Module Details

Module Code: ARTS H8006
Full Title: The Politics of Drama
Valid From:: Semester 1 - 2020/21 ( September 2020 )
Language of Instruction: 
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits:: 5
Module Owner:: Fiona Fearon
Departments: Unknown
Module Description: The aim of this module is to analyse the complexity of theatre within the political context of the real world. From censorship to activism, dramatists and practitioners have used theatre as a tool for defining their moment or encouraging change. Contemporary theatre practice uses that legacy in education, community development and development in the third world.
 
Module Learning Outcome
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Module Learning Outcome Description
MLO1 Critically evaluate the main themes and practices of political drama
MLO2 Assess the role of drama in education, community and development
MLO3 Analyse performance practice in political drama
MLO4 Perform an in depth analysis of a number of key texts of political drama
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named DkIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
 
Module Indicative Content
Censorship
History of censorship; playwrights and theatre practice in Ireland and internationally that has resisted censorship
Patronage and the ethics of funding
Artistic creativity and economic imperative: censorship through funding and patronage; ethics of participation and access
Theatre in education
Dorothy Heathcote, Theatre as process, theatre in education practice
Race and Gender
Political activism and censorship of plays and playwrights because of race and gender
Community Drama/Applied Theatre
Community activism and participation; Boal and audience participation/interaction; Theatre in the developing world
Key texts - From year to year the scenes studied will change, but should hold the potential to be explored in a number of ways. Possible examples include:
Euripides – The Trojan Women;Shakespeare – Richard II, Richard III; Toller – From Morn to Midnight; O’Casey – The Plough and the Stars; Brecht – The Good Person of Sichuan, Mother Courage, The Caucasian Chalk Circle; Caryl Chruchill – Top Girls, Cloud Nine; Dario Fo - Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Module Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Course Work50.00%
Final Examination50.00%
Module Special Regulation
 

Assessments

Full-time

Course Work
Assessment Type Essay % of Total Mark 30
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing S1 Week 9 Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
n/a
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 20
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing Every Second Week Learning Outcome 1,2,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Working in groups, case studies of real world projects should be presented for class discussion.
No Project
No Practical
Final Examination
Assessment Type Formal Exam % of Total Mark 50
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing End-of-Semester Learning Outcome 1,2,3
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
End-of-Semester Final Examination
Reassessment Requirement
A repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.

DKIT reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full-time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description Every Week 2.00 2
Tutorial Contact No Description Every Week 1.00 1
Directed Reading Non Contact No Description Every Week 3.00 3
Independent Study Non Contact No Description Every Week 3.00 3
Total Weekly Learner Workload 9.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
This module has no Part-time workload.
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Goodman, Lizbeth and Jane de Gay. (2000), The Routledge Reader in Politics and Performance, Routledge, London and New York.
  • Kelleher, Joe. (2009), Theatre & Politics, Palgrave Macmillan, London.
  • Prentki, Tim. (2008), The Applied Theatre Reader, Routledge, London and New York.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Babbage, F. Augusto Boal: Routledge Performance Practitioners, Routledge, London and New York.
  • Birch, Anne and Joanne Tompkins. (2012), Performing Site-Specific Theatre: Politics, Place and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, London.
  • Boal, Augusto. (2008), Theatre of the Oppressed (Get Political), New Edition. Pluto Press.
  • Brecht, Bertolt, translated by John Willett. (1978), On Theatre, Methuen, London.
  • Freire, Paulo. (1996), Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 2nd Revised Edition. Penguin, London.
  • Heathcote, Dorothy and Gavin Bolton. (1996), Drama for Learning: Dorothy Heathcote’s Mantle of the Expert Approach to Education, Heinemann.
  • Kershaw, Baz. (1992), The Politics of Performance: Radical Theatre as Cultural Intervention, Routledge, London and New York.
  • Nicholson, Helen. Applied Drama (Theatre and Performance Practices), Palgrave Macmillan, London.
  • Prenki, Tim. (2015), Applied Theatre: Development, Bloomsbury Methuen, London.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources