OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide the basic tools for orienting students in the multifaceted field of contemporary theatre, with particular attention to the Western stage. To this end it aims at: 1) problematizing the processes of composition and fruition of the show, clarifying key concepts such as "post-dramatic theatre", "stage writing", "performative turn"; 2) analyzing the constituent elements of contemporary performance, by exploiting the interconnections between theatre, dance, performance, video, etc.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

When it comes to theatre, "contemporaneity" is more than a purely chronological concept: it is the very condition of its social and cultural meaning. The course aims to provide the informative, theoretical, and critical tools for recognizing the "current relevance" of the theatre, intended primarily as an overview of current experiences and trends, but also as an analysis of the ways they reflect and contribute to community life.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students are able:

- to identify the major historical phenomena related to theatre and performance since the second half of the Twentieth Century;
- to know and use, in relation to the contemporary scene, the main concepts of theatre theory and criticism;
- to describe and analyse the contemporary performance;
- to recognize the multiple modes of relationship between scene and audience underlying the contemporary performance.

PREREQUISITES

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

Registration to Aulaweb is mandatory.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures supported by the commented view of PowerPoint presentations and videos (recordings of shows, documentaries, interviews).

Self-assessment activities will also be proposed, through class tests.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

After an introductory section, dedicated to the fundamental issues related to the study of the contemporary scene, the course is divided into thematic areas: dramatic writing, use of the body of the performer, composition of time, space and sound.

Each thematic area will be investigated by analysing some referential shows and by using a wide range of sources (dramatic texts, reviews, theoretical texts, photographs, audiovisual documentation). The shows under consideration belong to a historical period between the 1950s and the early 2000s, but the first half of the Twentieth Century will be considered as well.

Special attention will be paid to the contemporary Italian scene and to the research companies that have emerged over the last 40 years (including Societas Raffaello Sanzio, Teatro delle Albe, Teatro Valdoca, Motus, Fanny & Alexander).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

- Erika Fisher-Lichte, Estetica del performativo, Roma, Carocci, 2014 (chapters 1-4).

 - Fabio Acca, Roberto Alonge, Sonia Bellavia, Elena Cervellati, Roberta Ferraresi, Storie di spettacoli. Uno sguardo contemporaneo, Torino, UTET 2023 (chapters  1-4).

 - Selection of materials made available on Aulaweb.

Non-attending students (those who have taken less than 2/3 of the lessons) will add:

Valentina Valentini, Teatro contemporaneo, Roma, Carocci 2020.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIULIA TADDEO (President)

LIVIA CAVAGLIERI

FEDERICA SCAGLIONE

LESSONS

LESSONS START

18 February 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 examination. Preparation is considered adequate if students demonstrate:

- to know the course contents, presenting it in a well-structured manner and by using appropriate terminology;

- to elaborate the issues discussed in class in a personal way.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

i ricorda alle studentesse e agli studenti con disabilità o con DSA che per poter richiedere adattamenti in sede d'esame occorre prima inserire la certificazione sul sito web di Ateneo alla pagina servizionline.unige.it nella sezione “Studenti”. La documentazione sarà verificata dal Settore servizi per l’inclusione degli studenti con disabilità e con DSA dell’Ateneo (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111).
Successivamente, almeno 10 giorni prima della data di esame, occorre inviare una e-mail al/alla docente con cui si sosterrà l’esame, inserendo in copia conoscenza sia la docente Referente di Scuola per l'inclusione degli studenti con disabilità e con DSA (prof.ssa Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) sia il Settore sopra indicato. Nella e-mail occorre specificare: la denominazione dell’insegnamento; la data dell'appello; il cognome, nome e numero di matricola dello studente; gli strumenti compensativi e le misure dispensative ritenuti funzionali; e richiesti.  La referente confermerà al/alla docente che il/la richiedente ha diritto a fare richiesta di adattamenti in sede d'esame e che tali adattamenti devono essere concordati con il/la docente. Il/la docente risponderà comunicando se è possibile utilizzare gli adattamenti richiesti.
Le richieste devono essere inviate almeno 10 giorni prima della data dell’appello al fine di consentire al/alla docente di valutarne il contenuto. In particolare, nel caso in cui si intenda usufruire di mappe
concettuali per l’esame (che devono essere molto più sintetiche rispetto alle mappe usate per lo studio) se l’invio non rispetta i tempi previsti non vi sarà il tempo tecnico necessario per apportare eventuali modifiche.

Per ulteriori informazioni in merito alla richiesta di servizi e adattamenti consultare il documento: https://unige.it/sites/unige.it/files/2024-05/Linee%20guida%20per%20la%20richiesta%20di%20servizi%2C%20di%20strumenti%20compensativi%20e_o%20di%20misure%20dispensative%20e%20di%20ausili%20specifici%20Maggio%202024.pdf