ENG 342 - Premodern Theatre in the Modern World
1.00
How can works written centuries or even millennia ago speak to the challenges we face today? If these works do speak to us, is it their voices we are hearing or our own? What happens when an actor or playwright, especially one from a minoritized group, turns to the canon for inspiration? This class will consider the ways that modern theatre professionals reimagine “classic” premodern plays for contemporary audiences, with special attention given to the ethics of adaptation. Some of the questions we will consider include: When reimagining a work, what responsibility does one have to the creators of that work, and how far does that responsibility extend? How is this responsibility balanced with responsibility to the audience one is currently playing to? Should works with problematic content be updated to make them appropriate for contemporary audiences, or is that whitewashing the past? Does continuing to perform classic works merely perpetuate existing power structures, or can inventive productions play a role in destabilizing and critiquing them? In a nutshell, is it responsible to keep performing these highly canonical plays or would we be better off leaving them behind? And if one is going to perform them, how can one do so responsibly?
* Please note: If ENG 342 fills, students should register for THEA 351 instead; then, at the start of the semester, we can switch the course prefix back to ENG 342 if they prefer.
Also listed as THEA 351 . Gen Ed Competency: Act Responsibly. Honors Option.
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