Hauptseminar Playing Games the Metatheatrical Impetus

Were all playing games, critics like Erving Goffman or Eric Berne would argue. Is that correct? On what occasions do we play? What do we play? Why do we play? When do we cease to play? And what are we doing instead of playing? Who do we become in games? The plays analysed in this context each deal with one or more of those facets of games and plays. This seminar is taught in two languages (English and German) with the kind support of Horst Busch and Michael Volk, dramaturges at the Kasseler Staatstheater. The seminar starts with a close look at the conditions of the theatre and the production of plays, proceeds with an analysis of the plays mentioned above and employs several critical approaches in order to negotiate their background in role theory, sociological experiment, and psychological insight. You can only participate if you a) are very motivated, b) have finished reading Osborne, Look Back in Anger before the start of the term and c) are willing to attend additional meetings at the Staastheater Kassel, sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes in the evening. Dieses Seminar wird zweisprachig unterrichtet, Englisch und Deutsch, und zwar mit der freundlichen Unterstützung von Horst Busch und Michael Volk, Dramaturgen des Kasseler Staatstheaters. Das Seminar beginnt mit einer genauen Untersuchung der Aufführungsbedingungen und Inszenierungen, es wird sich dann mit einer detaillierten Analyse der genannten Dramen befassen und unterschiedliche theoretische Zugänge verwenden, um ihrer Auseinandersetzung mit der Rollentheorie, mit soziologischen Experimenten und psychologischer Fundierung gerecht zu werden. Sie können nur dann an diesem Seminar teilnehmen, wenn Sie a) sehr motiviert sind, b) Osborne, Look Back in Anger zu Beginn des Semesters schon gelesen haben und c) bereit sind, an zusätzlichen Sitzungen des Seminars im Staatstheater teilzunehmen, manchmal nachmittags, manchmal abends. William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Nights Dream (if possible, choose the following edition:Stuttgart: Reclam zweisprachig 1980 - or the Arden edition) Peter Shaffer, Shrivings (if possible, choose the following edition: Peter Shaffer, Three Plays: Five Finger Exercise - Shrivings - Equus (Penguin Plays) 1976) Michael Frayn, Noises Off (if possible, choose the following edition: Anchor Books 2002) John Osborne, Look Back in Anger (if possible, choose the following edition: Faber Play 1978). Additionally: Erving Goffman, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Society Stanley Milgram, Obedience to Authority Eric Berne, Games People Play Philip Zimbardo, The Lucifer Effect Paul Watzlawick et al, The Pragmatics of Human Communication Hans Joas, Die gegenwärtige Lage der soziologischen Rollentheorie (A reader will be made available at the beginning of the term) VoraussetzungenYou can only participate if youve finished reading Look back in Anger. 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. Leistungsnachweis Regular and active participation during all meetings, oral report (depending on the number of participants), research paper (approx. 20 standard pages). FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik You can only participate if youve finished reading Look back in Anger. 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. Leistungsnachweis Regular and active participation during all meetings, oral report (depending on the number of participants), research paper (approx. 20 standard pages). Regular and active participation during all meetings, oral report (depending on the number of participants), research paper (approx. 20 standard pages). Uni Kassel SS 2009 Anglistik/Englisch English and American Studies Prof. Dr. Bach Susanne