English: Modern Drama

Twentieth-century drama by writers such as Ibsen, Shaw, Beckett, Brecht, Miller, Pinter, and Churchill. Prerequisites: Three hours in English numbered 1010 to 1990; minimum Sophomore standing.

Three hours in English numbered 1010 to 1990; minimum Sophomore standing. PACE students with permission and override

Journey through the evolution of modern drama, from the groundbreaking realism of Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, to Anton Chekhov’s subtle explorations of human psychology, and Bertolt Brecht’s revolutionary experiments with epic theatre. Along the way, we’ll trace the 20th and 21st centuries’ preoccupations with diverse styles—expressionism, absurdism, and more—that reflect the dramatic social, political, and cultural transformations of the past 150 years. By examining texts from Sophie Treadwell and Eugene Ionesco to Tony Kushner, Caryl Churchill, Suzan-Lori Parks, and David Henry Hwang, students will see how playwrights use form, structure, and theatrical innovation to interrogate politics, gender, race, and identity. Through close readings and performance analysis, the course illuminates how modern drama both mirrors and reshapes our understanding of human experience and the world we inhabit.

Assessment includes quizzes, response papers, midterm, live performance analysis and group presentation.