Beat By Beat Script Interpretation: Pulitzer Version
Course Description
Summary
Students in this class will read a weekly selection of Pulitzer Prize winning plays and be required to analyze and explore these plays beat by beat in class discussion and weekly critical writing exercises. This is an in-depth script interpretation class in which theme, dramatic structure, arc, character development, tone, style and extensive study of the given playwrights and their influences will be explored in detail and in a way that centers the questions one would need to interrogate in order to bring these diverse and extraordinary pieces of work to life. This is not a performance class, though it is suggested for actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and students from other disciplines interested in dramatic literature.
Play List
TopDog/UnderDog- Suzan Lori Parks
Fat Ham- James Ijames
A Streetcar Named Desire- Tennessee Williams
Death of a Salesman- Arthur Miller
A Long Days Journey Into Night- Eugene O鈥橬eill
Buried Child- Sam Shepard
Fences- August Wilson
How I Learned to Drive- Paula Vogel
Ruined- Lynn Nottage
Water By The Spoonful- Quiara Alegr铆a Hudes
The Flick- Annie Baker
English- San Toss
Cost of Living- Martyna Majok
Between Riverside and Crazy- Stephen Adly Guirgis
I Am My Own Wife- Doug Wright
Learning Outcomes
- Critical writing and analysis skill building, exploration of collaborative discussion techniques, research tools, learning how to read intuitively as well as analytically
Prerequisites
Courses from any discipline that included critical reading and writing as part of the curriculum covered.
Please contact the faculty member : djanis@bennington.edu
Cross List
- Literature