In  contrast  to  poetry  or  fiction,  drama  as  a  form  of  enacted  storytelling  has  a  dual  existence  as  text  and  performance.  Understanding  Drama,  then,  always  involves  a  focus  on  both  textual  and  performative  aspects.  This  course  introduces  some  of  the  major  theoretical  and  practical  approaches  to  the  theatre,  with  critical  discussion  of  plays  in  their  cultural  contexts.  This  requires  a  ready  familiarity  with  basic  analytical  skills,  various  theoretical  approaches,  and  technical  terms.  


For  the  second  component  of  the  course,  Understanding  Film,  a  basic  knowledge  of  film  language is  essential  to  explore  the  narrative  strategies  of  this  medium.  The  focus  lies  on  the  exploration  of  the  various  techniques  specific  to  film  as  well  as  on  an  understanding  of  the  potential  effects  film  has  on  the  audience.  Furthermore,  this  course  will  point  out  similarities  and  differences  between  drama  as  a  text,  drama  on  the  stage,  and drama as film.