OVERVIEW

The course provides a basic knowledge of the main philosophical and aesthetic theories on theatre and dance from antiquity to the present. Through the analysis of the texts, students will be guided in the study of complex concepts, recognizing the connections that link the practices of the stage to the main categories of Western philosophical thought and aesthetics.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at introducing students to the main theories on drama, actor, dance and expressive movement elaborated within the domain of Western thought about theatre.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the teaching, students demonstrate:

-  to be familiar with the basic principles of philosophical and aesthetic theories on theatre and dance from antiquity to the present time;

- to place the different theories of theatre and dance in a chronological order;

- to identify differences between theories;

- to recognize the connections between theatre and dance theories and practices;

- to master the terminology essential for theoretical study of theatre and dance.

PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites, but a basic knowledge of the history of theatre is certainly useful.

Registration with Aulaweb is mandatory.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In the first module the main philosophical and aesthetic theories on theatre will be presented and discussed, from the antiquity to the second half of the twentieth century. The second module, instead, will focus on the main theories on the dancing body and the expressive movement developed by dancers and choreographers throughout the twentieth century. Particular attention will be paid to the points of contact and to the contamination between dance and theatre, between the movement of the dancer and that of the actor or performer.

NB: please refer to Aulaweb for updates and clarifications

Erasmus students with insufficient familiarity with the Italian language can agree on a substitute bibliography and take the exam in a substitute language (English and French).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Franco Perrelli, Poetiche e teorie del teatro, Carocci, Roma, 2015.

Elena Randi, Il corpo pensato. Teorie della danza nel Novecento, Dino Audino, Roma 2020.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September, 15, 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral interview.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Expected knowledge and skills will be tested through an oral interview. Preparation is considered adequate if students demonstrate:

- to know the principles of the philosophical and aesthetic theories presented by the teaching, and to explain them with appropriate terminology;

-  to place the different philosophical and aesthetic theories within their theatrical and cultural context;

- to establish links and comparisons between the topics covered by the teaching;

- to produce a personal critical judgement on the topics discussed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with disabilities or DSAs are reminded that in order to request adaptations in the exam, they must first enter their certification on the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the "Students" section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and DSA Sector (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111). Subsequently, at least 10 days before the date of the exam, an e-mail
must be sent to the teacher with whom you will take the exam, including in the knowledge copy both the School's Teacher Referent for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with DSA (Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above. The e-mail should specify: the name of the teaching; the date of the call; the student's last name, first name and roll number; the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures deemed functional; and required.  The contact person will confirm to the lecturer that the applicant is entitled to apply for adaptations in the examination and that these adaptations must be agreed upon with the lecturer. The lecturer will respond by informing whether the requested adaptations can be used. Requests should be sent at least 10 days before the date of the call in order to allow the lecturer(s) to evaluate the content. In particular, in case you intend to make use of maps conceptual maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for studying) if the submission does not meet the deadline there will not be the technical time needed to make any changes.