Introducing Theatre (272-0-20)
Topic
Tragic Consciousness Mod. French Drama
Instructors
Matthieu Dupas
847/491-2772
1860 S. Campus Drive, Crowe Hall #2-139
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 3-410: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
It has been argued that the sense of the tragic disappeared in the modern era, and yet many plays continued to stage characters facing their destiny and questioning its meaning. Reading Racine, Musset, Camus, Beckett, Koltès, and Lagarce will be an opportunity for students to reflect on the persistence and the transformations of tragedy in modern French theater.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, students should be able to identify the theatrical forms (comedy, tragedy, lyrical tragedy, drama…) and cultural genres (Neo-classicism, Romanticism, Absurdism…) that have shaped the history of French theater in the modern era. Through the practices of close-reading and cultural analysis, they will reflect on the constant dialogue between literature and society and assess the social, political, cultural, and historical factors that have framed the (re)writing of the tragedy from early to late modernity.
Class Materials (Required)
• Racine: Phèdre
• Musset: Lorenzaccio
• Camus, Caligula
• Lagarce, Juste la fin du monde
For those plays, you are welcome to procure your own edition as long as this ediction has line numbers. For these two additional authors, please try to pick the right editor:
• Beckett: En attendant Godot (Paris : Editions de Minuit, 1952)
• Koltès: Roberto Zucco (Paris : Editions de Minuit, 2011)
Other readings are available in PDF format on the course's Canvas site.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisite: Students must have completed FRENCH 210-0 or FRENCH 211-0. Other students may register with instructor permission.