English 358/458 – Assignment Schedule

Reading assignments will be made with reference to the author’s name (for our five books), or the author’s name plus the parenthetical notation "(CP)" to indicate that it is in the course packet.

Jan. 18         Course Introduction
                For 1/25: Case pp. 1-45, Murphy pp. 49-65 and Glaspell, Trifles and "A Jury
                of Her Peers" (CP) + handout

Jan. 25         Discuss Glaspell, backgrounds to feminist theatre
                For 2/1: Treadwell, Machinal and Murphy pp. 66-81

Feb. 1          Report on Aston’s "Feminist Theories of Representation;" discuss Machinal
                For 2/8: Kennedy, Funnyhouse of a Negro + Interview (CP), Case pp. 95-111 and
                Murphy pp. 98-117, 134-152, 244-253

Feb. 8          Report on Dickerson’s "Cult;" discuss intersection of race and gender in Kennedy
                For 2/15: Terry, Calm Down Mother (CP), Murphy pp. 173-184 + handout

Feb. 15        Report on Hughes’ "World;" discuss Terry as "Mother of Feminist Drama"
                For 2/22: Duffy, Rites (CP) and Gillespie article (Handout)

Feb. 22        Report on Finley’s "Desire;" discuss class & gender oppressions in Rites
                For 3/1: Shange, for colored girls + Interview (CP) and Murphy pp. 190-193

March 1      Report on DeShazer’s "Rejecting Necrophilia;" discussion of genre
                For 3/8: Fornes, Fefu and Her Friends + Interview (CP), Case pp. 112-132 and
                handout

March 8       Report on Austin’s "Madwoman in the Spotlight" and/or Geis’ "Wordscapes;"
                Discussion of Fefu’s structure
                For 3/22: Wasserstein, Uncommon Women and Interview (CP), and
                Murphy pp. 213-231

March 12-18     SPRING BREAK

March 22        Submit paragraph-length descriptions of final project topic
                  Report on Austin’s "Feminist Theories" & "Moving Ahead" and/or
                  Schroeder’s "American Drama;" discussion of Wasserstein
                   For 3/29: Churchill, Cloud 9 (CP), Case pp. 82-94 and Murphy pp. 155-172

March 29        Report on Diamond’s "(In)Visible Bodies;" race, class & gender in Churchill
                   For 4/5: Jackson, Paper Dolls

 April 5            Members of 1st Presentation Group submit draft of final project
                   Report on Aston’s "Performing Gender;" discuss Jackson’s use of farce
                   For 4/12: Moraga, Giving Up the Ghost (CP) and Case pp. 62-81

April 12        Members of 2nd Presentation Group submit draft of final project
                 Report on Dolan’s "Breaking the Code;" discuss Giving Up the Ghost

April 19        PRESENTATIONS ON FINAL PROJECTS (undergraduate)

April 26        PRESENTATIONS ON FINAL PROJECTS (graduate)
                You may turn in your final project on the last day of class if you wish.
       
ALL FINAL PROJECTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY TUESDAY, MAY 1 AT 4:30 P.M.