Extra Credit Assignment #1: What is Performance?

For ONE point of extra credit, please answer the following in a short paragraph:

In the article by Johan Huizinga (“The Nature & Significance of Play as a Cultural Phenomenon”), what is his main argument? Do you agree with him that play is an important force in human life? Who in theater does the “playing”? Who does not play?

What is unique about performance, according to Peggy Phelan? How does she describe it in her essay “The ontology of performance: representation with reproduction”?

Extra Credit Assignment #2 Martha Graham “Appalachian Spring” description

For ONE point of extra credit, please do the following:

Watch Martha Graham “Appalachian Spring” Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmgaKGSxQVw

Critical Journal Writing assignment #2: DESCRIBE the first 8 minutes of this video (Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring, Part 1) as thoroughly as possible. Write as many words as possible to describe what you are experiencing while you are watching the clip. Use many nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Do not continue writing after you’ve finished watching. The sentences need not be complete or grammatically correct, in other words, you may use a “stream of consciousness” style.

Of course, you may feel free to watch the piece in its entirety as well. Links to clips 2, 3, and 4 are below:

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTdyDOWtE2Q

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91y-NEdTj-g

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KIn6xHbSZg

Important: do not research the performance, or read up on Martha Graham, before watching the clip. Just write down what you think you are seeing while you are watching it. You may watch the clip first, and then watch again and write, if you prefer. But only write for the amount of time that the clip takes. The point is to DESCRIBE WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE, using language, as best as you can.

1. Extra Credit Assignment #3: What is Theater?In one paragraph, please respond to the following prompt:In the essays in this reading packet, the authors all seem to believe that theater should have a more profound goal than merely to provide entertainment for its audiences. In a few sentences, can you describe what one or more of the authors (Artaud, Auslander, Grotowski, Brook, or Boal) suggest that theater should accomplish?Please use at least two specific quotations (from two different essays) to help you answer this question. However, you should also think generally about the readings taken as a whole. Is there a view these writers share about the role of theater in society?This assignment will be worth up to 2 points. Please upload your answer as an MS Word file onto the ASSIGNMENTS tab on blackboard.
   Extra Credit Assignment 3.pdf