Winter 2014 and Spring 2014 quarters
- Faculty
- Rose Jang China studies, theater , Mingxia Li biology, Chinese cultural studies, molecular pharmacology
- Fields of Study
- cultural studies, literature and theater
- Preparatory for studies or careers in
- Chinese studies, cultural studies, literature, poetry, drama and theatre.
- Description
-
Classical Chinese drama, as a literary genre, evolved from a long tradition of poetry writing and storytelling. In Chinese theatre, lyrics combine with dance, music, singing, acrobatics and martial arts. For centuries, the poetic and presentational style of Chinese drama and theatre has helped nurture and highlight the fantastic and imaginative side of Chinese culture: the magical beings—spirits, deities, ghosts—and their boundless power in folk tales; dreams, fantasies, mysticism and otherworldliness of the Daoist realm of existence. Monkey King, White Snake, Moon Lady, Butterfly Lovers, roaming spirits and ghosts of the underworld: these ever-popular Chinese archetypes have been repeatedly invoked and embodied in poetry and on stage. Many of these fantastic images and stories will form the core and focus of our program study.
Students will study select works of Chinese poetry, drama and theatre with the intention and goal to stage one Chinese verse drama using modern theatre sensitivities and technology at the end of the program. We will combine careful study of Chinese literature—along with folklore, religion and philosophy embedded in it—with serious theatre training and implementation. The end result will be a symbolic, stylized production in the form and spirit of Chinese fantasy for the Western audience.
Although there are no prerequisites in performance, poetry, Chinese language or aesthetics, interests or previous study in any of these fields will be useful. Expect plenty of reading and writing, creative workshops featuring small group work, independent research and creative projects. Students will have ample opportunities to develop their individual artistic and academic interests through program activities, as well as performance or technical theatre skills through actual production experience.
In winter quarter, we will study existing works of masters, from the ancient to the contemporary, which depict the supernatural and fantastic world in Chinese imagination. We will analyze them as both acknowledged literary masterpieces and tacit philosophical vehicles. Besides lectures and reading, workshops on poetry, theater performance, stylized movements and voice training will allow hands-on learning through practices. Chinese language workshop may be offered within the program to meet student need as a four- or two-credit option.
In spring, we will focus on rehearsals and technical theatre work in order to mount a full-fledged theatrical production of an original Chinese verse drama based on the mythical story of Moon Lady. This end-of-program public presentation will put to the test our collective understanding of Chinese mythology, poetry and drama, and help us convey this understanding in a complex form of the theatre of fantasy.
- Campus Location
- Olympia
- Online Learning
- No Required Online Learning
- Books
- Greener Store
- Required Fees
- $40 in winter for theatre admission.
- Offered During
- Day