The main topic of this course is modern German theater. Insights into the contemporary German and Berlin theater landscape will be covered. The course will particularly discuss the question of how German theater has changed since Brecht’s death. Brecht’s theater model will be analyzed with attention paid to how he developed theater in Berlin. Works from Frank Castorf, Michael Thalheimer, Thomas Ostermeier and Christoph Marthaler and their meanings will be discussed. Dramatic German literature written after 1945 (Heiner Müller, Thomas Bernhard, etc.) will also be analyzed and interpreted. The texts read in class will be complemented by viewing the actual works themselves. The precise content of the course will depend on the offerings available in Berlin during the semester. This coursework is based on theater texts (Bertolt Brecht, Thomas Bernhard, Peter Handke and others) and German literature from the 20th century; new developments in theater after Brecht’s death; interpretation of dramatic texts in preparation for viewing them live; the analysis of stage productions; discussing the meaning of modern texts in theater; presentation of dramatic text on stage and directing styles.
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
Explain what defines Brecht’s theater and modern theater
Identify the perceived importance of modern German Theater in Berlin
Explain various directors on the Berlin stage and their styles
Analyze and interpret various modern theater texts
Method of presentation:
Lecture, Discussion, Film, 4-5 Theater visits
Required work and form of assessment:
Active participation in class discussions (30%), four theater reviews during the semester (25%), midterm (20%), and final (25%). Class attendance is required.
Required readings:
Deutsche Literaturgeschichte. Von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart. 6. überarbeitete und ergänzte Ausgabe. Stuttgart, Weimar 2001.
Theater In Berlin Ii: From Brecht To The Present
The main topic of this course is modern German theater. Insights into the contemporary German and Berlin theater landscape will be covered. The course will particularly discuss the question of how German theater has changed since Brecht’s death. Brecht’s theater model will be analyzed with attention paid to how he developed theater in Berlin. Works from Frank Castorf, Michael Thalheimer, Thomas Ostermeier and Christoph Marthaler and their meanings will be discussed. Dramatic German literature written after 1945 (Heiner Müller, Thomas Bernhard, etc.) will also be analyzed and interpreted. The texts read in class will be complemented by viewing the actual works themselves. The precise content of the course will depend on the offerings available in Berlin during the semester. This coursework is based on theater texts (Bertolt Brecht, Thomas Bernhard, Peter Handke and others) and German literature from the 20th century; new developments in theater after Brecht’s death; interpretation of dramatic texts in preparation for viewing them live; the analysis of stage productions; discussing the meaning of modern texts in theater; presentation of dramatic text on stage and directing styles.
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
Lecture, Discussion, Film, 4-5 Theater visits
Active participation in class discussions (30%), four theater reviews during the semester (25%), midterm (20%), and final (25%). Class attendance is required.
Works from the following directors to be viewed: