T005B : Wednesday 4:10-6:00 pm, E197
BLOG + COURSE MATERIALS: http://theaterconversations.blogspot.com
CLASS EMAIL (to reach both instructors): theaterconversations@gmail.com
INSTRUCTORS:
Shannon Scrofano: sscrofano@calarts.edu
Chi-wang Yang: cyang@calarts.edu
OFFICE: E312
TEACHING ASSISTANTS:
Genevieve Gearhart: genevievegearhart@alum.calarts.edu
Amanda Washko : amandawashko@alum.calarts.edu
Matthew Bamberg-Johnson: matthewbambergjohnson@alum.calarts.edu
Precious Ra’Akbar: preciousraakbar@alum.calarts.edu
INSTRUCTORS:
Shannon Scrofano: sscrofano@calarts.edu
Chi-wang Yang: cyang@calarts.edu
OFFICE: E312
TEACHING ASSISTANTS:
Genevieve Gearhart: genevievegearhart@alum.calarts.edu
Amanda Washko : amandawashko@alum.calarts.edu
Matthew Bamberg-Johnson: matthewbambergjohnson@alum.calarts.edu
Precious Ra’Akbar: preciousraakbar@alum.calarts.edu
OFFICE HOURS: For instructors, email to schedule an appointment. Weekly TA Office Hours TBA.
COURSE PURPOSE:
COURSE PURPOSE:
The CalArts theater program is by nature experimental and embodies a polyphony of experiences, aesthetics, and approaches. The primary goals of this course are: To bring each student into dialog with the unique design, performance, and production ecosystem. To survey the diversity of artistry within the contemporary theater landscape. To inspire an idea of the theater that has the capacity for great possibility, potential, and relevance.
LEARNING GOALS
Using the CalArts School of Theater and REDCAT performance seasons as a shared lens, this course will engage all incoming BFA 1 Theater students in conversation, contextual research, writing, critical response, and artistic practice.
The course will be highly interactive. Each session will be structured around the massive artistic energy brought forth by the School of Theater and REDCAT season productions. Students will engage in direct conversations with those involved in the creation of the shows, including students, faculty and guest artists.
METHODOLOGY
Students will be asked to creatively, critically, and thoughtfully respond to the productions and related topics in multiple modes, including full class discussions, small group discussions, readings, and small projects/exercises. This approach is intended to give the students multiple tools for expressing their point of view, as well as to build a peer-to-peer dialog within the BFA 1 class.
Additionally, the class will act as a laboratory for developing critical vocabulary and writing practices. Readings will occasionally be assigned. Students will be required to regularly submit written responses to topics covered in class.
REQUIREMENTS:
Show Up: Come to each class ready to learn, discover, and consider.
Readings: All required texts must be read before the specified class meeting. Always come to class prepared to discuss and share your response to the readings. There are no required texts you much purchase for this class. All readings will be provided in the form of downloadable pdf's, online links, or paper copies distributed during class. Select readings may also be placed on reserve in the library.
Assignments: Assignments for this class will be assigned regularly throughout the semester, and will include a combination of short-form response papers, both analytical and creative, and one longer form paper due towards semester's end. All papers must be typed, printed, stapled and left in Shannon Scrofano's faculty mailbox (located near the theater school offices) to receive credit, by the date and time specified. In some instances, assignments will be brought to class and turned in. After grading, all assignments will be returned to you via your student mailboxes.
Theater School Productions: Students are required to see at least FOUR (4) of the School of Theater season productions (see complete list on the blog). Seating is often limited so it is your responsibility to reserve tickets early before the shows are sold out. Crew assignments count towards your production viewing credits.
In order to receive credit for seeing the required performances, you must turn in the program from the show with your name and date of attendance clearly written on the front. Please turn these in to class TA’s for credit. Programs will be returned to you via your student boxes.
