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Contextual Studies 1 (DRAM10032)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Southbank)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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This subject introduces key contemporary and historical theatre practitioners and their practices, juxtaposing clustered themes such as ritual, text, time, space, and body. At the same time, students will consider their own values and beliefs to contextualise their position as an emerging artist.

Towards this, the subject will teach the student how to examine performance practice through description, interpretation and analysis, helping students to understand different modes of critical engagement. Students will be able to analyse past and present paradigms of theatre arts practices, the unique responses to the world and the value-systems which drive artistic development including their own emerging artistry.

This subject is co-delivered to Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) students.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • define and evaluate historical and contemporary performance practices in acting and theatre-making;
  • classify and apply appropriate modes of critical response to historical materials through observation, interpretation and analysis;
  • compare and contrast historical and contemporary performance practices and training in relation to the individual's own training and performance;
  • develop critical self-reflection using personal and historical legacies of training;
  • demonstrate skills in academic literacy that recognise the significance of citation and evidence-based sources in performance practice analysis and self-reflective learning.

Last updated: 4 March 2025