Texts: Jacobus: Bedford Introduction to Drama, 4th ed.
Dolan: The Feminist Spectator as Critic
Sternlicht: A Reader's Guide to Modern American Drama

This course approaches modern drama from the point of view of gender. More specifically, it offers readings of canonical texts from Ibsen on, and a number of contemporary texts, critiquing them in respect to the presentation of women on the stage. Feminist drama and performance theory will provide perspective and be the instruments of judgment. We will be discussing questions such as: are plays written by men inevitably or invariably produced in such a way as to present a voyeuristic experience for a male audience? In contrast, are plays written by women strategically designed to sensitize men or marginalize them somewhat? Do they introduce to the stage a language/discourse of women? American drama will receive maximum attention.

Lecture/discussion topics will include:
What Is Feminism's Historical Role?
General Drama and Performance Theory
Feminist Literary/Drama Theory
Feminist Performance Theory
The Theater and Society: an Evolutionary Process
The Family Staged
Drama Space (setting) & Theater Space (allocation)
Patriarchy and the Worlds of Drama: Home, Work, Nature, Play, Gender, and Sexual Relations
The New Feminist Dramatist
The Male Gaze
Presenting Social Drama in Modern Drama

Plays read:
Ibsen's A Doll's House
Ibsen's Hedda Gabler
Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard
Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession
O'Neill's Desire under the Elms
Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Hansberry's Raisin in the Sun
Churchill's Cloud Nine
Norman's 'Night, Mother
Hwang's M. Butterfly
Parks's The Death of the Last Black Man.....
Mamet's Oleanna

Reserve books in Bird Library for additional readings:
Brown, Feminist Drama: Definition & Critical Analysis
Hart et al, Making a Spectacle: Feminist Essays on Contemporary Women's Theatre
Schlueter, Feminist Readings of Modern American Drama
Schlueter, Modern American Drama: The Female Canon

Students will write one page single-spaced essays for each of the plays read discussed. The essays will be due the Monday after the week of discussion. They will address gender aspects and the presentation of women and men as characters, symbols, and in relationships. Late submissions will be penalized one letter grade.

Attendance is required. Four unexcused absences will result in the loss of a full letter grade. More than 6 and an F for the course regardless of essay grades.

Students with special needs are requested to discuss them with the instructor as soon as possible.