THTR 319 Drama & Theatre in the United States
This course introduces students to the multicultural, layered histories of drama and theatre in the U.S. by examining a variety of forms, styles, and voices. Particular attention will be paid to how theatre in the U.S. has been used to construct and deconstruct racial and/or ethnic identities. Content spans from before the nation's founding to the present day, and underscores how performance has been used to both reinforce and resist U.S. institutions and structures, specially hierarchies related to political, social, and economic power. Students will not only read plays, but also examine popular forms through non-textual sources, while considering how the narratives of U.S. theatre are written and performed.