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Modern and Contemporary Theatre (ENGL20030)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is a study of some of the major developments in 20th and 21st century theatre and drama set within the cultural and historical context of aesthetic modernism and modernity. We start with revisionings in the 21st century of canonical works of modern drama including Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People and Chekhov’s The Seagull. We then consider the anti-realist movement through Bertolt Brecht, focusing on Mother Courage and Her Children, and Antonin Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty and its influence on the British dramatist Sarah Kane in 1990s Britain. Samuel Beckett remains central to modernist theatre and we study his lesser known short plays, Rockaby and Not I. The subject then turns to the social realism of Shelagh Delaney and debbie tucker green, and the enduring political and ecocritical force of Caryl Churchill. American theatre is represented through Tony Kushner’s gay fantasia Angels in America. You will study the play texts and their theatrical performances by drawing on archival materials including digital theatre platforms.
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 theatre;
- apply high level critical and conceptual thinking to comparing dramatic texts and theatrical performances;
- articulate the relationship between modern and contemporary theatre and the interplay of art with social, historical and cultural contexts;
- work effectively in a team and interact with peers and develop;
- apply collaboration and leadership skills; and
- work with independence, self-reflection and creativity 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: 11 April 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: 11 April 2024
Assessment
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: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Denise Varney Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 1 March 2021 to 30 May 2021 Last self-enrol date 12 March 2021 Census date 31 March 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 May 2021 Assessment period ends 25 June 2021 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Bertolt Brecht, Mother Courage, Methuen Drama, 1988
Samuel Beckett, Rockaby, Grove Press, 2000
Samuel Beckett, Not I, 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
debbie tucker green, nut, Nick Hern Books
Patrick White, Signal Driver, 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 Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Major 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 (Production)
- 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: 11 April 2024