Moodle UK pro výuku 1

The multimodality of the body as a phenomenon and a theoretical construct has raised a variety of questions ranging from Cartesian dualism to Jean-Luc Nancy’s notion of “being-with” (être-avec), which challenges the traditional dualism of mind and body. Nancy posits a state of “being-with-others,” where the body is not a discrete, autonomous entity, but rather a site of intersubjective engagement and shared experience. Theatre as a body-contingent art produces its own theories of the body that have evolved from emphasising verisimilitude of complex stories and histories and participating in citational practices to questioning the presentation and representation of the body on stage.
In this light, the course explores the intricate relationship between the body and a range of critical discourses: mind, mental illness, ageing, trauma, gender, labour, politics, and race. The plays by Alice Birch, Annie Baker, Lucy Kirkwood, Duncan Macmillan, Lucy Prebble, Dan O’Brien seek to engage the students with examining how the body becomes a space of multiple and simultaneous inscriptions through several discourses. Each thematic session can be potentially addressed from various perspectives, hence contributing to understanding how theatre deals with the body inscribed by and functioning within the social, environmental, and political scripts.
Students are expected to deliver two in-class presentations on the plays from two different sessions. Engaging in critical reflection on the play and applicable critical theory(ies), each presentation will have a title, pose a research question and provide a brief literature review related to the research question, the presenter’s argument supported by textual analysis, and a critical conclusion. As a learning outcome used for evaluation and grading, the quality of the presentation will be reflected upon in detailed feedback.

Course requirements:
Participation: Students are expected to attend classes, read the materials assigned and participate in discussions. Since there is no essay assessment, participation extends far beyond mere attendance (no more than 2 excused absences). During the class discussion students are expected to refer to the primary and secondary readings (both plays and theoretical works).
Presentations: There is no essay assessment in this course. Therefore, to get the credit (Zkouška or Kvalifikovaný zápočet) for the course, each student will make two in-class presentations on a play from two different sessions. To compensate for the essay, the presentation should provide a literature review related to the selected work, the presenter’s argument supported by textual analysis, and a critical conclusion. The students are required to consult the secondary sources recommended but not limited to the course reading list and develop their own critical reading of the primary and secondary material. The presentation with PPT should last twenty minutes, focus on the play and the theoretical sources, and address a specific research question. Presentations should NOT deal with the playwrights’ biographies or the plays’ plots. The resume of the presentation in the format advised will be submitted during the class.
Feedback and Grading: Each presentation will be followed by feedback based on the following criteria related to the quality of:
• The research question
• The literature review
• Critical analysis and argument
• Textural analysis of the primary source
• Awareness of and references to secondary sources
• Presentation structure and coherence
Should the presentation be found unsatisfactory for grading, a student will submit the final essay based on the presentation The final essay shall have a scope of 2,500 words. The deadline is May 31, 2025, without individual deadline extensions. The final paper should be submitted as formatted properly according to Chicago guidelines for style and citation found on the Departmental homepage.

The syllabus with the list of primary and secondary sources is to be found in the Introduction Session dd. 20.02.2025