EAC 389 (6457): Readings in Chinese Drama

Spring 2004

M&W 4:15-5:35

Hu-023

Dr. Fan Pen Chen
Office hours:

Office: Hu-246

Phone: 442-2600; Fax: 442-4118

Email: fanchen@albany.edu

Objectives of the course:

The goal of this course is to gain an appreciation for traditional Chinese theatre through a close reading of selected plays in translation. After some introductory lectures on the history and aesthetics of the Chinese theatre, this course will concentrate on reading and discussing pieces of Yuan Zaju Drama, Ming Chuanqi Drama, Peking/Beijing Opera, and Chinese Shadow Plays. Knowledge of the Chinese language is not necessary. Prerequisites: Any 200 level course from either the Department of East Asian Studies (other than 200 level language courses) or the Theater Department; or permission from the instructor.

Required textbooks:

Liu Jung-en tr., Six Yuan Plays. Penguin Books, 1972 (for Yuan dramas).

Birch, Cyril tr., The Peony Pavilion. Bloomington :Indiana University Press, 1980 (for The Peony Pavilion).

A photocopy packet, available at Shipmates in Stuyvesant Plaza (for “Hegemon King Says Farewell to his Queen” and shadow plays).

Class format:

Aside from introductory lectures on the history and aesthetics of Chinese theatre, the class will read and discuss assigned plays. Preparation and class participation is an important part of the course.

Grading:

The final grade will consist of the mid-term exam grade (30%), final exam grade (35%), class attendance, preparation, and participation in class discussions (20%), and a presentation (15%). This course is A-E graded. Numerical scores will be converted to course grades according to the following scale: 93-100%=A; 90-92%=A-; 87-89%=B+; 83-86%=B; 80-82%=B-; 77-79%=C+; 73-76%=C; 70-72%=C-; 67-69%=D+; 63-66%=D; 60-62%=D-; 0-59%=E.

Preliminary Course schedule

Wk I

1/21: Introduction.

Wk II

1/26: History of Chinese drama.

1/28: The aesthetics of Chinese drama.

Wk III

2/2: Yuan Drama: “The Orphan of Chao.” (The Wedge-Act II)

2/4: Yuan Drama: “The Orphan of Chao.” (Act II-Act III)

Wk IV

2/9: Yuan Drama: “The Soul of Ch’ien-nü Leaves Her Body.” (Wedge-Act II)

2/11: Yuan Drama: “The Soul of Ch’ien-nü Leaves Her Body.” (Act II-Act IV)

Wk V

2/16: NO CLASS

2/18: Yuan Drama: “The Injustice Done to Tou Ngo.” (Wedge-Act II)

Wk VI

2/23: Yuan Drama: “The Injustice Done to Tou Ngo.” (Act II-Act IV)

2/25: Peking Opera: “Hegemon King Says Farewell to His Queen.” (Scenes I-V)

Wk VII

3/1: Peking Opera: “Hegemon King Says Farewell to His Queen.” (Scenes VI-IX)

3/3: CLASS CANCELED.

Wk VIII

3/8: MID-TERM.

3/10: Ming Chuanqi: The Peony Pavilion.

Wk IX

3/15: Ming Chuanqi: The Peony Pavilion.

3/17: Ming Chuanqi: The Peony Pavilion.

Wk X

3/22: Ming Chuanqi: The Peony Pavilion.

3/24: Ming Chuanqi: The Peony Pavilion.

Wk XI

3/29: Ming Chuanqi: The Peony Pavilion.

3/31: Ming Chuanqi: The Peony Pavilion.

Wk XII

4/5: NO CLASS

4/7: NO CLASS

Wk XIII

4/12: Shadow Play: “Henpecked Zhang San.”

4/14: Shadow Play: “Rotten-kid Dong Sells His Ma.”

Wk XIV

4/19: Shadow Play: “The Coral Pagoda.” (Scenes 1-6)

4/21: Shadow Play: “The Coral Pagoda.” (Scenes 7-12)

Wk XV

4/26: Video recordings of shadow plays.

4/28: Presentations.

Wk XVI

5/3 Presentations.

5/5 Presentations.

The FINAL EXAM will be scheduled by the registrar.

Presentations:

The aims of the presentations are at once creative and analytical. Students will work in small groups to recreate a traditional Chinese play for the modern audience. The students doing the presentation will first describe the original play and then tell the class what they’ve decided to keep and why (the universality of the theme; the exotic flavor certain aspects of the original rendered; humor; depth of feeling; interest; etc.), and what they’ve decided to change and why (incongruence with modern sensibilities or tastes; improvement on the way the original playwright developed the theme; length; etc.). The students will then perform the rewritten play and hand in a written version of their presentation. Aside from performing together, the students are required to note in their written versions, as to which students were responsible for which aspects of the presentations.