Overview
In this unit, you will gain a knowledge of the history of Western theatre from the ancient Athenian period to the present day. You will also study performance practices of Western theatre and how they relate to broader political, social and cultural contexts.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Lecturers and students
This is a very large unit of work, compensating for the lack of a history component in both the Acting and Dance courses. Students have enjoyed the history, and also the body alignment and architecture.
Review the content of this unit.
- Discuss the development and structure of various Western theatre styles from the ancient Athenian period to the present day
- Relate the performance practices of various Western theatre styles in to their broader political, social, and cultural contexts
- Articulate attributes of performance practice relating to various Western theatre styles.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 3 - In-class Test(s) - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 3 - In-class Test(s) - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
Students do not need to purchase textbooks for this unit. Recommended readings will be provided as online course resources via the Moodle page for the unit.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
r.doran@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
This week will include an introduction to the unit as a broad sweep of the historical periods of theatre. The lecture will also raise questions around the historical relationship between theatre and philosophy.
Chapter
Readings for Week 2:
Myth of the Blackfoot Tribe Campbell, J. (1991). The Power of Myth. New York. Anchor Books.
Allegory of the Cave Plato (n.d.)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week's lecture will focus on the origins and conventions established in ancient Athenian theatre and the influence these conventions have maintained on theatre throughout history.
Chapter
Readings for Week 3:
The Story of Everyman (circa 1509) Magill, F. (1989). Masterpieces of World Literature. New York, U.S.A. Harper Collins.
Commedia dell'arte Rudlin, J. (n.d.). Digital Theatre Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance.
The Theatrical World of Shakespeare Poole, A. (2015). Romeo and Juliet, Penguin, New York.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week's lecture will discuss the evolution of Medieval and Renaissance Theatre, including Elizabethan theatre and Commedia dell'arte.
Chapter
Readings for Week 4:
Post 1660's Theatre as Performance Spaces Langhans, E. A. (2001). The Post‐1660 Theatres as Performance Spaces. A Companion to Restoration Drama, 1-18.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week's lecture will focus on the advent of Restoration theatre in England following the Interregnum of 17th century.
Chapter
Readings for Week 5:
19th Century Naturalism and Realism Brown, J. (2017). Theatre Studies 5. CQUniversity
Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House Tornqvist, E. (2015). The Serious Game: Ingmar Bergman as Stage Director. Amsterdam University Press.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week's lecture will focus on the development of European theatre of Naturalism and Realism in the late 19th century.
Chapter
There are no readings set for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No classes scheduled.
Chapter
There are no readings set for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
No events or submissions due.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Readings for Week 7:
Theatre in Sydney to 1809. Convict Theatres of Early Australia Jordan, R (2002), Currency Press, Sydney.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1: Classical Theatre Assignment (20%)
Classical Theatre Assignment Due: Week 6 Friday (26 Apr 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Module/Topic
This week's lecture will review and discuss the evolution of theatre in Australia from 18th century colonisation to 20th century practices.
Chapter
Readings for Week 8:
The American Lab Theatre Willis, R. A. (1964). The American Lab Theatre. The Tulane Drama Review, 9(1), 112-116.
Afterword Adler, S. (2000). The Art of Acting, Applause Books, New York.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week's lecture will examine the development of 20th century theatre in the USA, its adoption of European realism, and its influence on modern theatre and the film.
Chapter
Readings for Week Nine:
A Short Organum for the Theatre Brecht, B (1948).
The Street Scene: a basic model for an epic theatre Brecht, B. (n.d).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week's lecture will focus on the practices and philosophy of Bertolt Brecht, the conventions established in his approach to Epic Theatre, and their continued influence on theatre production today.
Chapter
Reading for Week Ten:
The Theatre of the Absurd Esslin, M (1960). The Theatre of the Absurd, The Tulane Review, MIT Press.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week's lecture focuses on the post World War II European movement known as Absurdism, its origins, and an introduction to prominent Absurdist playwrights.
Chapter
Readings for Week Eleven:
Towards a Poor Theatre Grotowski, J. (1965). Towards a Poor Theatre, Odra, Wroclaw.
Antonin Artaud and the Impossible Theatre: the Legacy of the Theatre of Cruelty Finter, H., & Griffin, M. (1997). Antonin Artaud and the impossible theatre: the legacy of the theatre of cruelty. TDR (1988-), 41(4), 15-40.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This week's lecture focuses on 20th century styles grouped under the title of Alt theatre. These include: Theatre of Cruelty, Poor Theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed, Forum Theatre and Post Modern Theatre.
Chapter
There are no readings set for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks lecture will be used to recap and discuss the periods of contemporary (post 1900) theatre examined in preparation for Assessment 2.
Chapter
There are no readings set for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
There are no readings set for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2: 20th Century Theatre Essay
20th Century Theatre Essay Due: Review/Exam Week Wednesday (12 June 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Module/Topic
In Class Exam
Chapter
There are no readings set for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3: In Class Exam (40%)
In Class Exam Due: Exam Week Monday (17 June 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Throughout the duration of this unit, students can contact Unit Coordinator Rob Doran at r.doran@cqu.edu.au for any questions or advice they require.
