The University of New South Wales

go to UNSW home page

Undergraduate Handbook

PRINT THIS PAGE
Critical Perspectives on Theatre and Performance - MEFT2301
Mdeia, Film and Theatre

 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of English, Media and Performing Arts
 
 
Course Outline: http://media.arts.unsw.edu.au//
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 36 units of credit
 
 
Equivalent: THST2202
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

Investigates the current state of the field of theatre and performance studies both in terms of the diverse range of critical approaches to it and in terms of the latest developments in repertoire. Critical methods surveyed include historiographical approaches (new historicism and cultural histories), theoretical developments such as postmodernism and post-structuralism, ritual and ethnographic studies. These approaches will be analysed in terms of a range of forms from melodrama to the rise of the modern theatre movement.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course you should be able to:
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the key features of postmodernism, poststructuralism, feminism and postcolonialism and discuss how they have influenced performance making and reception
  • Discuss how the performance text and performance event case studies in this course embody shifts in the form, content and politics of Western performance since the 1960s
  • Outline the social and historical forces which have influenced the emergence and shape of the 4 theoretical perspectives and the performance case studies introduced in this course
  • Analyze and experiment with, through an essay and a short group performance, contemporary ideas, especially with regard to topics such as: metanarratives,
  • logocentrism, patriarchal binary thought, colonialism and hybridity
  • Analyze and experiment with, through essay and performance, new approaches to written and spoken text, to fictional and actual spatio-temporality, to performing and spectating, and to group performance processes
  • Reflect on the way the recent theoretical developments addressed in this course have led you to examine and/or question familiar assumptions and beliefs about the nature and
  • function(s) of live performance.

Assessment

  • Participation - 10%
  • Reading Summary I - 10%
  • Reading Summary II - 10%
  • Essay - 40%
  • Practical Exercise Project Presentation Tutorial - 20%
  • Individual Report on Practical Project - 10%

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.