| Unit name | Analysing Performance |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THTR10015 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Bentivegna |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Theatre |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
Through weekly lectures and seminars, students will be introduced to a range of concepts, theories, and approaches to help them critically analyse performances: whether on stage, in non-traditional performance spaces, or in real life. By introducing you to performance theories and methods of analysis, this unit will cover topics including (but not limited to):
Lectures, seminars, screenings, and other discussions will all be used to establish conceptual vocabularies and theoretical frameworks, which you will then use throughout your degree.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study:
This unit introduces students to critical theories and new methodologies for studying theatre and performance at a university level. It provides students with a necessary vocabulary and set of core competencies for analysing, interpreting, and/or developing work for performance.
An overview of content
This unit will introduce the students to a range of critical theories central to performance studies and performance making today. This unit will engage with contemporary debates around performance, performativity and theatre, so topics will vary as appropriate. Content might include, but will not be limited to: performance theory; disability studies; postcolonialism; gender and queer studies; feminism; psychoanalysis; semiotics.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will learn to conduct their own research, interrogate the research of others, and think critically. They will gain theoretical understanding of various theories. This unit will develop their analytical skills, study and note-taking skills, skills in productive collaboration, and their ability to present clear and coherent summaries, analyses and arguments both in written and spoken form.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1 x 1hr lecture per week to build foundational knowledge of key concepts in performance studies and fundamental tools for performance analysis. (whole cohort)
1 x 2hr seminar per week to provide opportunities for discussion, reflection and analysis, develop collaborative skills, and prepare students for their assessments. Time each week dedicated to student-led Reading Group (seminar groups of no more than 20)
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will learn through doing in weekly seminars. In addition, students will prepare:
1000-word written literature review exercise (0%, not required for credit)
This will help prepare the student for the summative essay, and elements of it can be incorporated into the later summative work. It will be submitted through Blackboard and feedback returned to the student without a mark.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
15-minute group presentation + 5 minutes Q/A (40%) [ILOs 1-4]
Essay, 1500 words (60%) [ILOs 1-3].
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. THTR10015).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
