Groups will draw topics from a hat for the opportunity to present a class session based on coursepack readings. The presentation will be approximately 40-minutes or so in length during which you will . You will be evaluated on the clarity of your presentation (do you bring out the main points of the article in an understandable way?), the quality of your discussion questions, and your efforts to involve the class. Creative presentations will be judged especially favourably. The group’s typed outline, discussion questions, and reference list are due before the presentation. Worth 20% of your mark.
Follow these tips for successful and scintillating Performance and Performativity Group Presentations and Discussion Blogs.
Since we are aiming at reflexive analysis, reflexive being an interactive and experiential style of knowledge building, aim at a ratio of about 50% presentation/lecture to 50% discussion/class participation. You will have the whole class on Wednesdays minus a few announcements on an as-needed basis.
Groups will be made up of 5 - 6 people.
Please appoint a group leader who will be my "point person." You are welcome to come and visit me during my office hours (Mon/Wed 1-3) if you want suggestions or feedback.
Two people will be responsible for pulling the salient points from the assigned articles. This will include a short biography of the author and their primary influences. (The pretext and substance of the talk).
One person will be responsible for lateral research, ie the context and subtext of the works. (The context and subtext).
Two or three people will be responsible for the case studies and performance examples, be they live or projected. (The intertext).
Aim at about five minutes each. You can run them in a linear fashion or you can mix-em-up.
Before your presentation, you must submit an outline with references, three discussion questions, and an indication of who is doing what. One of these questions will be uploaded to the blog. Your other questions should be designed to leverage evolving ideas.
Pleased be prepared to moderate the facebook blog and you will report back with a list of students who have not uploaded their ideas (The squeel report ;)
Rehearse your presentation.
You have to be ready to go by beginning of class, so if you have a/v needs, come to class at least 10 minutes early to set up.
If you use Powerpoint, check out Tim Lee's advice.
Evaluation
40% Content. This is comprised of the material conveyed in class and the outline, references, and discussion questions.
40% Form. The quality of the presentation. Was it clear? On time? Engaging/entertaining?
20% Blog. The question, moderation, and response report.
2. Two Response Essays
Two Response Essays – You are required to write two papers responding to class activities. Each paper should be 1500 – 2000 words in length and each is worth 10% of your mark.
The first paper, due the week of October 6th (please note this new deadline) will be a first person walkthrough of an “everyday” performance, a gathering such as a party or reception or a ritual celebration such as a birthday, wedding, funeral or the like. The second, due the week of November 24th, will compare and contrast two out-of-class activities suggested in the course subject outline. You may also propose your own ideas but they must be approved in advance.
In both cases, the paper should not be simply a summary of the event. You should analyse and interpret what occurred in the performance, the behaviour of the audience, the setting, and your own personal reactions. You may also interpret what the performance says about the identity of the participants. Please illustrate your points by describing specific examples from the event.
Paper #1, the walkthrough of the social event paper is a “train of thought” and will explore the emotions and perceptions of performance qualities that we have studied in class. It is more a creative writing exercise than an analytical paper but must refer back to specific examples (at least 3) that have been given in class discussions.
Check outwild_mind_reading.pdf(also handed out in class) and you can also draw pictures/illustrations if you want.
Paper #2.
The purpose of the paper #2 is also analysis and interpretation only in more formal academic style.
Due date, November 27th (and the week after that if you need more time).
OPTION 1. Compare and Contrast -- An unpacking of the relationships
Compare and Contrast a Performance and a Videogame (or even two performances if you prefer).You should frame your analysis by referring to specific readings from our studies and you are welcome to refer to other readings as well. If you are not referring to any specific page numbers in the readings, you are probably not being specific enough. This paper should begin with a clear thesis statement. The best thesis statements make an argument for something (that is they are not merely descriptive). That way, you have something to drive the argument in the rest of the paper.
OPTION 2. A Creative and Reflexive Dramaturgy or Gamaturgy
Quick overview. Choose a performance (either "everyday" or staged) or a videogame and create an analysis based on either creative and/or reflexive dramaturgy/gamaturgy. Basis for multitextual observations regarding Creative drama/gamaturgy are aural, visual, physical, verbal and emotional texts. Basis for multitextual observations for Reflexive drama/gamaturgy are pretext, context, subtext, and intertext. In either case, they are a way of bringing meaning to yourself and hopefully others.
If any of you are writing on games, or even if you're writing on theatre/performance and want to get insights into practical uses of Creative and Reflexive Dramaturgy through "Gamaturgy," here's a paper I wrote.
I will be in my office all day on Monday, from 10:00 to 5:00 to accept your DVD burns and DVD jewelcase and cover art. ALSO, I will be collecting .mov files of your *most excellent* short documentaries. Job well done, everyone!
Comments (3)
Souzan said
at 11:25 pm on Nov 11, 2008
Hey Lori, please provide us with a deeper explanation for what you mean by aural, visual, physical, verbal and emotional texts. Thanks.
Lori Shyba said
at 1:57 pm on Nov 12, 2008
Done. Please see the Option 2 above and check the Creative Dramaturgy link.
Souzan said
at 9:44 pm on Nov 12, 2008
thank you!
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