A study of the major theories and critical approaches to theater, including formalism, structuralism, post-structuralism, semiotics, and reception theory, as well as an introduction to theater criticism and its application to theatrical works.
Greek Theater: The study of ancient Greek theater, its origins, and its contributions to the development of theater. This topic covers tragic and comedic plays, playwrights, and performance practices.
Shakespeare: The life and works of William Shakespeare, his impact on English theater, his techniques in playwriting, and his genre-defining contributions.
Types of Drama: The different types of theater including tragedy, comedy, farce, melodrama, and musical theater, and how these genres differ in form and structure.
Playwriting: The art of playwriting, the different elements of a play, and the techniques used to create engaging characters and storylines.
Acting: The study of acting techniques, the distinctions between different acting styles, and a history of acting practices.
Directing: The skill of directing theater productions, including stage management, casting, and blocking.
Production and Design: Techniques used in theater production and the design of sets, lighting, costumes, and props.
Feminism and Theater: The intersection of feminism and theater in terms of representation, gender roles, and the portrayal of women on stage.
The Avant-garde: The emergence and development of avant-garde theater, which emphasizes new and innovative forms and techniques of dramatic storytelling.
Critical Theory: The study of the critical approaches used in theater criticism, such as psychoanalytic, Marxist, and post-colonial theories.
Postmodern Theater: The examination of postmodernist theater, which rejects traditional narrative structures and relies on fragmentation and experimentation.
Theater as a Social and Political Tool: The role of theater in commenting on social and political issues and influencing public opinion.
World Theater Traditions: The study of non-Western theater traditions, including African, Asian, and South American theater.
Performance Art: An examination of performance art, which often blurs the boundaries between theater and other art forms and challenges traditional notions of performance.
Media in Theater: The evolution of technology and media within theater production, including the use of film, video, sound, and digital media.
Costume Anachronism: The use of costumes and makeup that are historically inaccurate, and the interpretation that the costumes have on a production.
Representation in Theater: The discussion of representation in theater, including the portrayal of issues such as race, gender, sexuality, and class.
Narrative Conventions in Theater: The study of different narrative conventions such as plotlines, character archetypes, and theatrical devices.
Theater Theory: A survey of theories that have influenced the development of theater practice and the interpretation of theater texts.
Theater and Religion: Examination of how religion has influenced theater productions throughout history.
Aristotelian Theory: Developed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle and focuses on the idea of tragedy.
Brechtian Theory: Tackles the idea of Verfremdungseffekt, a technique used by German playwright and director Bertolt Brecht to alienate the actor from the character.
Feminist Theory: Analyzes the representation of gender in theater and the way women have been traditionally portrayed in plays.
Marxist Theory: Examines the social and economic implications of theater, including class struggle and power relationships.
Poststructural Theory: Theorizes that meaning is not fixed but rather influenced by various social, historical, and political factors.
Psychoanalytic Theory: Applies principles of Freudian psychology to analysis of theater, exploring the motivations of characters and the audience's reaction to them.
Performance Theory: Focuses on the nature of theatrical performance and how it is perceived and understood by spectators.
Reception Theory: Explores how individual audience members understand and react to theater performances.
Semiotic Theory: Stresses the importance of understanding signs and symbols in the analysis of theater.
Derridean Theory: Suggests that plays are a form of deconstruction, where language is used to break down and subvert established meanings.