TH320-30 Intercultural Performance Practices
Introductory description
We will address questions of how globalisation (media, travel, etc) has facilitated new spaces and modes of cultural representation. We will also explore Post-race theory in the context of post-colonial negotiation of place of race, history in engagement with cultural forms. In seminars that include practical elements, we will explore issues that arise in contemporary intercultural performance interactions through examples like the work of Brook, Mnouchkine, Japanese Takarazuka, Disney, contemporary Australian musicals, and African exhibitions. We will critically analyse cultural difference, the possible processes of mediation necessary in such work; the difference between inter- and multiculturalism, the impact of cultural imperialism and globalisation on performance production, and the aesthetic and ethical issues of this work.
Module aims
This module sets out to look at the implications of contemporary intercultural performance practice in the context of globalisation in terms of form, focus, ideological and ethical implications.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Autumn Term
Week 1: Defining key questions, concepts
Week 2: Imagining Insiders/ Outsiders – self x other – theoretically (ideology, stereotype) – revise Brook’s Mahabharata (Zarilli), see also other readings.
Week 3: Kathakali Workshop (Tanya Welles, 18 Oct) Dress appropriately
Week 4: Analyse workshop experience,
Considering critiques of Brook/ Mnouchkine: Bharucha on New Asian Interculturality, Postcoloniality, and Recolonization.
Week 5: How Interculturalism Performs the Self as an Other: Hwang’s M. Butterfly
Week 6: Reading week
Week 7: Nixon in China (opera)
Week 8: Post-war Japan - Takarazuka and the 1950s American musical/ Goth Lolita and Harajuku fashion
Week 9: India’s postcolonial exploration of identity - Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana (in Postcolonial Plays)
Week 10: Caribbean Postcoloniality- Derek Walcott’s Pantomime (1978, Postcolonial Plays)
Discuss presentations
SPRING TERM:
We will address questions of globalisation (media, travel, etc) has facilitated new spaces and modes of cultural representationWe will also explore Post-race theory in the context of post-colonial negotiation of place of race, history in engagement with cultural forms.
Week 1 - Discuss possible research areas – presentations exam
Post-race, Geopolitical division and identity construction - Guillermo Verdecchia: Fronteras Americanas (Canada) (in Postcolonial Plays, 419- 442.) See also Anoop Kayak, After race: Ethnography, race and post-race theory, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29:3 (May 2006), 411 – 430,
Week 2 - Australian aboriginal identity - Jimmy Chi and Kuckles: Bran Nue Dae (in Postcolonial Plays, 320-347) (also impact of Hip Hop on Australian Aboriginal identity, see http://www.indigenoushiphop.com/, http://www.localnoise.net.au/tags/culture/indigenous-hip-hop/, http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/documentaries/hip_hop_down_under.shtml
Aboriginal hip hop and youth identity, Stavrias, Australian Aboriginal Studies 2005/2, 44-54. See http://lryb.aiatsis.gov.au/PDFs/aasj05.02_stavrias.pdf
Week 3: South - South Collaboration: Sogolon and Handspring Puppet Company’s Tall Horse (2005)
Week 4: Present work-in-progress of research presentations
Week 5: Disney and interculturalism
Week 6: Reading week
Week 7: Paul Prescott – Global Shakespeare and Olympics
Week 8: Bollywood - Bride & Prejudice
Week 9: Computer games, Internet engagements – avatars, second life
Week 10: Updates and finalising research presentations
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- On successful completion of the module students should be able to:- demonstrate a critical analysis of cultural differences and to examine the processes of their mediation through the various cultures;
- - articulate an understanding of the concepts of (1) cultural in relation to identity and aesthetics, (2) the difference between inter- and multiculturalism, and (3) the impact of cultural imperialism and globalisation in relation to theatre production
- - analyse how theatre as a form can both reflect and challenge ideas of cultural representation and expression
- - engage in research-led investigation of these ideas in both primary and secondary material and communicate their findings both orally and in writing.
Indicative reading list
Prescribed texts (recommend buying)
Pre-read - Ric Knowles, 2010. Theatre & Interculturalism. (Palgrave Macmillan) – overview.
Patrice Pavis (ed.) 1996. The Intercultural performance Reader (London/ NY: Routledge)
David Henry Hwang M. Butterfly. 1957. (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1989, or in Wadsworth)
Helen Gilbert (ed.), 2001. Postcolonial Plays: an anthology (London: Routledge)
Video material and readings will be available to exemplify much of this material.
