COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
Introduction to the Theatre Arts
Theatre 105
Professor Kathy Kiser-Miller
Course Information:
Sequence Number: #10316
Course Title: Introduction to the Theatre Arts
Course Code: THE 105
Credits: 3 Credits
Semester: Fall 2005
Prerequisite: College Level Reading
Meeting Time: 9:00-12:00
Days: Wednesday
Start Date: Sept. 7
Refund Date: Sept. 16
Withdraw Date: Nov. 19
End Date: December 16
Class Location: Bristol 221
Instructor Information:
Phone: 870-4489
FAX: 870-6772
Office: Tolles Center Room 227
E-mail: kmiller@coloradomtn.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00-3:00
Wednesday 8:00-9:00, 1:00-4:00
Course Description:
This course includes discussions, workshops, and lectures designed to discover, analyze, and evaluate all aspects of the theatre experience: scripts, acting, directing, staging, history, criticism, and theory. This course partially satisfies the core graduation requirements for Humanities.
Course Competencies:
Demonstrate an appreciation of the varied elements of the dramatic art.
Identify the value and necessity of theatre arts in culture and society.
Compare the relationship between the audience and the theatre artist.
Describe the artist’s responsibilities and activities.
Demonstrate knowledge of the theatre arts through hands-on experience in acting, design, and directing methods.
Demonstrate comprehension of theatre arts as an historical form of literature and communication through critical analysis presented in written essay or oral presentation.
Develop or improve critical thinking and communication skills such as listening, reasoning, analysis and criticism.
Demonstrate the ability to select and apply contemporary forms of technology to solve problems or compile information.
Read, analyze and apply written materials to new situations.
General Education Competencies:
As a result of taking the
Colorado Guaranteed General Education courses and other courses comprising
the AA and AS degrees, students are expected to demonstrate competency at
an adequate level according to criteria for each outcome, and compile a portfolio
of work in the following areas:
Reading
Students should be able to read critically and thoughtfully.
Communication (written and
oral)
Students should be able to write and speak clearly and concisely to send and
respond effectively to communications for varied audiences and purposes.
Critical Thinking
Students should be able to critically examine issues and ideas and to identify
good and bad reasoning in a variety of fields with differing assumptions,
contents, and methods.
Interpersonal and group interaction
Students should be able to interact effectively with individuals and within
peer, work, social, and cultural groups.
Aesthetic responsiveness
Students should be able to articulate a personal response to the aesthetics
in given contexts.
Evaluation Methods and Class Management:
Attendance:
EACH DAY YOU ATTEND CLASS IS WORTH 5 POINTS. THESE POINTS CANNOT BE MADE UP. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND CLASS CONSISTENTLY. YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CLASS IS VALUED AND NEEDED. IT DOESN’T TAKE MANY MISSED CLASSES BEFORE YOUR GRADE IS LOWERED CONSIDERABLY.
NO EXTRA CREDIT Except for Pop Quizzes:
Quizzes cannot be made-up. ATTEND CLASS, DO YOUR ASSIGNMENTS AND YOU WILL SUCCEED!
Assignment policy: NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED.
Test policy: THE STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MATERAIL COVERED IN CLASS. I F CLASS IS MISSED ON A SCHEDULED TEST DAY; THE STUDENT MUST CALL THE INSTRUCTOR AND RESCHEDULE WITHIN 48 HOURS OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE TEST MAY BE FORFIETED. Make-up tests must be rescheduled within one week of the original test date.
NOTICE:
A student judged to have engaged in academic misconduct as defined in the “Academic Policies and Requirements” section of the Colorado Mountain College Student Handbook will, at a minimum, receive a “zero” for the work in question. The student may also be removed from the class, resulting in a failing grade. All student course material may be submitted to turnitin.com (or another anti-plagiarism program) at the instructor’s discretion. “Academic Expectations,” the “Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Process” and more information about academic misconduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
Students are responsible for course materials from assigned text(s) and reading, lectures, labs, and other assignments as required.
The instructor may alter any, or all, of this syllabus during the semester as the learning environment requires. Students will be notified in writing of changes.
Attendance at all class meetings is expected.
Students with disabilities – As required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, appropriate accommodations will be made for all students with documented disabilities. Students must turn in a Notification of Accommodation to all of their instructors at the beginning of each semester. With these accommodations, students are required to meet the academic standards of the college.
Students wishing to withdraw from this course must INITIATE the course withdrawal/drop process at the site Registration Office.
This class could be cancelled one week prior to the census date if a sufficient number of students are not enrolled by that date.
GRADING SYSTEM:
*Three Written Tests- 50 points each 150 points
*Pop Quizzes 50 points
*One performance focused presentation 100 points
(Group or Individual)
*One written essay 100 points
(8-10 pages)
* Class Participation 150 points
Save your essay as a sample for the portfolio in the outcomes for aesthetic awareness and communication. Also a possible portfolio addition could be a video of your performance presentation.
Total Points: 550 points
A =523 B-=440 D+=374
A- =495 C+=429 D =358
B+=484 C =413 D-=330
B =468 C- =385 F =BELOW 330
Required Text:
Orientation to the Theatre, Theodore W. Hatlen, Fifth Edition, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 1992
Virtual Library Information
You will find online articles, books and other library resources on the following web site: http://www.coloradomtn.edu/library/databases.html.
Virtual Library Help Desk
If you need help with the Virtual Library, email reference@coloradomtn.edu or call Michelle Marx at 970-569-2926.
COURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE
WEEK TOPIC/ACTIVITY READING
1 Course Introduction Pgs. 2-24
Background
Empathy, Dramatic Action
Theatre as Art
Theatre Conventions
WEEK TOPIC/ACTIVITY READING
2 The Play and its Parts Pgs. 30-67
Aristotle
The Six Elements of the Play
3 Definition of Tragedy Pgs.69-89
Aesthetic Pleasure
Catharsis, Content
Modern Tragedy
No Class September 28
4 Melodrama Pgs. 91-108
Melodrama & Film
Musicals, Opera
Drame
Test One- Wednesday Oct. 5
5 Comedy Pgs. 112-124
The Nature of Comedy
The Comic Attitude
6 Dark Comedy
Sources of Laughter Pgs. 124-151
Comic Mechanisms
Comedy in Performance
7 Traditional Modes of Theatre Pgs. 153-179
Classicism, Roman Drama
French & English Neoclassicism,
German, English, & French Romanticism
8 Realism Pgs. 181-208
Observation & Objectivity
Naturalism & Expressionism
9 Theatricalism & The New Theatre Pgs. 210-243
WEEK TOPIC/ACTIVITY READING
9 The Absurdists, New Theatre
Theatre of Images, Performance Art
Test Two Wednesday Nov. 2
10 The Director Pgs. 247-272
Modern Director, Functions
Director at Work & Interpretation
11 The Actor Pgs. 276-304
Contribution, Requisites
Evolution, Ways of Working
New Theatre, Film Acting
Acting Approaches
12 The Designer Pgs. 308-342
Pictorial Tradition
Stage Scenery
Scene Design, Lighting, Costume
Thanksgiving Break November 21-25
13 Theatre Architecture Pgs. 344-370
Types of Spaces
Historical Perspective
Contemporary Changes
Performance Activity/Presentations
14 The Audience Pgs. 372-387
The Nature of Attention
Audience as Crowd
Types of Audiences
Opportunities for the Audience
Essay due- Wednesday December 7
Final Test- Monday December 14
Last Day of Classes-December 14
