THEA 10.29 Text Analysis: Tools for Interpretation
A dramatic text is like a musical score. In order to understand a play, a theater artist must first learn to “read music.” This course will focus on the tools that allow an artist to understand the dramatic “score” and ultimately to translate the playwright’s words into action on stage. The playwright’s tools: Style, Setting, Mood, Theme, Environment, Character, Language, Action, Objective, Obstacles, will be defined and discussed. The reading list will include plays by Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, Katori Hall, William Shakespeare, Lynn Nottage, Caryl Churchill, and others. This course is relevant for all theater artists regardless of area of specialization.