Focused on theatre from Antiquity through the Middle Ages.
History and Literature of Theatre I
Spectres of the Stage
Ancient, Dramatic Apparitions Across Time and Culture
This essay explores how ghosts are used and seen across plays from Greece to Rome to China. Clytemnestra of Aeschylus’ Oresteia and Dou E of Guan Hanqing’s Snow in Midsummer, and Tantalus of Seneca’s Thyestes are the central ghosts discussed. Strangely, it is Tantalus that stands apart from the other two ghosts.
History and Literature of Theatre II
This class focused on developing dramaturgical skills such as research and writing for a production team and audiences. The students were encouraged to select a work from anywhere between the 16th and the 18th centuries. Below is the analysis and research done on the kunqu opera Mudan Ting (The Peony Pavilion) by Tang Xianzu of the Ming Dynasty.
The Complete Casebook
The casebook is the culmination of all the research and writing produced through the course of study. Included is a timeline with important dates relating to The Peony Pavilion, along with images, historical contextual analysis and literary analysis.
Peony Pavilion Final Presentation
These are the slides for the final presentation on Peony Pavilion. The topic I focused on was Du Liniang’s autonomy with the historical context that surrounded the perception of women in 16th century China. Du Liniang exemplified the virtues of women at the time as well as having strong principles of her own and initiative to achieve her desires despite any obstacles in her way.
Peony Pavilion Presentation Notes
Included are the notes used with the above slides to present on Du Liniang and The Peony Pavilion.
History and Literature of Theatre III
This class explored topics of theatre from the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Verismo Opera
This is a place holder for the eventual essay I am currently writing on Verismo opera.
History and Literature of Theatre IV
This class focused on theatre practices arising in the latter 20th century and plays in contemporary times.
Takarazuka Kagekidan
Takarazuka Kagekidan (also called Takarazuka Revue Company) is a Japanese based theatre company with solely women performers. This essay looks into the history, structure, and practices of the company.
Romeo et Juliette
The asignment was to research and analyze a contemporary play and cultural context. After learning about Takarazuka, their adaptation of the French musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic play piqued a certain cross-cultural interest on how modern companies and audiences interpret new styles of older theatrical works.
Dramatic Structures and Theatrical Processes
Cat and Coyote as Love
An Analysis of “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot”
This is a literary analysis essay that focuses on the symbolism of the personified characters “Cat” and “Coyote.” The two represent the inner world of the main character, Gabriella, and the struggle between passion and domesticity.
Final Project
The final project for this class was a series of exercises on ways to think about the plays we read as well as introduce how to research for design. The two plays featured here are References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot by Jose Rivera and Peerless by Park Jihye.