PMA 1131

FWS: Performing the Past/Rehearsing the Future

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2016-2017.

When artists engage with historical subjects, is there an obligation to represent those subjects accurately? Can dramatic interventions into history empower artists and audiences to imagine a future that diverges from our past? What are the ethical considerations involved in altering historical narratives for political or artistic purposes? Contemporary works like Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton have captured the imagination of American audiences, raising significant questions about theater's ability to not only represent the facts of history, but also its ability (and perhaps responsibility) to meaningfully intervene into historical narratives. This course engages with these questions through the close analysis of dramatic texts. Through in-class discussions, direct instruction, and collaborative writing workshops, students will develop the ability to analyze scholarly arguments and produce coherent, concise, persuasive prose.

When Offered Fall.

Satisfies Requirement First-Year Writing Seminar.

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