Annotation:

The course is designed as a thematic survey of the development of contemporary drama written in English and the reflection of political oppression and later transformation in the concerned countries. It approaches the dramas from comparative perspectives anchored in the theories of Post-colonial and Minority Studies with regard to the particular authors and their works. The dramas have been written in the following (some partially) Anglophone countries and cultures: South Africa, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, and United States of America. The main authors dealt with in the course are the following, respectively: Athol Fugard, Wole Soyinka, Brian Friel and August Wilson. The course approaches their works in the context of the histories and cultural studies of the individual countries/cultures (individual plays will be dealt with from a synchronic point of view); this serves as a basis for studying how the authors dealt with the sociopolitical situation and its change in their countries (works by more than one author will be approach from a synchronic point of view, and two or more works by one or more authors from a diachronic point of view). It also focuses on the issues of the representations of racial, opinion and religious differences, their social consequences and the reflection of the social changes in the plays. It approaches theses issues from a comparative perspective, too.

Classes:

Active participation in discussion is required.
Please, bring your copies of the plays to class.

The syllabus:

The information in the syllabus for each class includes:

• the week's list of discussion topics
• the title of the play to study and analyze
• list of secondary (and recommended) readings

Work Load:

• 10 theatre plays (1 play per class)
• average of 30 pages of secondary material per class
  • chapters from history
  • chapters from theatre criticism/theory
• 3-5 hour preparation per week

Assessment:

Active participation (20%);
Position papers (5 of 1-2 pages, 30%);
Essay (7-9 pages, comparison of min. 2 plays; 50%);

Credit only (zápočet): Active participation and 3 position papers (on different authors).

(A maximum of 2 absences is allowed)