Learning objectives
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:
- apply the beforementioned skills and knowledge when autonomously taking on critical understanding of theatrical events, fully framing them within the correct historical and cultural contexts (as per the second Descriptor);
- manage complex judgments and information on staging, theatrical activities and all their different actors (as per the third Descriptor);
- transmit in a clear and unambiguous way the knowledge they gained, by making the most of the specialized terms used in the field (as per the fourth Descriptor);
- develop further skills in autonomous learning when study and critical learning in staging an theatre direction are concerned, making the most of all methods of historical and artistic survey 8as per the fifth Descriptor).
The minimum learning level for this course is considered reached by students when they become able to navigate the history of staging and theatre direction by applying the correct analytical tools to the critical interpretation of staging.
Prerequisites
None
Course unit content
The course teaches to read theatre history from the point of view of theatrical space, staging and directing, in their occurrences through the ages. The first part of the course uses visual sources and introduces to methodological problems necessary to deal with theatre history.
The second part addresses that branch of theatre studies that is called “play in performance” (or “play in production”) and takes at its object a mastperiece by Molière, Tartuffe, ou l’Imposteur. We will consider how and why it was staged in France at its own time, during the XVII C. and the reign of Luis XIV, the time of theatrical classicism and of the polarity between tragedy and comedy. Then we will consider contemporary adaptations of the play on the stages of director’s theatres in Italy and Europe. The course makes use of audio-visual and involves the students in creating direction of research to explore the theme through focusing on single mise-en-scènes.
Full programme
Title: Tartuffes, hypocrits and impostors. Mise-en-scènes, visions and adaptations, from Molière’s times to the contemporary.
METHODOLOGY: 12 hours
Theatrical space and staging through history: sources, models, paradigms.
THE HISTORIC CONTEXT: 6 hours
The French theatre during XVIIth C: tragedies and comedies; Molière as actor and author; Introduction to Tartuffe
CASE STUDIES: 12 hours
Tartuffe at Versailles. The premiere; Adapatations and staging of Tartuffe in the XXth C.
Bibliography
The following texts, documents and materials will feature within the examination subjects:
1. Molière, IL Tartufo
2. Bulgakov, Vita del signor Molière
3. Essays to be found on the platform ELLY from the beginning of the course
4. Only for those students, who never followed a course of theatre history: Silvana Sinisi e Isabella Innamorati, Storia del teatro. Lo spazio scenico, dai greci alle avanguardie, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2003
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching with the help of audio-visual material
Group-research and inquiry
Assessment methods and criteria
a) Mid-term: Oral exposition (individual). Individual analysis of one aspect of the play, focusing on some lines, or scenes, or characters. The oral exposition is valued with judgments -not sufficient, sufficient, good, excellent- and it contributes to the final evaluation for 1/10th
b) Final part of the course: Lecture taking in account one case study (one mise-en-scène of Molière’s Tartuffe). Group work. Evaluation expressed with numbers (from 18 to 30); it contributes to the final evaluation for 4/10th
c) Exam: oral interrogation (individual) dealing with the whole course, both bibliography and essaies, and what explained during the course. Evaluation expressed with numbers (from 18 to 30); it contributes to the final evaluation for one half of the final vote.
Other information
The students that don't follow the lessons must make a contact with the teacher, via e-mail or in presence, in order to discuss directly what is required as a study for the exam
