LA 107 Humanities for Healthcare Providers
Unit 5: UNDERSTANDING THEATER
Making Connections
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Theater differs from the static arts in that, like music, it is a performance and is, in that regard, ephemeral; although it can be recorded for posterity. Nonetheless, the elements of art apply to theater as they do to all of the arts.
About this Unit
This unit covers the evolution of important movements, styles and vocabulary of theater through the review of theatrical conventions, musical approaches to theater, and conventions of film making.
Theater is, in effect, the only collaborative art. While other arts rely on the work of a single artist, theater begins with the work of the playwright, which is then developed by producer, director, actors, set designers, technical experts, stagehands, publicists, and a live audience. All are necessary for the success of a play, musical, opera, or movie. This, of course, takes a lot of cooperation, development of a common artistic viewpoint and concept, and time to do all that is required in developing the final work.
Estimated Time Requirements
The work for this unit should be completed within 1 – 2 weeks. Complete this unit’s assignments before starting the next unit.
Unit Objectives
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Upon completion of this unit the student can expect to:
1) Understand the history of theater and what it has contributed to the cultures in which it exists.
2) Learn about the various elements of theater and what each adds to the overall impact of the work.
3) Appreciate the contributions of the various theatrical collaborators in developing the work.
4) Expand your appreciation of theater as an evolving work of art.
Required Readings, Lectures, Web Sites, Videos, Other Sources Content
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• Read Chapters 7 – Theater, 8 – The Musical Stage: Opera, Music, Drama, Dance, and 9 – Cinema. In your course test: Janaro, Richard. (2008). The art of being human, 9th edition. Upper Saddle River, JH: Prentice Hall.
• Read a three to five act play of your choice.
• View at least one movie.
Graded Assignments
1) Personal Journal Entries:
In the Unit 5 personal journal please submit a 300 to 500 word response to the following questions.
Your response should contain a clear introduction that states your main point and briefly overviews the topic, a paragraph or two on each of the questions, and a conclusion that summarizes your main points.
• Explain how your view of theater/movies has or has not changed and why.
• Explain what is meant by the statement: Theater is a collaborative art.
• Write a 300 word review of the play you selected to read.
• Write a 300 word review of the movie you selected to see for this unit
2) Annotated Bibliography:
Submit to the assignment drop box by the end of this unit.
The annotated bibliography assignment consists of fifteen sources, five each in literature, music, and art, that you think would be helpful to your learning about these topics.
An annotated bibliography is one that lists the reference for the found resource and a short description of the resource below each reference.
For more information on Annotated Bibliographies please seehttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_annotatedbib.html
Your references should follow APA format.
3) Take the Theater test at the end of the unit.
It is the expectation of the course instructor that your answers on the test questions are yours alone. You are not to collaborate with others. Whatever literature resources you use should be cited.