THTR1101 - OL - The Theater:History&Appreciation

(VCI) Visual & Creative Inquiry (AI-A) Aesthetic Inquiry Art

This survey course traces the history of the theater as an art form, a branch of literature, a vocational craft and ultimately as an expression of the human condition. Students begin with an introduction to the elements of theater: its architecture, terminology and the roles and functions of each contributing artist in the theatrical process. From here the history of the theater is discussed, beginning with its early origins and including study of key eras in theater history: Greek Theater, religious theater of the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan Era, The Restoration theater, Victorian spectacle and the Era of Modernism. Finally, a critical perspective is applied to the present-day theater, and students discuss how influences from each of the preceding eras have affected what is presented and the expectation of audiences today.