Across time periods, cultures, and places, theatre has been a 
privileged arena for addressing people’s relationship with the 
state. While theatre can be a site for resistance to the 
governing body or ruling class, so too can it solidify 
sentiments of community, nationalism, and patriotism. Theatre 
is performed by actors present onstage in the flesh, and thus 
highlights the plight and vulnerabilities of individual bodies 
subject to the laws of a larger political society as well 
as the sway of the masses. Providing a survey of world theatre 
history and dramatic literature, this course examines theatre 
and its publics in diverse historical and geographical contexts.
Expected learning outcomes: Students will demonstrate the 
ability to:
• Read plays from a variety of periods and places as traces of 
past performances and blueprints for possible productions.
• Compare diverse performance traditions and contexts.
• Use historical and cultural research to understand plays and 
their staging, including the research appropriate for a 
director, actor, or designer.
• Write clearly structured essays combining specialized 
terminology with the student’s own voice.
• Describe what is known, what is not known, and what is in 
dispute about the historical interrelation of theatre and its 
publics.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:
Week 1	Introduction
Week 2	Theatre and Democracy 1: Tragedy and the Classical 
Greek polis
Week 3  Theatre and Democracy 2: Comedy and the Classical Greek 
polis
Week 4  Theatre and Democracy 3: Musical theatre and American 
publics
Week 5	Theatre and Democracy 4: Theatres of identity and 
American counterpublics
Week 6	Theatres and the Ruling Class 1: Samurai culture, Noh, 
and kyogen
Week 7  Theatres and the Ruling Class 2: Renaissance court 
entertainments in Europe
Week 8	Theatres and the Ruling Class 3: Rise of the merchant 
class, Kabuki, and bunraku
Week 9	Theatre and Nation 1: Absolute monarchy and the 
European nation state
Week 10	Theatre and Nation 2: Chinese Opera and the 
administrative state
Week 11	Theatre and Nation 3: American slavery and theatres of 
resistance
Week 12	Theatre, Empire, Globalization 1: Golden Age Spain and 
theatres of conquest
Week 13	Theatre, Empire, Globalization 2: Shakespeare and the 
colonial subject
Week 14	Theatre, Empire, Globalization 3: Post-colonial regimes 
and theatrical dissent 
Week 15	Theatre, Empire, Globalization 4: Global capitalism and 
international theatre festivals