Off-Campus Productions: Students are also required to see at least ONE (1) of the off-site productions listed below, i.e. at REDCAT or UCLA. You must turn in your program to receive credit for these productions as well. The blog includes a list of all shows eligible for credit. This list is carefully curated to contribute to the dialogue in class, and while we encourage you to see as much theater as possible in the greater Los Angeles area, the viewing requirement for this class must come from the list of approved productions.
Due Dates: All assignments are due by the dates and times specified. Late assignments will be accepted up to one week late for a maximum of half credit.
Final Paper: Assignment and deadlines will be announced mid-semester. A longer form project, reflecting your measured critical reaction to text (where relevant), context (research), and performance.
Off-Campus Productions: Students are also required to see at least ONE (1) of the off-site productions listed below, i.e. at REDCAT or UCLA. You must turn in your program to receive credit for these productions as well. The blog includes a list of all shows eligible for credit. This list is carefully curated to contribute to the dialogue in class, and while we encourage you to see as much theater as possible in the greater Los Angeles area, the viewing requirement for this class must come from the list of approved productions.
Due Dates: All assignments are due by the dates and times specified. Late assignments will be accepted up to one week late for a maximum of half credit.
Final Paper: Assignment and deadlines will be announced mid-semester. A longer form project, reflecting your measured critical reaction to text (where relevant), context (research), and performance.
All-School Meetings: Attendance at all All-School meetings is highly recommended.
COURSE SUPPORT FEE:
We make every effort to make this class as affordable as possible. The course support fee for the semester is $8.00. Please go to Accounting, the Cashier’s Office, on the second floor and pay $8 (check or cash) into the course account #1313-6077. Then take your receipt to Akilah Denison in the Theater School Office. All course support fees MUST be paid by February 6, 2013.
COURSE POLICIES
Grading Policy
Small Assignments 25%
Final Paper 25%
Attendance 25%
Participation 25%
CalArts assigns High Pass (HP), Pass (P), Low Pass (LP), No Credit/Fail (NC) and Insufficient Attendance (NX) grades.
Units
For undergraduate students, one semester unit is assigned on the basis of 3 hours of work each week. “Work” is the sum of in-class and out-of-class work. This does not include time seeing shows. Your workload will vary over the course semester depending on assignments.
Attendance
More than THREE (3) unexcused absences results in an NX for the semester. Absences due to illness can be excused only if you submit a note from your doctor or the CalArts nurse's office to a TA. If you cannot make it to class for any reason, please make an effort in advance to notify the instructors via email.
If you miss a class it is your responsibility to find out what happened and to make up any work that was assigned. Arriving to class late, or returning from breaks late will count against your participation grade.
IN-CLASS ETIQUETTE
No laptops
No cell phones or headphones
No food
INSTITUTE POLICIES
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of ideas and/or quotations (from the Internet, books, films, television, newspapers, articles, the work of other students, works of art, media, etc.) without proper credit to the author/artist. While the argument in a paper can be enhanced by research, students are cautioned to delineate clearly their own original ideas from source material. Students should introduce source material (either quoted or paraphrased); note when the source material ends; and provide citations for source materials using standard documentation formats.
According to CalArts policy, students who misrepresent source material as their own original work and fail to credit it have committed plagiarism and are subject to disciplinary action, as determined by the faculty member, the dean of the student’s school and the Office of the Provost. If you have questions regarding plagiarism or would like direction on how to credit source material, there are reference guides on permanent reserve in the CalArts library. Please contact one of the CalArts reference librarians for more information.
Students with Disabilities: Students who have documented disabilities and who want to request accommodations should first go to the Student Affairs office in A207. The Dean of Students will meet with students and communicate with their faculty about appropriate classroom accommodations. Students are encouraged to use these procedures early in the semester, so that the proper arrangements can be in place throughout the course.
Resources: Writing Tutors are available on a drop-in basis in the Teaching and Learning Center in the Library. The CalArts Library: http://calarts.edu/library
Patty Lopez, Institute Academic Advisor, can help you understand your academic progress and Critical Studies requirements: plopez@calarts.edu
