Introducing Theatre (272-0-20)
Topic
Poetics of the Tragic in Modern French Drama
Instructors
Matthieu Dupas
847/491-2772
1860 S. Campus Drive, Crowe Hall #2-139
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-329: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM
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, and Koltès will be an opportunity for students to reflect on the persistence and the transformations of tragedy in modern French theater. Identifying the theatrical forms (comedy, tragedy, lyrical tragedy, drama…) and cultural genres (Classicism, Romanticism, Absurdism…) that have shaped the history of French theater will enable us to highlight the constant dialogue between literature and society and to assess the social, political, cultural, and historical factors that have framed the (re)writing of tragedy from early to late modernity.
Class Materials (Required)
• Racine: Phèdre (Paris: Gallimard, coll. Folio Classique, [1950] 2000)
• Musset: Lorenzaccio (Paris: Gallimard, coll. Folio Théâtre, 2008)
• Beckett: En attendant Godot (Paris : Editions de Minuit, 1952)
• Genet : Les Bonnes (Paris : Gallimard, coll. Folio, 1978)
• 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.