CLS 173 CDA The Comic Spirit (Aesthetics Category)

Syllabus

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes: at the conclusion of the course students will demonstrate--

1. increased knowledge of the cultures of Greece and Rome, showing --
   • appreciation of the contributions of those cultures to the genre of comedy
   • insight into ancient society as reflected in comedy, particularly class and gender
   • familiarity with the ancient forms of comic drama, conventions and performance
2. understanding of comedy as a distinctive kind of aesthetic expression, both as literature and performance
3. appreciation for the different themes and styles of Aristophanes, Plautus, and Terence
4. ability to use library and internet resources, individually and collaboratively, to research the ancient world
5. familiarity with the major theories of comedy
6. development of the imagination through comic performance

Methods of Instruction:

• Discussion in class and on the Internet of assigned plays, essays, and student texts
• Slide presentations and lecture on the origins and development of Greek and Roman comedy, the ancient theater, and dramatic conventions
• Critical viewing and performance of ancient and later comedy
• Writing projects, reports, computer workshops, performances

Materials of Instruction:

• For this class, using a 3-ring binder with pocket folders will make it possible for you to keep organized your class notes, hand-outs, and graded assignments which must be kept for submission in your Comedy Portfolio.
• Purchase the following required three texts in paperback at the bookstore ( in order for us all to be “on the same page” during class discussion, it is preferable that you use these editions):

1. Aristophanes. Four Plays: Clouds, Birds, Lysistrata, Frogs, translated by William Arrowsmith (New American Library)
2. Plautus. Four Comedies: Braggart Soldier, Menaechmi, Haunted House, Pot of Gold, translated by Erich Segal (Oxford)
3. Terence. The Comedies, translated by Betty Radice (Penguin)

• Xeroxed materials (visuals, essays, articles, outlines, bibliographies, and reading guides), videos, slides
• Course Management System for electronic discussion: each student will be enrolled as a member and be able to log on, access materials, and communicate
• On-line electronic resources on the classical world, such as Perseus and VRoma; Women's Roles in Plautine Comedy

Requirements: Students are expected to--

• attend all classes and workshops with their course materials, arriving promptly and remaining to the end of class. (all Objectives)
• read and reflect critically on assigned texts and contribute thoughtfully to discussions (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• submit all assignments on time and in full: oral presentations must meet the given guidelines; written work must respond to instructions and conform to standards for formal writing (see your writing manual or the CNR Student Handbook), be typed, word-processed, or handwritten clearly (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4)
• take 3 semester quizzes, scheduled at the end of each of the course units (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• attend 2 special events and complete the associated assignments: (Objectives 1, 2, 6)
  
  • video screening of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
  • attendance at a live performance of a comedy (e.g., The Boys from Syracuse and Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors are on Broadway at this time)
• collaborate on and present two group projects: (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 6)
  • Project I: creation of a comic scene between ancient comic stereotypes, in the manner of ancient comedy, using original dialogue from ancient plays
  • Final Project: performance of a comic scene adapted from an assigned ancient comedy
• submit your Comedy Portfolio, which consists of your individual collection of comic materials (visuals, essays, articles, etc.), the semester’s graded and revised comedy assignments (a checklist will be supplied), and your final reflections on ancient and modern comedy (all Objectives)

Grading:

Your grade will be based on the quality of your own work (see below *) as follows:

• Class participation and completion of all assignments ** 30%
  
• 3 unit quizzes*** 30%
  
• 2 group projects 30%
  
• Comedy Portfolio 10%
  

* Students found cheating or plagiarizing will fail the course, as will those who do not complete all course requirements
**those with more than four unexcused absences will find their grade lowered in this category
*** make-ups will be arranged only for students who have medical or other serious excuses

Course Policies:
Attendance and promptness are required: students with more than four unexcused absences will find their grade lowered in this category; four latenesses will be considered one unexcused absence. Appropriate class behavior is expected. Un-excused late assignments will not be accepted. Those who are absent or late are responsible for obtaining assignments, notes, announcements, and hand-outs.
Make-ups will be arranged only for students who have medical or other serious excuses, both of which must be reported through proper channels. Students with documented special needs must inform the instructor at the beginning of the course of accommodations or services they require for successful academic participation.

