Undergraduate Course: Gender and Theatrical Representation (ENLI10174)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines the complex relationships between gender and representation, as these have been specifically manifested in the history of the theatre. It follows two strands: one historical and the other more theoretical. Specific instances of the role of gender in theatrical modes of production will be studied in the examples of Classical Greek Drama and Elizabethan Drama. The absence of women from these stages will be read both in respect to specific historical contexts and to the type of conventions of representation this absence helped shape. This historical investigation will continue with the study of the rise of the English actress, leading to a critical account of contemporary feminist theatres. Another central concern of the course will be the structural link between gender construction and performativity as this has been expressed by the recent psychoanalytical and gender-based theory. In this context recent developments in Queer Theory will be discussed with examples from Camp and Drag performance. |
| Course description |
This course sets out to examine the complex relationships between gender and representation, as these have been specifically manifested in the history of the theatre. It follows two strands: one historical and the other more theoretical. These are parallel and complimentary
Specific instances of the role of gender in theatrical modes of production will be studied in the examples of Classical Greek Drama and Elizabethan Drama. The absence of women from these stages will be read both in respect to specific historical contexts and to the type of conventions of representation this absence helped shape. This historical investigation will continue with the study of the rise of the English actress, leading to a critical account of contemporary feminist theatres.
Another central concern of this course will be the structural link between gender construction and performativity as this has been expressed by the recent psychoanalytical and gender-based theory. In this context recent developments in Queer Theory will be discussed with examples from Camp and Drag performance.
|
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | A MINIMUM of 4 college/university level literature courses at grade B or above (should include no more than one introductory level literature course). Related courses such as civilisation or other interdisciplinary classes, Freshman Year Seminars or composition/creative writing classes/workshops are not considered for admission to this course. Applicants should also note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. In making admissions decisions preference will be given to students who achieve above the minimum requirement with the typical visiting student admitted to this course having 4 literature classes at grade A.
** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course ** |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- have an overview of how the relationship between gender and representation has created notions of theatrical genre.
- apply recent gender theory to historical theatres and to present-day theatres
- become aware of the intertextual dimension of much of theatrical writing.
- be more sensitive to and aware of the particularities of theatre production, especially as the performance aspect will be underlined.
- develop a critical vocabulary for discussing the relationships betwen performativity and actula performance practices.
|
Reading List
General Reading List:
Judith Butler, Gender Trouble, (1992) Bodies that Matter, (1994)
Elizabeth Howe, The First English Actresses: Women and Drama 1660-1700, (1992)
Lizbeth Goodman, Contemporary Feminist Theatres, (1991)
Andrew Parker, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, (eds), Performance and Performativity, (1995)
Moe Meyer (ed), The Politics and Poetics of Camp (1994)
Carol Martin (ed), A Sourcebook of Feminist Theatre and Performance (1996)
Play-texts:
Aeschylus, The Oresteia
Sophocles, Antigone
Euripides, Medea, The Bacchae
Shakespeare, Twelfth Night; As You Like It; Measure for Measure; Hamlet
Caryl Churchill, Cloud Nine
Liz Lochhead, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off
Tony Kuchner, Angels in America I and II |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
https://www.ed.ac.uk/literatures-languages-cultures/english-literature/undergraduate/current/honours |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Numbers are limited and students taking degrees not involving English or Scottish literature need the written approval of the head of English Literature. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Seminar: 2 hour(s) per week for 10 week(s). Plus 1 hour a week attendance at Autonomous Learning Group - times to be arranged |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr David Overend
Tel:
Email: david.overend@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Sheila Strathdee
Tel: (0131 6)50 3619
Email: S.Strathdee@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage