Overview
In this unit you will study the history of music theatre from the late nineteenth century to the present day. You will analyse important primary source materials as you study the various changes that occurred in music theatre style, form and performance practice. You will also contextualise these developments within the important technological, social and political movements of this period.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Anti-Requisite for Term 1 2017 only: THTR12123 Theatre Studies 1
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
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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.
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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 Student evaluations
Assessment feedback
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- Critically evaluate the principal stylistic characteristics of music theatre forms and performance practice from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Analyse and evaluate the effect of important technological, social and political movements on the development of music theatre forms and performance practice from the late nineteenth century to the present day
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| 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 - First Nations Knowledges | ||
| 11 - 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 | 11 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
Musical Theater: An Appreciation
- Edition: 2nd (2018)
- Authors: Alyson McLamore
- Routledge
- New York New York , New York , USA
- ISBN: 978-1-138-67868-2
- Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Paper copies can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
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.
j.brown@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2019Module/Topic
Topic 1: Operetta in the 19th Century
Chapter
McLamore, A. (2017). Musical theater: An appreciation. 2nd Edition. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ
Read chapters 5 - 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2019Module/Topic
Topic 2: Early 20th century music theatre
Chapter
McLamore, A. (2017). Musical theater: An appreciation. 2nd Edition. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ
Read chapters 11 - 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2019Module/Topic
Topic 3: Early book musicals
Chapter
McLamore, A. (2017). Musical theater: An appreciation. 2nd Edition. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ
Read chapters 16 - 21
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Topic 4: Book musicals of the early 1940s
Chapter
McLamore, A. (2017). Musical theater: An appreciation. 2nd Edition. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ
Read chapters 22 - 24
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Review week
Chapter
Assignment preparation
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Topic 5: New partnerships
Chapter
McLamore, A. (2017). Musical theater: An appreciation. 2nd Edition. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ
Read chapters 25 - 28
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Topic 6: Music theatre of the 1940s and 1950s
Chapter
McLamore, A. (2017). Musical theater: An appreciation. 2nd Edition. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ
Read chapters 29 - 31
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 06 May 2019Module/Topic
Topic 7: Music theatre of the 1960s and 1970s
Chapter
McLamore, A. (2017). Musical theater: An appreciation. 2nd Edition. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ
Read chapters 32 - 38
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 13 May 2019Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
Assignment preparation
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 20 May 2019Module/Topic
Topic 8: The late 20th century and beyond
Chapter
McLamore, A. (2017). Musical theater: An appreciation. 2nd Edition. Pearson: Upper Saddle River, NJ
Read chapters 39 - 45
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 27 May 2019Module/Topic
Topic 9: Australian music theatre
Chapter
See powerpoint slides on Moodle for this topic.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2019Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
Assignment preparation
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Jun 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 17 Jun 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Topic: Operetta and its links to the book musical
Task: Compare and contrast one operetta from the 19th century/early 20th century by Gilbert and Sullivan, Franz Lehar or Johann Strauss Jnr with any book musical written in the 1940s or 1950s. The assignment must be based on the stage version of these musicals. As part of this analysis of these two pieces of music theatre consider the following characteristics and their differences and similarities:
- the plot and structure of the works
- the types of characters and their relationships
- the styles of music sung by each of the main characters
- role of the chorus
- use of dance
Length: 1500 - 2000 words
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.
Assignment presentation:
- Use 12 point Times New Roman font
- 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
- You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
- You should refer to Youtube clips to demonstrate aspects of your discussion
- You should include excerpts from the score and script to demonstrate aspects of your discussion
- Include in-text references
- Include a comprehensive reference list in APA style 6th Edition
- All excerpts from URLs for film excerpts, music scores, diagrams and pictures should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the Reference List.
Week 5 Friday (12 Apr 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 6 Friday (26 Apr 2019)
- Appropriate introduction and conclusion (10%)
- Detailed comparison of the plot and structure of the works (10%)
- Detailed comparison of the characters and their relationships (15%)
- Detailed comparison of the music sung by each of the main characters (15%)
- Detailed comparison of the role of the chorus in the two works (15%)
- Detailed comparison of the use of dance in the two works (15%)
- Accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar; clarity of writing style (10%)
- Correct use of academic referencing for in-text references and reference list (10%)
- Critically evaluate the principal stylistic characteristics of music theatre forms and performance practice from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Analyse and evaluate the effect of important technological, social and political movements on the development of music theatre forms and performance practice from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Written Assessment
Topic: Juke-box and biographical musicals
Task: Juke-box musicals and biographical musicals have become a phenomena in music theatre since the late 20th century, incorporating many styles of popular songs that were not originally written for the musical. Choose 4 different juke-box or biographical musicals (including at least one written/produced by an Australian) and discuss:
- How the songs within each musical have changed (if at all) from their original context of a popular song to becoming songs within a musical (think about possible changes to the musical style, lyrics, arrangement)
- How the songs have been used in the musical (do the songs develop character and plot, are they used as spectacle, or a combination of both).
To support your discussion, include URLs of Youtube performances of these songs in their original pop song context and also within the juke-box or biographical musical, as well as excerpts from lyrics as appropriate.
Length: 1500 - 2000 words
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.
- Use 12 point Times New Roman font
- 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
- You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
- Include in-text references
- Include a comprehensive reference list in APA 6th Edition style including the Youtube clips and excerpts from the lyrics.
Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (31 May 2019)
- Appropriate introduction and conclusion (5%)
- Musical 1: Accuracy of information and depth of discussion (20%)
- Musical 2: Accuracy of information and depth of discussion (20%)
- Musical 3: Accuracy of information and depth of discussion (20%)
- Musical 4: Accuracy of information and depth of discussion (20%)
- Accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar; clarity of writing (7.5%)
- Correct use of academic referencing for in-text references and reference list (7.5%)
- Critically evaluate the principal stylistic characteristics of music theatre forms and performance practice from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Analyse and evaluate the effect of important technological, social and political movements on the development of music theatre forms and performance practice from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
3 Written Assessment
Topic: Music theatre innovators and their new ideas
Task: Discuss the contribution made by various writers and designers who have been at the forefront of new and innovative music theatre in the latter half of the 20th century and early 21st century. You should include specific references to at least 5 different writers and designers, and their musicals, that have changed the format of music theatre from the integrated musical of the 1950s to something completely different. Please refer only to stage versions of musicals, not film versions. Do not include juke-box musicals or biographical musicals in your discussion. Innovations that you could discuss include:
- Innovations in the style/organisation of the plot
- Innovations to staging, lighting, costume, design (not to include the film version of musicals)
- Innovations in music style and instrumentation
You will not have to discuss all of these elements of innovation, only those particularly relevant to the particular musical under discussion. Please note that not all modern musicals are innovative when compared to the book musical style of the 1950s and 1960s.
Length: 2000 - 2500 words
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.
Assignment presentation:
- Use 12 point Times New Roman font
- 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
- You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
- You should refer to Youtube clips to demonstrate aspects of your discussion
- You should include excerpts from the score and script to demonstrate aspects of your discussion
- Include in-text references
- Include a comprehensive reference list in APA style, 6th Edition
- All excerpts from URLs for film excerpts, music scores, diagrams and pictures should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the Reference List.
Review/Exam Week Monday (10 June 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (21 June 2019)
- Appropriate introduction and conclusion (10%)
- Musical 1: Depth of treatment & support of argument (15%)
- Musical 2: Depth of treatment & support of argument (15%)
- Musical 3: Depth of treatment & support of argument (15%)
- Musical 4: Depth of treatment & support of argument (15%)
- Musical 5: Depth of treatment & support of argument (15%)
- Accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar; clarity of presentation (7.5%)
- Correct use of academic referencing for in-text references and reference list (7.5%)
- Critically evaluate the principal stylistic characteristics of music theatre forms and performance practice from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Analyse and evaluate the effect of important technological, social and political movements on the development of music theatre forms and performance practice from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
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