Course coordinator
Dr Emma Cole
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
Compulsory Third Year Course (Capstone). This course examines theatre's engagement with themes of violence and conflict, and theatre's subsequent potential to affect its audiences viscerally. Moving backwards and forwards across theatre history, we trace our way though some of the most intriguing plays in the canon, touching on Greek theatre, Renaissance theatre, the nineteenth-century gothic, sensational melodramas, and contemporary iterations of murder, mayhem, and madness on stage, making the connections between certain tropes and approaches that have reoccurred or changed over time. Students will read accompanying critical theory and will have the opportunity to develop their own individual research projects. This course aims to deepen students' understanding of theatre history and historiography, while consolidating their research skills.
This course critically interrogates theatre history and historiography, by asking what is recorded and why.ﾠWeﾠoffer three short modules taught in seminar style, and the remainder of the course will consist of independent research toward the conference paper presentation andﾠmajor essay. The modules are themed aroundﾠ'Rewriting Greek Classics', 'Gothic Theatre', and 'Immersion and Interactivity'. Each of these units will include multiple texts covering different time periods that range from antiquity to the present. The idea is that we provide you with a themed reappraisal of the entire span of Western theatre history, summarising materials covered so far in your drama degree, while also preparing you for the world of Honours and postgraduate research.
There will be substantial critical reading to accompany the texts.
Course requirements
Assumed background
As this is a final year capstone course, it is assumed that students are in the third and/or final year of their Drama Major.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Students should be in their final year of study and have completed DRAM1010 + DRAM2030
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Emma Cole
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Refer to 4.1 Learning Activities for a week by week course breakdown.
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims toﾠprovide students with a themed history of Western theatre from the Greeks to the present. Specifically, we will be reading various theatre styles and histories in order to:
- stitch together the comprehensive exposure to theatre history that students have received to date in their Drama Major;
- exploreﾠsome of the ways inﾠwhich theatre has affected its audiences viscerally through the depiction of violence and conflict;
- to link these themes of violence and conflict to their broader socio-political and historical contexts; and
- to impress upon students the idea that theatre's capacity to 'shock and awe' is not just a contemporary concern – itﾠhas been part of Western theatre since its inception.
As a capstone course, it will expect students to display advanced skills in discussing critical and theoretical issues that surround this important theme, and the main research assignment will develop skills in conducting independent research projects.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of a range of key texts and theories that illustrate important debates and issues in the history of Western theatre
LO2.
Be able to evaluate complex ideas and themes, and deploy such knowledge in discussions and debates in order to persuade and inform others
LO3.
Consider how the 'here and now' of contemporary Australian theatre is informed by the complex traditions of the Western theatrical canon
LO4.
Conceptualise and conduct an independent research project that requires skills in library research, performance analysis, critical thinking, scholarly writing, and time management
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection | Tutorial Activity | 30% 200 words/week plus in-class engagement |
29/07/2024 - 9/09/2024
Submitted weekly via Blackboard. |
| Presentation | Conference Paper Presentation | 30% 10 minute presentation |
30/09/2024 |
| Essay/ Critique | Research Essay | 40% 2500 words |
25/10/2024 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Tutorial Activity
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection
- Weight
- 30% 200 words/week plus in-class engagement
- Due date
29/07/2024 - 9/09/2024
Submitted weekly via Blackboard.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
For each of the seven weeks of substantive material in this course (Weeks 2 through 8), students must complete two Blackboard Entries of 100 words each, responding to specific prompts. Each week, one Blackboard Entry will ask for a response to the set play(s), and one Blackboard Entry will ask for a response to the set critical reading(s). Some Blackboard Entries will require responses to visual and/or audio-visual material.
Note: In Week 8, the second tutorial activity task will require students to explore one major theatre company's 2024 season (rather than undertaking critical reading), and to bring findings to class for shared discussion.
Detailed instructions, including the set prompts, will be available via Blackboard.
Blackboard submissions are due by the commencement of your seminar each week (from Week 2-8 inclusive), and the remainder of the weekly assessment is completed in class.
Students will be marked out of 4 points for Weeks 2-7 (4x6 = 24 marks); and out of 6 marks in Week 8 for an overall total of 30 marks. Two of these marks each week will be awarded for your in-class engagement and demonstration of your comprehension of the week's reading materials; the remainder will be for the quality of your Blackboard posts.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Entries are to be submitted weekly via Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal for this assessment item. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for this piece of assessment.
