Course: THEA 381. Junior Seminar in Performance Theory, Fall, 2002
Faculty: L. B. Rabby, Ph.D., Professor of Theatre, Department Chairperson
Library: Danielle Clarke, Public Service Librarian
Overview
This course is designed to be the first course taken by majors in the fall of their junior year and requires majors to evaluate the purpose of theatre and dance. This course is unusual among undergraduate liberal arts colleges in that it compels majors to examine their personal aesthetic. The first half of the course examines the aesthetics of theatre and dance, and the second half is focused on production analysis. At the conclusion of the first half of the course, each student must present an oral report which clarifies the aesthetic of a major practitioner in their interest area of theatre or dance, e.g., acting, directing, playwriting, design, choreography, lighting, etc. At the end of the second half of the course, each student must orally present and defend their personal aesthetic of theatre or dance which they have developed during the semester.
Description of the project
This project is designed to bring information literacy into this course. In the first half of the course, each student will be required to complete research on the aesthetics of a major theatre or dance practitioner using the web. Each student will be required to evaluate their web sites and compile an annotated bibliography of their research which will be shared via email with the class and the department.
During the second half of the course, each student will be required to include research and evaluation in the preparation of their personal aesthetic.
In each section of the course, our department's library liaison, Danielle Clarke, will instruct the class in research methods, evaluation techniques, and preparation for a presentation to the class.
Timeline
First week: (One two-hour session.) Ms. Clarke will review traditional research sources in theatre and dance, in addition to instruct the class on research methods on the web. Evaluation methods of research sources will be included in both sections.
Requirement: Each student will be required to identify and evaluate 12 web sites in their interest area of theatre or dance and email this information to the Department Office Manager, who will compile a master list. This master list will be distributed to each class member and will be posted on the department's web page. Each student will be required to meet with Ms. Clarke individually to review their web site evaluation and annotation.
Second week: (One two-hour session.) Ms. Clarke will instruct the class on traditional and web methods for researching the aesthetic of a theatre or dance practitioner on whom they will report during the seventh week of the semester. This instruction will include information on organizing the report for clarity, writing an annotated bibliography, and oral presentation, which must include a power point presentation.
Weeks three through seven: Ms. Clarke will meet individually with class members to guide and assist them in their research and preparation of the oral presentation.
Seventh week: Ms. Clarke will attend class to observe and assist in evaluation of the class presentations of the practitioner reports.
Eighth week: Ms. Clarke will present ideas to the class on research methods for identifying their personal aesthetic, with emphasis on electronic research methodology.
Weeks eight through 14: Ms. Clarke will meet individually with class members to guide and assist them in identifying their personal aesthetic and prepare for their oral presentation and 10 page aesthetic statement.
Last week of semester: Ms. Clarke will attend class to observe and evaluate the class presentations of their personal aesthetic.
Estimated faculty time commitment
Two hours per week during the summer of 2002.
Two to three hours per week during the semester the course is offered.