Week 5: Teaching Short Plays

In class

• Teaching Demo with Brandon Ward
  • "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell
• Discussion of "Sure Thing" by David Ives
  • Theatrical production (2017)
  • Short Film (2019)
• Discussion of pedagogical readings:
  • Showalter Teaching Literature "Chapter 5: Drama"
  • Kay, Matthew R. Not light, but fire: How to lead meaningful race conversations in the classroom. (link to ebook) - Chapters 1 & 2
• Discussion of "Dutchman" by Amiri Baraka
  • Short film (1966)
  • Theatrical production: part 1 & part 2 (2016)
  • Baraka commentary (2011)

Assignment

• Reading/Viewing:
  • ”The Unfortunates” by Jon Beavers, Casey Hurt, Ian Merrigan, and Ramiz Monsef
    • Script
    • Playlist for musical
    • The making of the play
  • Read Macbeth
  • Watch the adaptation assigned to your group:
    • Royal Shakespeare Company's 2003 production
    • Scotland, PA (2003)
    • Throne of Blood (1957)
    • The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) (Apple TV)
  • Macbeth Memes
    • Read "Teaching Critical Memes"
    • Create 2-3 memes using still or animated GIF images from your Macbeth adaptation/production. The memes need to quote, paraphrase, or riff on actual text from the play and offer commentary and/or insight on the play.
    • Suggested tools:
      • imgflip meme generator
      • GIPHY
      • PowerPoint
    • Embed your memes in a 1-2 page document in which you briefly discuss the memes. This is due before our next class.
    • Optional: share your memes in social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) using the #macbethmemes hashtag.