From Commedia dell’Arte to Modern Theatre
(Italian 3352F)
Fall 2014
INSTRUCTOR
Luca Pocci ([email protected])
Office hours: TBA
Classes: Tuesday 10:30-11:30 & Thursday 10:30-12:30; Classroom TBA
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND AIMS
This course introduces students to the rich and varied history of Italian theatre from Commedia
dell’ Arte to modern and contemporary performative art. We will examine the stylistic and
thematic thread that connects the 16th century commedia to present-day playwrights such as
Nobel prize-winner Dario Fo, while considering, along the way, how authors as diverse as
Machiavelli, Goldoni, and Pirandello have contributed to the development of European theatre.
Special attention will be given to the evolution and transformation of genres, to the distinctive
styles and techniques of major dramatic movements and, last but not least, to the intermedial
relations between theatre, opera, and the tradition of the Italian novella. The course aims to
achieve the following:
• expose students to a broad variety of plays and genres from Renaissance theatre to modern
and contemporary performance art
• guide students into grasping the defining techniques and stylistic features of major theatrical
movements
• examine the unique contribution that Italian theatrical forms and playwrights have given to
the evolution of European theatre
• chart the intermedial relations that connect Italian theatre to the national traditions of the
literary novella and opera
• explore the relationships between theatrical movements and their socio-political and
technological environments
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:
• understand the historical evolution of Italian theatrical art and of playwriting genres and
conventions from the Renaissance to the present
• grasp the specificity of the language of dramatic art and describe the style and techniques of
major playwrights and movements
• discuss the role of Italian playwrights and movements within the wider context of European
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theatre from the Renaissance to the present
• demonstrate increased awareness of the relationships between theatre and other
media/artistic forms, such as the literary novella and opera;
• connect theatrical movements with their cultural, political, and technological contexts.
Students will improve their ability to express themselves on these and other related topics, both
orally (through in-class presentations) and in writing (in the form of essays).
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. Participation & Preparation (15%): students are expected to complete all required
readings before coming to class and to maintain regular attendance. Participation is assessed on
the basis of day-to-day preparation and contribution to in-class activities and discussions. If a
student has a legitimate reason to be absent from class (sickness, family crisis, religious
holiday), s/he should contact me beforehand so that we can arrange how to make up any missed
material.
B. In-Class Group Presentation (15%): 20 minutes, to be followed by class discussion.
Each group, consisting of 3 to 5 students, will be assigned a different topic to cover and present
to the rest of the class. Topics and groups will be communicated to students in advance so as to
give each group sufficient time to meet before the presentations. It is expected that students will
organize their group work autonomously. In other words, the instructor can be consulted for
help but will not arrange their work. Students will be evaluated for their individual performance
(i.e., for the capacity to develop and illustrate a particular aspect of the topic assigned to their
group) and for their contribution to the performance of the group (i.e., how individual
performance fits in and adds to the group’s performance). Acting and role play are warmly
welcomed.
C. Close-Analysis Assignment (15%): analysis and interpretation of the key textual features
and major thematic aspects of passages/scenes taken from one or more plays studied in class.
D. Midterm (25%): 2 hours; It will consist of identification and essay questions.
E. End-of-Term Research Essay (30%): 6-8 pages, due in class on November 27th. The
topics will be announced far in advance of the deadline (a month before). Accordingly, students
are expected to hand in their essays by the due date. A late penalty of 5% per day will apply
unless relevant documentation is submitted. The essays will be evaluated for structure, clarity of
argument, proper use of academic sources, evidence of independent research, and writing
quality (style, grammar, punctuation). For citations and bibliography students should follow the
MLA format. It is important to keep in mind that a good essay is the result of a coherent
structure which, in turn, derives from
1) the logical development of ideas and/or a thesis;
2) the correlation between the parts and the whole.
N.B. E-mail will be used extensively for communication. Students must make sure that their
UWO account is in order.
