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Modern and Contemporary Theatre (ENGL20030)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is a study of the major developments in 20th and 21st century theatre and drama within the cultural and historical context of aesthetic modernism and modernity. It starts with the anti-realist manifestos of Bertolt Brecht and Antonin Artaud, and the theatrical innovations of Samuel Beckett, to consider the key intellectual and artistic upheavals of modern theatre and drama. The subject then turns to the impact of contemporary dramatists from the social realism of Shelagh Delaney and the political force of Caryl Churchill, to the gay fantasia of Tony Kushner, and the experiential theatre of Sarah Kane. The subject concludes with a section on 21st century advances in theatre that engage with virtual reality, global war and social satire.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject students should be able to:
- demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the concepts and practices of modern and contemporary drama;
- apply high level critical and conceptual thinking to weigh up arguments about dramatic texts and theatrical performance;
- articulate the relationship between modern and contemporary drama and the complex social, historical and cultural contexts that produced them;
- work effectively in a team and interact with peers and develop;
- collaboration and leadership skills; and
- work with independence, self-reflection and creativity to meet the goals and challenges of theatre studies, as active participants in cultural life and the workforce.
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject will be able to:
- demonstrate sound and independent critical and ethical thinking in their choice of materials and processes; and
- present written and oral communication to a professional standard regarding their treatment and material choices.
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Either a creative play presentation or a tutorial presentation
| During the teaching period | 40% |
An essay
| During the examination period | 60% |
Hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 80% attendance and regular participation in tutorials. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Denise Varney Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours A 1-hour lecture and a 1.5-hour tutorial per week. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Bertolt Brecht, The Caucasion Chalk Circle, Methuen Drama, 1988
Samuel Beckett, Rockaby, Grove Press, 2000
Anton Chekhov, The Seagull, Faber, 2007, ebook (UniMelb. Library)
Caryl Churchill, Far Away, Nick Hern Books, 2000
Shelagh Delaney, A Taste of Honey, Methuen Drama, 2016
Henrik Ibsen, An Enemy of the People, Gutenberg E-text
Sarah Kane, Blasted, Methuen Drama, 2002
Tony Kushner, Angels in America, Nick Hern, 2017
Patrick White, Season at Sarsaparilla, Currency Press, 2019
Recommended texts and other resources
Antonin Artaud, The Theatre and Its Double, Grove Press
Christopher Balme, The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Studies, Cambridge
Bertolt Brecht, Brecht on Theatre, Methuen Drama
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Breadth Track Theatre Studies - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 19 March 2024