B003270 - HISTORY OF THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS

Italian

The course aims to provide students, through an analysis of selected iconographic, literary and archival sources, with a historical-critical overview of the main forms of stage performance, of theories and staging practices developed in Europe from ancient Greece to the 20th century.

1. Principal text:

- Cesare Molinari, Storia del teatro, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1996 (or subsequent reprints), chaps. II-XXVI (pp. 19-223) and chaps. XXIX-XXXV (pp. 243-305).

2. A book from the following list:

- Luigi Allegri, L’arte e il mestiere. L’attore teatrale dall’antichità ad oggi, Roma, Carocci Editore, 2005 (or subsequent reprints). Premessa and chap. 1 (pp. 9-24), and also: chaps. 2-7 (pp. 25-120), OR chaps. 8-13 (pp. 121-218).

- Paola Bignami, Storia del costume teatrale. Oggetti per esibirsi nello spettacolo e in società, Roma, Carocci Editore, 2005 (or subsequent reprints). Premessa (pp. 11-17), and also: chaps. 1-6 (pp. 19-119, OR chaps. 7-10 (pp. 121-222).

- Alessandro Pontremoli, La danza. Storia, teoria, estetica nel Novecento, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2004 (or subsequent reprints). Introduzione (pp. VII-XII), and chaps. I-V (pp. 3-126).

- Roberto Tessari, Teatro e antropologia. Tra rito e spettacolo, Roma, Carocci Editore, 2004 (or subsequent reprints). Premessa (pp. 11-14), and also: chaps. 1-4 (pp. 15-84) and chap. 6 (pp. 105-140), OR chaps. 7-9 (pp. 141-225).

1. Knowledge of the essential lines of development of the History of the performing arts in Europe from 5th century B.C. to the 20th century, through the study of selected events and of distinguished figures of the stage and of historiography.
2. Basic knowledge of the methodological tools that lead to a correct analysis of the theatrical issues (introduction to primary sources, secondary literature, specialized terminology).

Good understanding and communication skills in Italian.

Face-to-face lectures. Extensive use of iconographic and written sources through powerpoint slides, that will be downloadable from the Università degli Studi di Firenze website (Moodle platform http://e-l.unifi.it/).

The attendance is mandatory to students enrolled under M.D. no. 270/04, whereas part-time students and those enrolled under M.D. no. 509/99 who are unable to attend the lessons, may take the exam according to a study program provided by the teacher during her office hours.
Office hours timetable is provided on this page, whereas last minute announcements of unscheduled events (change of office hours, lectures, sessions of exams, etc.) are displayed on the scrolling notice-board of the Scuola home-page http://www.st-umaform.unifi.it/

Oral and/or written test. The exam aims at verifying the knowledge acquired on topics discussed during the course and treated in the additional readings (see section “Testi di riferimento").

The theatrical events are analyzed within a complex framework and related to their cultural, social and productive contexts, but are also examined in a diacronic, ample perspective, through which are explored the birth and the development of the main spectacular forms, of dramaturgy, of theories and practices related to the stage, to the theatrical buildings and spaces, to acting, and, also, the progress of the social and professional figure of the actor, the patronage, the making of the audience and the performance reception.
Chronological and thematic framework: classical and hellenistic Greek theatre; Roman theatre and performances during the Republic and the Empire eras; performing arts in the Middle Ages; dramatic genres and stage practices in the Renaissance between non-professionalism (academies, princely courts) and professionalism (commedia dell’arte); spread of the Italian spectacular forms and staging technics through Europe; Elizabethan public and private playhouses and theatrical activities; 17th century classicism; Bourgeois drama in the 18th and 19th centuries and development of the actor's role; Theatre directing at the end of the 19th century and its development in the 20th century.