1 Written Assessment
You have studied a range of classical forms of Western theatre including the eras of ancient Athenian, Renaissance, Restoration and 19th century Realism. You are to choose one of these eras and write a 1500 word report demonstrating your own research and knowledge of the chosen period. You should include information such as prominent playwrights, examples of notable plays, images and explanation of theatrical architecture, and discussion on theatrical conventions and socio-cultural conditions of the era. As well as written discussion, you might also include images, tables, bullet point information and other forms of information on the era of theatre you choose.
Please do not use links to internet resources within the body of the assignment. Rather, reference them as in text citations and include them in your Reference List. In text links will not be viewed.
Your essay should have a cover sheet with your student name, student number, course code and title, assessment title and date of submission. The body of the essay should be written in size 12 font with 1.5 line spacing and paragraph alignment. The essay should include at least ten in text citations of research references. A Reference List should be on a separate page following the conclusion of the essay. All citations and referencing should follow APA formatting guidelines. The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations. The essay should fall within 10% +/- of the word count.
Week 6 Friday (26 Apr 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Essays are to be uploaded to the Moodle site for this unit as PDF or Word documents.
Week 8 Friday (10 May 2019)
Grades and feedback will be made available to the student through the Moodle site for this unit.
- The selected historical era is clearly identified and discussed with regard to theatrical conventions and socio-cultural conditions of the time. (30% of grade.)
- Examples of prominent playwrights, texts and architectural design of theatres of the time are explained. (30% of grade.)
- The assignment falls within a 10% range of the required word limit, is free of typographical and grammatical error, and shows the student's own voice as evidence of their own research. (20% of grade.)
- Correct use of APA Style, 6th Edition referencing, both in-text and in within the bibliography / reference list at the end of the paper. (20% of grade.)
- Discuss the development and structure of various Western theatre styles from the ancient Athenian period to the present day
- Relate the performance practices of various Western theatre styles in to their broader political, social, and cultural contexts
- Articulate attributes of performance practice relating to various Western theatre styles.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Written Assessment
You have studied a range of 20th century forms of theatre. You are to choose two of these eras and write a 2500 word comparative essay of the two. You should consider comparisons such as style, form, architecture, theatrical conventions and socio-cultural conditions of each era.
Your essay should have a cover sheet with your student name, student number, course code and title, assessment title, and date of submission. The body of the essay should be written in size 12 font with 1.5 line spacing and paragraph alignment. The essay should include at least ten in text citations of research references, including at least five primary resources to support your argument, such as play texts or manifestos by key artists or persons of influence in each era . A Reference List should be on a separate page following the conclusion of the essay. All citations and referencing should follow APA formatting guidelines. The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations. The essay should fall with 10% +/- of the word count.
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (12 June 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Essays to be uploaded to Moodle site for this unit.
Exam Week Friday (21 June 2019)
Grades and feedback will be released to students via the Moodle page for this unit.
- Two historical eras are clearly identified and discussed with regard to relevant styles, conventions and social political aspects of the time. (30% of grade.)
- Comparisons are made between the two selected eras including similarities, continuities and / or contrasts. (30% of grade.)
- The essay falls within a 10% range of the required word limit, is free of typographical and grammatical error, and shows the students own voice as evidence of their own research. (20% of grade.)
- Correct use of APA Style, 6th Edition referencing, both in-text and in within the bibliography / reference list at the end of the paper. (20% of grade.)
- Discuss the development and structure of various Western theatre styles from the ancient Athenian period to the present day
- Relate the performance practices of various Western theatre styles in to their broader political, social, and cultural contexts
- Articulate attributes of performance practice relating to various Western theatre styles.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
3 In-class Test(s)
You will sit a two hour in class exam. The exam will be a mix of short answer questions and reflective analysis questions. The exam will focus on a selection of the historical eras of theatre covered through this unit and all exam questions will be directly related to knowledge covered within the unit. Short answer question design will include questions focused on knowledge, comprehension and application of understanding. Reflective analysis questions will be in short essay answer form, requiring you to analyse and synthesise given information and propose an evaluation or opinion.
Exam Week Monday (17 June 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Exam to be completed between 1pm and 3pm in scheduled lecture room.
Students results will be uploaded to Moodle gradebook when marked.
- Knowledge and understanding of the theatre eras addressed in the questions.
- Ability to discuss the development and structure of given theatre eras.
- Understanding of political, social and cultural contexts of the given theatre eras.
- Ability to identify and discuss performance practice attributes of the given theatre eras.
- Discuss the development and structure of various Western theatre styles from the ancient Athenian period to the present day
- Relate the performance practices of various Western theatre styles in to their broader political, social, and cultural contexts
- Articulate attributes of performance practice relating to various Western theatre styles.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
