28951 - History of Performing Arts in the Ancient World (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will know the Greek and Roman theatre as a whole (places of performance, festivals and dramatic competitions, poets and preserved works; directors, chorus, players; relationship with public and institutions; the different dramatic genres and their history) and will develop a critical attitude towards the main issues concerning the Greek and Roman theatre. Furthermore, they are expected to know the examined pieces thoroughly.

Course contents

1. Dramatic performances in the ancient world, with special regard to Athenian tragedy and its importance for modern theatre.

2. Euripides, Trojan Women.

Readings/Bibliography

1) For attending students, lecture notes and all online materials (texts, slides, etc.) form the basis of the final exam.

Required readings:

• Students must choose two books from the following list (one on tragedy and one on comedy): G. Ieranò, La tragedia greca: origini, storia, rinascite, Roma, Salerno, 2010; A. Rodighiero, La tragedia greca, Bologna, il Mulino, 2013; M. Di Marco, La tragedia greca. Forma, gioco scenico, tecniche drammatiche, Roma, Carocci 2009 (seconda edizione); B. Zimmermann, La commedia greca: dalle origini all'età ellenistica, ed. it. a c. di Sotera Fornaro, Roma, Carocci, 2016.
• Note for English-speaking students: Alternative readings are available; please contact the instructor for further suggestions.

2. Euripides, Trojan Women (in translation).

For non-attending students:

In addition to the materials mentioned in points 1 and 2, non-attending students are required to read the following two books:

• V. Di Benedetto-E. Medda, La tragedia sulla scena. La tragedia greca in quanto spettacolo teatrale, Torino, Einaudi, 2002
• G. Guastella (a c. di), Le rinascite della tragedia. Origini classiche e tradizioni europee, Roma, Carocci, 2006.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching methods

Lectures in class; seminars and discussion of the texts analysed in class.

Assessment methods

The oral examination will be an interview in which the teacher, through a series of questions, will test the theoretical knowledge as explained during the lectures. The evaluation ranges from 18 to 30 cum laude depending on how sure, well-founded, precise, and rigorous the answers of the candidate will be.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

PC, video projector, slides.

The slides used during the course will be made available by the professor under the 'Virtuale' teaching materials section, along with other useful resources (text translations, academic articles, and additional relevant bibliographical material).

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Floridi