Conference Paper Presentation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30% 10 minute presentation
- Due date
30/09/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
This assignment is designed to prepare you to present your research projects as papers to peers and staff. It is the sort of activity you can expect to engage in not only in your prospective Honours or postgraduate careers, but also in any kind of professional career that involves public presentation of private research and critical thinking. It can also be considered an early form of lecture delivery training.
You are to use the essays you plan to submit in October as the project you are summarising and presenting to the group for feedback in draft form. This will involve preparing visual aids that summarise the essay/project topic and its argument. Your presentation materials, including visual aids and handouts, can be prepared in the presentation software of your choice in advance of the day of your presentation, and should be submitted via Turnitin by 4pm on the day after your presentation.
A detailed assessment brief will be available on Blackboard during the semester.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Recording of Oral and Practical Assessment
- All presentations will be recorded for marking purposes via recording facilities available where the assessment takes place (eg. ECHO360, Zoom, camera device)
- Recordings will be retained by the School of Communication and Arts for at least 12 months from the release of the final grade for the course.
- Recordings will be stored in a secure manner and will only be accessed by authorised school staff for the purposes of:
- Moderation of marking;
- Provision of feedback to the student(s) recorded; and/or
- Re-marking following a successful re-mark application.
Submission guidelines
Presented during your Week 10 seminar slot.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: this is an in-class assessment item and students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for this piece of assessment.
Research Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40% 2500 words
- Due date
25/10/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
You are to devise your own research question arising from the "Immersion and Interactivity", "The Medea Myth", and "Gothic Theatre" modules, or the other historiographical material that we have covered across this course. Your written essay should respond to the feedback you receive on your in-class presentation.
The referencing style used for Drama assignments is MLA, 9th edition.
A detailed assignment brief will be provided on Blackboard at the beginning of Semester.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Own copy required
You'll need to have your own copy of the following reading resources. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Book |
Orpheus descending: and, Suddenly last summer
by Williams; Tennessee - 2012 Publisher: New Directions ISBN: 9780811219396; 9780811225328 |
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Seminar |
Week 1: Introduction to Theatre Historiography This seminar will introduce the course, discuss course scheduling, assessment and planning. In particular, we will consider the nature of theatre historiography and what it can reveal about the field of cultural production in Australia. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 2: The Medea Myth (1) In this seminar, we consider various ways in which Euripides adapted the existing myths of Medea to create the play we recognize today. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 3: The Medea Myth (2) In this seminar, we look more comprehensively at ideas of translation and adaptation in theatre, through the lens of Medea. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 4: Gothic Theatre (1) In this seminar, we will introduce the rise of the Gothic mode, through examining the eighteenth century melodrama and its links to the historical European theatre tradition. The Cox (most important) and Miles is the required reading to supplement your reading of Monk Lewis as our introduction to Gothic drama this week. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Seminar |
Week 5: Gothic Theatre (2) This seminar moves to more contemporary Gothic theatre, in both a classic American and a contemporary Australian setting. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Seminar |
Week 6: Immersion and Interactivity (1) In this seminar, we consider Punchdrunk's Sleep No More, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, to consider how we document and experience immersive and interactive forms of performance. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Seminar |
Week 7: Immersion and Interactivity (2) In this seminar, we look at theoretical debates regarding participatory performance. Does it invite a liberated form of spectatorship, or is it actually more stultifying than regular theatre? Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 8 (09 Sep - 15 Sep) |
Seminar |
Week 8: Australian Theatre Historiography In this final substantive seminar, we consider the shape of the contemporary Australian field, by looking at the most-produced Australian playwright of the past few years, and surveying the mainstage subscription seasons for 2024. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Seminar |
Week 9: Conference Paper Workshop Students will present their ideas for the conference paper to the class for shared feedback. Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Mid Sem break (23 Sep - 29 Sep) |
Seminar |
Mid-Semester Break: NO SEMINAR |
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Seminar |
Week 10: Conference Paper Presentations (1) You will present 10 minute 'conference papers' outlining your essay projects. Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Seminar |
Week 11: No Class King's Birthday Public Holiday |
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Seminar |
Week 12: Conference Paper Presentations (2) Conference paper presentations will continue in Week 12. Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Seminar |
Week 13: No class |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.