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ENGL 265-01, Special Topics: Shakespeare & Classical Comedy, Fall 2015
Newstok, Scott L.
Newstok, Scott L.
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English, Department of, Syllabus, Curriculum, 2015 Fall
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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).
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This syllabus was submitted to the Office of Academic by the course instructor. Uploaded by Lorie Yearwood.