Audio Drama (315-0-20)

Instructors

Neil Kanwar Harish Verma

Meeting Info

Louis Hall 105: Mon, Wed 1:00PM - 2:20PM

Overview of class

This course will introduce students to a poorly understood art form that has been reborn many times, including today, in the light of pandemic restrictions on theatrical production: audio drama. In the 20th century, radio plays were among the most popular forms of fiction in many parts of the world. Legends have come down about thrillers of the 1930s, but these remain framed inside narratives of nostalgia, and are not representative of the broad work of experimental writers in the medium. In this class, you will learn how radio dramas were made in three historical periods: classic American (1937-54); mid-century British (1954-1974) and contemporary podcast traditions, with additional focus on audio dramas in the global south, including Cuba, South Africa and India. We will explore the cultural and political background of each of these contexts, practice how to "read" a radio play, and ask about how the form interacts with various media, and expressive agendas. In 2023, this class will work will experiment with a new collaboration, working with studends from Linda Gates's class on voice acting, and we will collaborate on a small production.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this class students will have a deep sense of the craft of radio storytelling, as well as an awareness of the growth, death and rebirth of a major media form in specific historical and political contexts. They will also blend analytical writing with creative expression, becoming more active and critical listeners and creators.

Class Materials (Required)

Neil Verma, Theater of the Mind, 978-0226853512 *Available for $10 rental on the Uchicago Press website. *All other materials available on Canvas