ENGL 265-01, Special Topics: Shakespeare & Classical Comedy, Fall 2015

Abstract

Mocking authority figures, kissing your brother’s wife, whacking someone upside the head – what sounds like the latest episode of Saturday Night Live is actually part of a comedic tradition running all the way back through Shakespeare to the Roman and Greek theatre. This seminar surveys the history of staged humor, reading a play a week, ranging from Aristophanes’ ribald jokes and Plautus’ hijinks to the Elizabethan theatre’s clowning. We’ll also explore philosophical and historical reflections upon why we laugh. The seminar will include a month-long residency from British director Nick Hutchison, with whom we will workshop scenes from Comedy of Errors. Students must perform scenes for the symposium on Comedy (October 23, 2-5pm, McCoy) and report on at least one local production (e.g. Chimes at Midnight, November 8).