Theater and Dance 130 - Performance Perspectives: What is Acting?

What is acting? Who is a perfomer? How do different traditions, identities, and methodologies shape what we understand performance to be? Performance Perspectives is an embodied studio-lab course that introduces students to multiple approaches to acting and performance-making. Rather than privileging a single technique, the course presents several approaches to performance---such as textual, self-generated---allowing students to explore how performance operates aross cultural, historical, and aestheric contexts. Drawing on the ethnographic performance pracitces of Zorz Neale Hurston, the dramaturgical frameworks of Eleanor Fuchs, and the critical performance theory of E. Patrick Johnson, the coure situates acting within broader conversations about culture, embodiment, and representation. Through movement, voice, improvisation, textual analysis, and composition, students engage contemporary monologue work from modern plays, scene study and collaborative texual performance, and devised and ethnographic performance through the Ancestor Project. During the first half of the semester, students are introduced to all three modes; in the second half, each student selects one primary pathway to pursue in greater depth. This structure reflects the central inquiry of the course ---What is acting?---by making clear that acting takes multiple forms and inviting students to identify the practices that most meaningfully challenge and activate thier work. The course culminates in a shared showing that brings together solo, ensemble, and devised performance in a supportive a reflective environment. This course is appropriate for students with or without prior experience in acting, and serves as a foundation for further study of acting and directing in the department. Limited to 22 students overall, with spaces reserved for first-year students. Fall and Spring semesters. Professor Stills.

How to handle overenrollment: THDA majors given priority. Instructor will choose students based on a balance of interests and class years.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: This course will involve regular attendance and class participation, class discussion, reading, viewing and possible short writing assignments, and other work outside of class including rehearsal or other artistic assignments, as well as physical or vocal performance work and/or visual, aural, and physical analysis as applicable. Attendance at rehearsals and performances outside of class may also be required.