Other key references
Bharucha, R. 1993. Theatre and the world: Performance and the politics of culture. London: Routledge
McLeod, John. 2000. Beginning Postcolonialism. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Said, E. 1994. On Orientalism, in Culture & imperialism. London : Vintage.
Schechner, R. & Appel, W. By means of performance – intercultural studies of theatre and ritual. Cambridge: CUP.
Schipper, Mineke. 1999. Imagining Insiders: Africa and the question of belonging. London: Cassell (the introduction)
Zarilli, Phillip, et al. Theatre Histories: An Introduction. Routledge, 2016.
Research element
Essay: Reseach how interculturalism manifests itself in contemporary practices, and then the ability to critically analyse the issues related to universalist and post-colonial perspectives.
Relate theory to aesthetics
Practical presentations require students to research a specific issue that has emerged for them from the module and present it using apporpriate form. This requires the negotiation between research and understanding practical forms they have engaged in the course, and a clear understanding of the impact of aesthetics chosen.
Interdisciplinary
This module requires students to situate works historical, and then read theatrical decisions against specific sociological and political theory; analysing implications. It also asks students to engage with new media when considering performance.
International
The curriculum spans analysis of cross-cultural and critical examples of theatre and performance from Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South Americas and Australia.
Subject specific skills
The ability to
- critically analyse cultural differences and to examine the processes of their mediation through the various cultures in and through theatre and performance;
- articulate an understanding of the concepts of (1) cultural in relation to identity and aesthetics, (2) the difference between inter- and multiculturalism, and (3) the impact of cultural imperialism and globalisation in relation to theatre production
- analyse how theatre as a form can both reflect and challenge ideas of cultural representation and expression
Transferable skills
Analysis
Undertake theoretical and situated - examples of intercultural engagement in actual and specific social settings
Co-operative theatre making
Using performance practice to provoke and facilitate social debate
Good written and oral communictaion skills
Study time
Type | Required | Optional |
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Seminars | 16 sessions of 2 hours (25%) | |
Tutorials | 2 sessions of 1 hour (2%) | |
Project supervision | 2 sessions of 1 hour (2%) | |
Demonstrations | (0%) | |
Practical classes | 2 sessions of 2 hours (3%) | |
Supervised practical classes | 1 session of 8 hours (6%) | |
External visits | (0%) | 1 session of 1 hour 30 minutes |
Other activity | 10 hours (8%) | |
Private study | 71 hours (55%) | |
Total | 129 hours |
Private study description
Reading for class each week, watching video material, web-research.
Other activity description
Preparation for their practical examination - apart from the research, they have to set aside time for group work and rehearsals.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
Weighting | Study time | |
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Essay | 30% | 60 hours |
Students are invited to choose from a lit of topics that raise specific issues around intercultural performance practices from a theoretical and practical perspectives and asked to critically discuss these, using specific examples, and include a full bibliography. They may also negotiate a specific, personally defined topic with me as an alternative. |
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Research Presentation | 50% | 81 hours |
50% (exam equivalent). In groups of 2 - 5, students lead the group through an interactive presentation (e.g. performance, structured workshop, exhibition, active lecture) of research that they have conducted on a question that has emerged from their exploration of contemporary intercultural theatre practices.
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Critique | 20% | 30 hours |
Your critical review should document the students' research, in relation to the group as a whole, through references and a bibliography, as well as analyse the processes leading to the presentation. Rather than being a descriptive account, the critique should demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the research process, the working processes undertaken and the presentation itself; in relation to the overall aims and objectives of the module. It may be submitted in a variety of forms which could include: research information, photographic evidence, visual material and any other documents that has been central to the process. |
Feedback on assessment
Written feedback on essay, practical presentation anf critical review.\r\nOral feedback on Presentation and written components, if sought.
Courses
This module is Optional for:
- Year 4 of UENA-QW35 Undergraduate English and Theatre Studies with Intercalated Year
- Year 4 of UTHA-W422 Undergraduate Theatre and Performance Studies (with Intercalated Year)
This module is Option list B for:
- Year 3 of UTHA-QW34 Undergraduate English and Theatre Studies
-
UTHA-W421 Undergraduate Theatre and Performance Studies
- Year 3 of W421 Theatre and Performance Studies
- Year 3 of W421 Theatre and Performance Studies
- Year 4 of UTHA-W422 Undergraduate Theatre and Performance Studies (with Intercalated Year)