Course Description
Genres of performance in India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Focus on social and cultural significance of performances, including examples of Noh, Kabuki, Beijing Opera, Kathakali, Kutiyattam, Wayang Kulit, and Topeng.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional written assignments and presentations are required.
Athena Title
Asian Theatre and Drama
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Students are expected to recognize the distinctions among the various kinds of Asian theatre: classical, folk, and modern. 2. Students should have a working knowledge of the salient features of the particular genre which is being studied. 3. Noting similarities and differences with western models of performance will be an expected outcome. 4. Students will be expected to have a working vocabulary of the drama and theatre terms used in the various languages of the theatre genre being studied.
Topical Outline
I. History of Asian theatre including investigation of the roots of major classical, folk, and popular genres throughout India, China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. II. Survey of selected plays representing the dramatic literautre of one or more of the generes studied during the semester. III. In-depth study of the structure of the genre under investigation, including its acting techniques, staging, theatre settings, costuming, makeup, and/or masks, and musical accompaniment. IV. Investigation of the context of performance, whether in temples, palaces, public theatres, on street corners, in village fields, and so forth. V. Role of the genre of theatre in the society, including its place in religion, ritual, and socio-political contexts. VI. Consideration of the role of language(s) and translation(s) in analysis of the genre.
Syllabus