Program description:
With the presidential primaries in full swing we will explore the connections between politics, performance, and the
public during winter and spring quarters. We will attend performances and political events, screen several narrative and documentary films, and apply the insights from these experiences and from readings, in writing and in discussion. We will address several key questions including: How are performance techniques and metaphors applicable to the wide spectrum of political activities? How do political events and figures inform and influence the content and style of performances? How do plays, films and other media formats, venues, and products -- that entertain and inform us -- affect political action and thought? How are messages with political implications developed and disseminated -- and why? From the citizen's point of view, how are messages interpreted? What myths, frames, and other mental models are consciously employed and subconsciously invoked
when political messages are encountered? What influence does the media have on social capital and the ability to take collective
action? We will also consider the challenges that people face as they move beyond passive involvement, particularly in relation to changing social and environmental realities, the Internet, political language, popular culture and the media.
Additional questions and concepts that will inform our learning goals:
- In what ways do we identify and distinguish between information, entertainment and propaganda?
- What is role of advertising, marketing, public relations?
- What are the functions of frames, metaphors, and myths? How do they come about?
- In what ways do politics and performance intersect in film—both narrative and documentary—and television?
- How does a film about a historic subject become a commentary on contemporary events?
- How have the evolution of technology and rise of globalization affected politics?
- Hamlet, for example, is one of the great plays dealing with politics. What are some of the others and how have they changed from one era to another? Do they matter?
- How do the differences between live performance and the screen mediums impact political thought and action?
- How does popular culture influence political discourse? Money? Media concentration? Show business?
- What is the difference between civic intelligence and social capital and why are these terms important?
- How have the Internet and other media altered traditional relationships between politics, performance and the public?
Required Books and Plays (available at the SCCC bookstore):
- Mother Courage by Bertolt Brecht (the Eric Bentley translation)
- Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare (the Arden edition only)
- The Breach by Catherine Filloux, Tarell McCraney & Joe Sutton (available through faculty once classes begin)
- We the Media by Dan Gilmor
Films currently under consideration:
- This Film Is Not Yet Rated
- The Yes Men
- Good Night and Good Luck
- Network
- Shut Up and Sing
- The Party's Over
- Making the Message
Other relevant texts:
- Timothy Cook. Governing with the News
- Irving Goffman, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
- Baz Kershaw, The Politics of Performance
- George Lakoff, Don’t Think of an Elephant
- Frank Luntz, Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear
- Machiavelli, The Prince and other writings
- Ray Oldenburg, The Great Good Place
- Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
- Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone
- Joel Schechter, Durov’s Pig: Clowns, Politics and Theatre
- Plays from the following authors: Shakespeare, Moliere, Harold Pinter, Bertolt Brecht, Michael Bulgakov, Tony Kushner, Michael Frayn, Harper Lee
Additional information for students considering the program:
- Our program will attend a performance of The Breach at the Seattle Rep during one of our Tuesday classes. Other attendances might include political rallies, guerilla theatre and other forms of performance and/or political activity that illuminate program themes.