Hauptseminar British Theatre in the 19th and 20th Century

British Theatre has come a long way. In the 19th century, plays often attempted the depiction of an idealized world in which problems (if at all) could only be presented in a fairy world or an exotic setting. Often, plays would be bowdlerized and then advertised as 'family entertainment'. With playwrights like G.B. Shaw, the stage experienced a change, but it would take the turning point of Osborne's Look Back in Anger (1956) that British theatre was able - and willing - to face social and historical reality. Nowadays, the British stage - not only with in yer face productions - has won international acclaim. In this seminar, we are going to focus briefly on the historical development and discuss some representative plays in detail. A short excursion to London is planned (Thursday to Sunday, in all likelihood June 3rd to June 6th, 2010). In Britain's capital, we will attend theatre productions of the plays dealt with in this seminar (plus a modern production of Shakespeare's Macbeth) and discuss them (plus trips to the Globe, the National Theatre and their exhibition -West End Theatre in the 19th Century-, the 'Theatre and Performance Collection' of the Victoria and Albert Museum, cf. http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/theatre_performance/index.html etc. etc.). Warning: This is not a shopping trip to London. You'll see at least 5 plays in 4 days and you'll also spend time on the National Theatre's / Globe's backstages, in different exhibitions, and in discussions with theatre/drama representatives. You'll have very little time for trips to the tourist sights of London. Further details concerning the excursion will be discussed during the first meeting, it is therefore mandatory that you turn up if you want to participate. This seminar - and the excursion - is limited to 30 participants. Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan (1892) G.B. Shaw, Mrs Warren's Profession (1893) John Osborne, Look Back in Anger (1956) Terrence Rattigan, After the Dance (1939) Tom Stoppard, The Real Thing (1982) Background reading: Michael R. Booth, Theatre in the Victorian Age (Cambridge 1991). Heinz Kosok, Drama und Theater im England des 20. Jahrhunderts (Düsseldorf 1980) Gottfried Krieger, Das englische Drama des 20. Jahrhunderts (Stuttgart 1998) Noel Perrin, Dr Bowdler's Legacy (Boston 1992) Michelene Wandor, Look Back in Gender. Sexuality and the Family in Post-War British Drama (London, New York 1987). Voraussetzungen You can only participate if you've finished reading Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan and G.B. Shaw, Mrs Warren's Profession. Should there be too many students, there will be a test to check on this. It is also mandatory that you turn up for the first meeting, no exceptions . Regular and active participation. UND s. Modulhandbuch bzw. Prüfungsordnung Leistungsnachweis Regular and active participation during all meetings, oral report (depending on the number of participants), research paper (approx. 20 standard pages). UND s. Modulhandbuch bzw. Prüfungsordnung FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik You can only participate if you've finished reading Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan and G.B. Shaw, Mrs Warren's Profession. Should there be too many students, there will be a test to check on this. It is also mandatory that you turn up for the first meeting, no exceptions . Regular and active participation. UND s. Modulhandbuch bzw. Prüfungsordnung Regular and active participation during all meetings, oral report (depending on the number of participants), research paper (approx. 20 standard pages). UND s. Modulhandbuch bzw. Prüfungsordnung Uni Kassel SoSe 2010 Anglistik/Englisch English and American Culture and Business Studies Prof. Dr. Bach Susanne