TEXTS (available at the University bookstore)
Required
Fo, Dario. Mistero Buffo: The Collected Plays of Dario Fo (Vol. 2). Trans. Ron Jenkins. Theatre
Communications Group, 2005. ISBN 978-1559362719
Goldoni, Carlo. Mirandolina. In The Venetian Twins/Mirandolina. Trans. Ranjit Bolt. Oberon
Books, 2013 (1st ed. 1972). ISBN 978-0-948230-63-9
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Goldoni, Carlo. The Servant of Two Masters. In The Servant of Two Masters and Other Italian
Classics. Ed. Eric Bentley. Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, 2000. ISBN 978-0936839202
Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Mandrake. In The Servant of Two Masters and Other Italian
Classics. Ed. Eric Bentley. Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, 2000. ISBN: 978-0936839202
Pirandello, Luigi. Three Major Plays. Trans. Carl R. Mueller. Smith and Kraus, 2001. ISBN 9781575252315
Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Trans. David Grene. University of Chicago Press, 2010. ISBN 9780226768687
Recommended
Farrel, Joseph and Puppa, Paolo, Ed. A History of Italian Theatre. Cambridge University Press,
2011 (Paperback). ISBN 978-0521294782
Please note: this book will also be available on course reserve at Weldon
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 4: Course presentation
Week 1 (September 9 & 11)
Readings: from A History of Italian Theatre, “In Search of Italian Theatre” (1-5), “The Renaissance Stage”
(31-38), “Erudite Comedy” (39-44)
Week 2 (September 16 & 18)
Readings: from A History of Italian Theatre, “Commedia dell’arte” (102-123), from The Human Race
Theatre Company “Commedia dell’arte: A Study Guide for Students”, (1-18);
Viewing: “The World of Commedia dell’Arte” (YouTube)
Week 3 (September 23 & 25)
Readings: N. Machiavelli, The Mandrake; from A History of Italian Theatre, “Machiavelli and Florence”
(51-57)
Week 4 (September 30 & October 2)
Readings: C. Goldoni, The Servant of Two Masters; from A History of Italian Theatre, “Arrivals and
Departures” (145-150), “The Venetian Stage” (151-160)
Week 5 (October 7 & 9)
Readings: C. Goldoni, Mirandolina (La Locandiera); from A History of Italian Theatre, “Carlo Goldoni,
Playwright and Reformer” (160-176)
Close-Analysis Assignment due (October 9)
Week 6 (October 14 & 16)
Reading: L. Da Ponte’s Libretto for Don Giovanni (English translation)
Viewing: Don Giovanni
Week 7
October 21: Readings: L. Pirandello, Henry IV; from A History of Italian Theatre, “Actors, Authors and
Directors” (269-277), “Innovation and Theatre of the Grotesque” (278-284), “The March of the AvantGarde” (285-292)
October 23: Midterm
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Week 8
October 28: (November 4 & 6): Readings: L. Pirandello, Right You Are If You Think You Are, Henry IV;
from A History of Italian Theatre, “Luigi Pirandello” (293-311)
October 30: Fall Study Break
Week 9 (November 4 & 6)
Reading: L. Pirandello, Six Characters in Search of an Author
Week 10 (November 11 & 13)
Viewing: P.P. Pasolini, Oedipus Rex
Readings: Sophocles, Oedipus the King; from A History of Italian Theatre, “Pier Paolo Pasolini” (349356)
Week 11 (November 18 & 20)
D. Fo, Mistero Buffo; from A History of Italian Theatre, “Dario Fo” (357-367)
Week 12 (November 25 & 27)
In-Class Presentations
End-of-Term Research Paper due
Week 13
December 2: In-Class Presentations
Antirequisite(s):
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Pre-or Corequisite(s): Italian 3300 or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Note: Taught in English.
Please note: You are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully completed all course
prerequisites (or have special permission from your Dean to waive the prerequisite) and that you have not
taken an antirequisite course. If you are not eligible for the course, you may be removed from it at any
time, and it will be deleted from your record. In addition, you will receive no adjustment to your fees.
These decisions can not be appealed.
Other Academic Matters: UWO Academic Calendar (Academic Policies/Regulations).
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a major academic offense (see Scholastic Offense Policy in the Western Academic Calendar).
Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else's verbatim or paraphrased text in one's own written work
without immediate reference. Verbatim text must be surrounded by quotation marks or indented if it is
longer than four lines. A reference must follow right after borrowed material (usually the author's name
and page number). Without immediate reference to borrowed material, a list of sources at the end of a
written assignment does not protect a writer against a possible charge of plagiarism. This also applies to
work facilitated or written for students by third parties. The University of Western Ontario uses a
plagiarism-checking site called Turnitin.com.
Absenteeism:
Students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any missed tests, exams, participation
components and/or assignments must apply to the Academic Counselling office of their home Faculty and
provide documentation. Academic accommodation cannot be granted by the instructor or department.
•Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness
•Downloadable Student Medical Certificate (SMC)
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western
http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
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University policy regarding missed classes and admission to exams: Any student who, in the opinion of
the instructor, is absent too frequently from class or laboratory periods in any course, will be reported to
the Dean of the Faculty offering the course (after due warning has been given). On the recommendation of
the department concerned, and with the permission of the Dean of that Faculty, the student will be
debarred from taking the regular examination in the course. The Dean of the Faculty offering the course
will communicate that decision to the Dean of the Faculty of Registration.
UWO’s Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness: https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm
Downloadable Student Medical Certificate (SMC): https://studentservices.uwo.ca under the Medical
Documentation heading.
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Policies which govern the conduct,
standards, and expectations for student participation in Modern Languages and Literatures courses is
available in the Undergraduate section of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures website
at http://www.uwo.ca/modlang/undergraduate/policies.html. It is your responsibility to understand the
policies set out by the Senate and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and thus
ignorance of these policies cannot be used as grounds of appeal.