|
Fall 2000 | |
|
English 398/CrWr 330 |
Rice 24, (440) 775-8584 |
|
TTh, 3:00-4:15 |
Office hours: 3:30-5:00 |
|
|
E-mail: David.Walker@oberlin.edu |
Texts:
This course is intended to introduce you to some of the central challenges and skills inherent to the art of playwriting. It doesn't pretend to be able to turn you into a successful playwright in 13 weeks, but it should give you some tools and ideas that will be useful to you if you pursue playwriting in the future, and in any case should provide you heightened understanding of how plays are made and how they work.
To get credit for the course, you'll need to complete all assignments (on time except in case of emergency); participate regularly and conscientiously in class discussions; and generally demonstrate commitment to the goals of the class. I put a good deal of emphasis on the mutual effort it takes to achieve a harmonious group dynamic; that means, among other things, learning to listen well to each other. My office hours are MF 2:30-4:00, TTh 1:30-3:00, and other times by appointment. I'll be scheduling conferences with you at midterm and at the end of the semester, but please see me whenever you have questions or problems you'd like to talk about. You can also email me with quick questions or comments at David.Walker@oberlin.edu.
Based on suggestions from former students, I have rethought the course to some extent from the way in which I've taught it in the past (I'll explain in more detail in class). I will be making adjustments as we go, trying to respond to the group's needs and interests, so I can't give you a detailed syllabus in advance. But here are some general guidelines:
1. In the first nine weeks of the course, you'll be working through a series of assignments, intended to introduce you systematically to particular aspects of the playwriting process. Then in the last five weeks you'll work more independently on a longer project. Your first assignment is to bring two brief character sketches to class on Tuesday -- I will explain in more detail in class, as I will for each subsequent exercise.
2. To write effectively for the stage, I believe you need to train your imagination to think in specifically theatrical terms (different in kind from those of film or television). Some of you have theater training, but many of you don't, so I'm asking you to take advantage of every opportunity to immerse yourselves in thinking theatrically this fall. See the plays that are available to you; think about taking a drama class concurrently; watch videotapes of theater productions; read theater articles and reviews in the New Yorker and the New York Times.... You're also required to read at least four full-length contemporary (i.e., written since c. 1960) plays, in addition to those we're discussing in class'more if possible -- and turn in notes on what you learn from them about playwriting. The more knowledgeable you become about what contemporary playwrights are doing, the more options will become available to you in your own writing.
3. Each of you should try to recruit a group of three actors who will be available to help try out work in progress. If they're used extensively enough, they can earn an hour of credit. We'll talk more about this in class.
Here's a schedule for the first module:
|
T 9/5 |
Introduction |
|
Th 9/7 |
Two character sketches due in class; in-class exercise |
|
T 9/12 |
Discuss How I Learned to Drive, looking particularly at the choices Vogel makes about how to tell her story theatrically |
|
Th 9/14 |
Two monologues due in class |
|
M 9/18 |
By noon: first draft of confrontation scene due |
|
T 9/19 |
Discuss group A's scenes |
|
Th 9/21 |
Discuss group B's scenes |
|
M 9/25 |
By noon: second draft of scene due |
|
T 9/26 |
Discuss group C's scenes |
|
Th 9/28 |
Discuss Glengarry Glen Ross |
|
M 10/2 |
By noon: comic/serious scene due |
|
T 10/3 |
Discuss The Homecoming |
|
Th 10/5 |
Discuss group A's scenes |
|
T 10/10 |
Discuss group B's scenes |
|
Th 10/12 |
Discuss group C's scenes |
|
|
|
|
T 10/24 |
Discuss Angels in America |
|
Th 10/26 |
TBA |
[rest of syllabus TBA]