1 INGLÉS 4056 SPECIAL TOPICS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE COMEDY ON STAGE -- FALL 2011 Dr. Christopher Olsen Code: Inglés 4056; Credit Hours 3 Instructor: Dr. Christopher Olsen, E-MAIL: c_olsen@onelinkpr.net, phone during office hours 764-0000 (x-7569) or leave message with English Dept. (x-2553). Classes: Mondays+Wednesdays: 8:30-9:50a.m.; Office Hours = Monday+Wednesday; 11:30am-1p.m. Prerequisites: None Nature of Course: This class is designed to explore many facets of American comedy, including comic genres in theatre, theories of humor, and plays associated with comic traditions. Students will be required to read a range of comic plays, analyze theories of humor, and focus on how comedy is developed on stage. They will also have an opportunity to evaluate live comic performances and try their hand at staging comic scenes. The course will focus a considerable time on reading and discussing a variety of comic plays. By the end of the course, it is expected that students will have a strong understanding of different genres of comedy/humor and be able to not only identify some of them but present a project on a particular American tradition. Readings from the following: The Odd Couple by Neil Simon, The Gypsy Woman by Don Nigro, Wake up and Smell the Coffee by Eric Bogosian, All in the Timing by David Ives; Mineola Twins by Paula Vogel, Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang, Once in a Lifetime by George Kaufman, Luv by Murray Schisgal, The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler, and Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe plus examples from Commedia dell arte, contemporary stand-up comedy, American satire, musical comedy, physical humor, and performance art. Play-going Script Project: In-Class Present: Exams: Students will be required at attend a live comedy of their choice either at the Drama Dept. here at UPR or at an outside production. Exercise involving performing a scene from a comic script. Make a 15-minute presentation on a comic playwright or comedian (from a comic tradition) when the class is reading him/her. A short essay and outline of his/her work should be handed in to the professor. Students may use visual aids such as film clips, photos, material from the Web and textual examples. They may even perform a scene or skit reflecting the brand of comedy (i.e., tell several jokes based on the genre you have researched). Two in-class exams.
2 Class Participation: This class is a discussion and participation class. You are expected to contribute in the discussion and participate in performance exercises. You will be receiving an attendance/participation grade. Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. You will be excused for up to two (2) classes without penalty. Any further absences will adversely affect your grade. Grading: The course is based on 500 points. The breakdown is as follows: Midterm Exam = 100 pts.; Final Exam = 100 pts.; Quizzes = 40 pts.; Performance Presentation = 75 pts.; Play Critique = 50 pts.; Research Project = 50 pts.; Class Attendance/ Participation = 75pts. 10 pts. = Miscellaneous. Grade scale: 448-500 = A; 395-447 = B; 347-394 = C; 300-346 = D; 0-299 = F. Some topics that will be studied: Theory of Humor-Plato s Derision Theory, Aristotle s concept of the comic mask; The Ridiculous, Disappointment / Frustrated Expectations Theory; Menander 343-291 b.c., Aesop 620-560 b.c., Burlesque, Insults; Irony, Lampooning, Mimicry, Parody; Sarcasm, Satire; Slapstick, Stereotype/Stock Type/Old Comedy - Combination of Fantastic Elements with Raucous Political Satire; Physical Comedy; Comedy of Manners; Situation comedy; Domestic Comedy, Commedia dell arte Class Schedule Class Dates Assignments Week Aug. 15-21 Introduction to Humor Readings Week Aug 22-28 Definitions of Comedy; Discussion of Read On Laughter Greek/Roman Comedy Week Aug. 29-Sept. 4 Commedia de ll arte Read Gypsy Woman Week Sept. 5-11 Finish Commedia dell arte Week Sept. 12-18 Intro to American Humor Read Once in a Readings in Satire Lifetime Week Sept. 19-25 Finish Once in a Lifetime Week Sept. 26-October 2 Odd Couple-Situation Comedy Read Odd Couple Week Oct. 3-9 Luv-Comedy of Character Read Luv
3 Week Oct.10-16 Physical Comedy and Midterm Week Oct. 17-23 Colored Museum Read Colored Satire Museum Week Oct. 24-30 Comedy of Identity - 1 Read Beyond Therapy l Week Oct. 31-Nov. 6 Comedy of Identity - 2 Real Mineola Twins Week Nov. 7-13 Standup-Monologues-Ranting Read Wake up and Scene Groups to Form Smell the Coffee Week Nov. 14-20 Comedy of Words Read Sure Thing Week Nov. 21-27 Social Comedy Read Vagina Play Reviews Due/ Thanksgiving Break!!! Monologues Week Nov. 28-Dec. 4 Week Dec. 5-11 Catch-up and Return to Standup Final Scenes and Final Exam Bibliography Comedy Bergson, Henri. "Laughter," and Meridith, George A Essay on Comedy, in Comedy, intro. by Wylie Sypher. New York: Doubleday, 1956. Bruce, Lenny. How to Talk Dirty and Influence People: An Autobiography of Lenny Bruce. New York: Fireside, 1992. Bermal Alan. A History from Aristophanes to Woody Allen. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1982.. Comic Agony: Mixed Impressions in the Modern Theatre. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 1993. Carlin, George. Brain Droppings. New York: Hyperion, 1997. Cornford, Francis M. Origins of Attic Comedy. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan Press, 1993. Critchley, Simon. On Humour: Thinking in Action. London: Routledge, 2002. Duchartre, Pierre Louis. The Italian Comedy. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.:
4 1966. Goldsmith, Oliver. An Essay on the Theatre; or, a Comparison between Laughing and Sentimental Comedy. (1772) Gordon, Mel. Lazzi: The Comic Routines of the Commedia Dell arte. New York: Performing Arts Journal Publications, 1983. Henderson, Mary C. Theatre in America : 250 years of plays, players, and productions. Updated edition. New York: Abrams, 1996. Hischak, Thomas S. American Theatre: a chronicle of comedy and drama, 1969-2000. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2001. Krichtafovitch, Igor. Humor Theory: Formula for Laughter. Denver: Outskirts Press, Inc., 2006. Limon, John. Stand-up Comedy in Theory, or, Abjection in America. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2002. Raskin, Victor. The Semantic Mechanisms of Humor. Boston: D. Reidel Publishing Co., 1985. Rourke, Constance. American Humor: A Study of the National Character. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 1931. Stott, Andrew. Comedy. New York: Routledge, 2005. Some Good Research Websites: http://lts.brandeis.edu/research/help/guides/theaterhistory.html#bibliographies_theater_us http://www.theatredatabase.com/18th_century/ http://www.smith.edu/libraries/research/class/the199_sp08.htm
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