Course Description
This course traces the tragic and comic texts and performance contexts of the Roman theatre and the theatricality of spectacle and politics in the Roman Republic and early Imperial Rome. Emphasis is placed on theatre design and spectacle entertainment and the legacy of Rome on British and European theatre.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In addition to all undergraduate requirements, graduate students
will write a major research paper, present a class, and write an
annotated bibliography.
Athena Title
The Roman Theatre
Prerequisite
CLAS 1000 or CLAS 1000E or CLAS 1000H or CLAS 1010 or CLAS 1010E or CLAS 1010H or CLAS 1020 or CLAS 1020E or CLAS 1020H or CLAS 3000 or CLAS 3010 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015E or CLAS 3030 or CLAS 3040 or CLAS3050 or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
To trace the development of the texts, architectural spaces, and performance contexts of the Roman theatre and the theatricality of spectacle, politics, literary allusions and the legacy on British and European drama through a variety of literary and material culture sources. Students will study the important differences between the texts and performance contexts between the ancient Greek and Roman theatre and the influence of both on the theatre traditions of England and France.
Topical Outline
Students will begin with an examination of the fragments from Rome’s earliest dramatists in tragedy and comedy (Livius Andronicus, Naevius, Ennius, Caecilius Statius, Plautus, Pacuvius, Accius, Terence) and trace the development of the theatre (texts, architecture, performance contexts, audience) and spectacle entertainment in the Republic and early Imperial Rome (Seneca). The student will appreciate how wide-ranging the role of the theatre was in Roman culture from political discourse, propaganda, and the Romanization of the Mediterranean world and the important influence of ancient texts, history, and theatre construction to the classical theatres of England and France.