Topics In Performance Studies:

JUST BE YOURSELF? ACTING, REALITY AND TECHNOLOGY

Department of Drama, New York University

H280650 001 Fall 2000

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:45 P.M.

Locations of classes TBA

Instructor: Theresa M. ("Terri") Senft

WHAT I REQUIRE FROM YOU, THE STUDENT

Attendance and participation in classroom discussions. I don't like students who sit and stare at me. It creeps me out. Your participation should indicate to me that you have done the assigned reading and that you've got questions and connections you want to bring to class discussion.

Reading assigned materials; scanning materials that are recommended. This is a class that looks at extremely cool (some would say "wacky") source materials by way of classical and contemporary theories of acting. For this reason, I require a considerable amount of close reading, and by that I mean careful analysis of both written materials and performances (the ones we'll watch on video, as well as observations from our daily life.) I will never assign you more than 20 pages of written material for a class, but you are expected to read it slowly and think on it deeply. On the one hand, this class will take a lot of sophisticated mental work on your part. On the other hand, where else are you going to watch MTV and Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire for credit?

A personal journal, in which you consider how topics we discuss in class are reflected in your daily life as a theatre practitioner, student and overall "normal person". Journals must be brought to each class, as we will do writing exercises from time to time. Ideally, your journal will help you brainstorm material for your final project. Journals work best as "compost piles" that you don't stress over. For this reason, I expect to see three pages of text per week in your journal, and I'll check periodically (though I won't read it if you tell me it's private.) Writing "I hate writing a journal" a million times is not acceptable, although detailing the ways in which writing a journal irritates you is just fine.

Participation in our student mailing list.

Two "directed essays", in which you answer specific questions I assign in conjunction with the readings. I'll hand out a new set of questions each week; you pick which questions interest you and write on those. Essays must be typed with proper grammar and spelling and internal footnotes as per MLA handbook style (we'll go over this in class.) You are expected to hand me essays 1 and 2 the times designated in the syllabus. Essays are 3 pages, each. Needless to say, we meet more than two times, so you won't have to write an essay every week.

At least one private appointment with Terri to discuss your writing in general and your large paper topic in particular. This is important! I can't help you if I don't know you. You might even find that you like me.

A mid-term paper on a topic approved by Terri. Midterm paper is 5-7 pages, and ideally is connected to your work as a theatre practitioner, your interests as a scholar, and/or your reflections as a writer. The paper must incorporate some of the material we've been reading, but to be honest, I'm more interested in YOUR thinking on the topic than say, Baudrillard's. Extra points for fresh, funny, brilliant, passionate or heart-rending perspectives on the topic.

A final paper. This should be an expansion/elaboration of your mid-term paper topic, and should reflect Terri's comments from your earlier draft. (Final paper is 10-12 pages).

IMPORTANT: I believe strongly in the power of re-writing. You may re-write any essay or paper and re-submit it to it to me with the understanding that a re-writing automatically entitles you to a half-point raise in the grade you've received. HOWEVER, you must negotiate with me when your re-write is due (i.e. it's not going to go over well if you want to submit three re-writes the last week of class.)

HOW GRADING WILL WORK:

Grading will be based 30% on attendance and participation; 30% on papers up to the final paper (i.e. your two directed essays, your journal and your midterm); and 30% on your final paper. As I said above, re-writing a paper entitles you to an automatic half-point grade increase. You should also know that the following things will lower your grade by a half-point, every time they occur in this class:

•unexcused absences

•indications that you haven't done your assigned reading

•writing that is handed in late

•failure to show up for scheduled appointment with Terri

Do I need to say that if you are caught plagiarizing you fail? I didn't think so.

WHERE TO GET MATERIALS FOR THIS CLASS:

There are three different places where readings are located: at the NYU bookstore (as one course packet and one text--Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed); in the library reserve reading section; and on the Web. Your weekly assignment sheets tell you where to procure your readings.

All videotapes will be screened in-class (obviously, we will only watch selected portions.) I will try to place longer tapes on reserve in the Avery Fisher Center at Bobst.

A good portion of class materials reside ONLY on the Web. If you are unfamiliar with the Internet, you NEED to speak with me about how we rectify this IMMEDIATELY.

IMPORTANT DATES: