse;
the ability to manage quantities of complex information in a structured and systematic way;
the capacity for independent thought and judgement;
critical reasoning;
research skills, including the retrieval of information, the organisation of material and the evaluation of its importance;
IT skills;
efficient time management and organisation skills;
the ability to work as part of a team;
the ability to learn independently.

Skills outcomes
Skills for effective communication, oral and written.
Capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse.
Ability to acquire quantities of complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way.
Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
Critical reasoning.
Research skills, including information retrieval skills, the organisation of material, and the evaluation of its importance.
IT skills.
Time management and organisational skills.
Independent learning.

Syllabus

This module aims to explore the ways in which European theatre has responded to the political status quo in which it is produced. Thus, the module encourages students to research practically the different ways in which theatre and performance can create confrontational responses to politics.

As a socially committed art, theatre has never been aloof to the political and social contexts under which it has developed. Theatre practitioners throughout the centuries have dealt with limitations such as political, economic or religious censorship; and have produced responses to perceived social injustices and inequality. This module will promote practical experimentation to discover how theatre has escaped from such restricted environments. The module will also encourage a critical approach to the concept of political theatre in order to identify whether this could be seen as a limiting concept in itself.

The primary focus is on European theatres and their response to specific political events that have taken place in the continent from the 1930s to today. Practitioners whose work will be examined in this module include: Ramón María del Valle Inclán, Bertolt Brecht, Tadeusz Kantor, Dario Fo, Els Joglars, William Forsythe and David Hare.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	3	2.00	6.00
Lecture	1	1.00	1.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			185.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Seminar preparation, reading, essay writing.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contribution to seminars and practical exploration.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	20 minute Practical presentation (in group)	40.00
Essay	2,250 words	50.00
Reflective log	Journal	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/04/2008

Disclaimer

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