September 4: Distribution and Review of the Syllabus

September 6, 11, 13: Introduction to the Topic, the Questions, the Course Methods
Reflecting on and sampling the wide range of comedy in contemporary culture and your own experience of comedy, we will attempt to answer such questions as:
Why do we laugh? What do we laugh at? Does laughter define comedy? Have you got a sense of humor? Are you a creator or consumer of comedy? Is comedy universal and timeless or is it culture -gender -experience -specific? Where did comedy originate? What does comedy tell us about the culture from which it arises? What is comedy’s function? What is its relation to tragedy? Does comedy happen or is it constructed? Who are the people of comedy? What is the dress of comedy? What are the actions of comedy? Does comedy have its own language and methods? Where and when does comedy take place?

September18-October 11: Domestic Comedy

• Family: The Brothers Menaechmus (Plautus), The Mother-in-Law (Terence)
• Romance: The Girl from Andros (Terence), The Eunuch (Terence)

October 11: Quiz 1

October 18-November 15: Comic Heroes

• Aristophanes, Lysistrata
• Plautus, The Haunted House (Mostellaria), The Braggart Soldier (Miles Gloriosus)
• Terence, Phormio

October 20: Class attendance at Aquila Theater Company's matinee performance of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors on Broadway (see assignment)

November 5: Project 1: due via email to Dr. Raia

November 6: On-line review and critique of Project 1 in the Mooney Center, Room 314:
    Read your group's project first, then read the scenes written by the other three groups. Complete, sign, and submit an evaluation form, rating each scene and assessing its strengths and weaknesses (summary of class critique):

    Read the plot of the Greek New Comedy play The Girl From Samos, written by the playwright Menander, a predecessor of Plautus and Terence.

November 8: Video screening of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, in Mooney Center B 3, from noon-1:40 pm. In preparation for watching the play, read Eric Bentley's chapter on "Farce." (Click here for music, here for plot)

November 13: Read Terence's Phormio, using M. Charney's "7 Aspects of the Comic Hero" as a guide.

November 13-15: Quiz 2: Part I: Take-Home essays (2); Part II: In-class short answers

November 20-December 6: Comic Satire and Parody

  November 20: Computer Workshop #2, Project #2 Instructions

• November 22: Social Satire: Aristophanes' Clouds
• December 4-6: Civic and Literary Satire: Aristophanes' Frogs

December 11-13: Project #2: Troupe Performances of --

• Aristophanes, Birds:
  Troupe Name: The Muses
  Title: The Dating Game
  Director: Elaine Kirschbaum
      Press Manager: April Donnelly; Stage Manager: Kelly Kegan; Researchers: Rosanna Murillo, Jennifer Pinheiro
• Plautus, The Pot of Gold (Aulularia)
  Troupe Name: The Gold Members
  Title: The Pot of Gold
  Director: Isha Moseley
      Press Manager: Jennifer Crowhurst; Stage Manager: Michele Dola; Researcher: Kimberly Nickerson
• Terence, The Brothers (Adelphoe)
  Troupe Name: Diamonds and Gems
  Title: It Takes Two
  Director: Fiona Hibbert
      Press Manager: Chauntea Milton, Stage Manager: Hassmerry Zapata; Researcher: Shameika Davis

December 11: Troupe Performances 1 and 2:
   presentations of an adapted scene from ancient comedy, in Romita Auditorium

December 13: Troupe Performance 3:
   presentation of an adapted scene from ancient comedy, in Romita Auditorium
   Closing Conversations about Comedy: 12:45 pm, Mooney Center Lounge, over refreshments

Monday, December 16: Comedy Portfolios due in Castle 325 by noon