Syllabus Course Code SUMMER12012.US248.

OL1: Flying Solo: The Art of Solo Performance

Arcadia University Department Name: University Seminar Semester: Summer I -II Your Name Celeste M. Walker E-mail: [email protected] Work Phone: 610-442-0661 (cell)

Welcome! Welcome to your Arcadia University course, SUMMER12012.US248.OL1: Flying Solo: The Art of Solo Performance. "One-person shows are as varied in purpose as they are in form. While Marcel Marceau's silent stories make eloquent remarks on the trials and tribulations of modern man, actresses like Whoopi Goldberg are using solo theatre to make verbal statements about the problems of women in today's society. Blacks, Asians, Jews and other minorities have used the solo as a forum for social comment and an opportunity to examine their heritage." "The Art of Acting Solo by Jordan R. Young In this course, you will watch solo performances of: (Selected biographical examples) Mark Twain, Mark Twain Tonight, Emily Dickinson, The Belle of Amherst in order to better analyze and understand the motivation and purpose behind their literary (and political) contributions. You will also watch selections from solo artists Anna Deavere Smith, Julia Sweeney, John Leguizanmo, Laurie Anderson, Eve Ensler, Lily Tomlin and a plethora of stand-up comedians in order to witness, analyze and react to the social commentary, culturally diverse viewpoints and political observations of the above mentioned performing artists. By watching solo performances across a variety of types and genres you will be able to connect with both the artist and subject matter. Through written and oral feedback you will also begin a dialogue with each other about what matters to you relative to the various performances, what you discovered about the subject matter and or artist (after watching the performance), how you are impacted and influenced by the images and performances themselves. Background information on the solo performers as well as the process of performing solo shows will be investigated and discussed. Copies of the texts of some of the solo performances will also be made available for further exploration. Through the art of the story, you will have

the opportunity to further explore, interpret and evaluate the life and world of others by actively experiencing the world as seen through the eyes of the character. Solo performer Pat Carroll who performed in a one-woman show about Gertrude Stein said of the one-person show: Acting solo has an appeal to me because it means one person can be on stage; its not mandatory that groups make things happen. I think its important in this time of mass everything to realize that one person can have an effect on something. Required Materials Textbooks for this course are: Acting Solo: The Art of One-Man Shows, by Jordan R. Young Talk to Me: Listening Between the Lines, by Anna Deavere Smith I will also post selected readings from the following texts: Zen and the Art of the Monologue, by Jay Sankey Performance Art: From Futurism to the Present, by Rose Lee Goldberg The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, by Jane Wagner The Vagina Monologues, by Eve Ensler Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, by Anna Deavere Smith In addition, you will use Arcadia's online databases and other web resources, including YouTube .Since this course is being delivered online, your computer system will need to meet specific hardware and software requirements. For this course, you will need to have access to Microsoft Office, or software that can author MS Office formats like Google Docs or Open Office. Additionally, we will be using other software packages, but I've tried to utilize free programs. The URL's for those programs will be provided in the course at the appropriate location. 1. Headset with microphone, or a built-in laptop microphone 2. Skype (free conferencing software) - http://www.skype.com Prerequisites - none Minimum Technical Skills Expected 1. The ability to use a modern web browser, like Internet Explorer or Firefox, to navigate websites. 2. The ability to use your Arcadia e-mail address to send and receive e-mails. 3. The ability to learn My Arcadia features found in the Tutorials section of the course, as needed. 4. The ability to use word processing software to read, author, edit and save documents. 5. The ability to use a search engine, like Google, to find information on the web.

Evaluation A B C D F 90% to 100% 80% to 89% 70% to 79% 60% to 69% Failure to complete required work 20% 10% 20% 20% 30% 100 %* 95-100 90-94 87-89 84-86 C+ C CB77-79 74-76 70-73 80-83 D+ 65-69 D 60-64 below 60 points

Reflection Journals and response blogs (10 entries) Reading Reflection Blogs Performance Reaction Notes with Power Point or Prezi visuals (3) Interview (Anna Deavere Smith) Exercise, Presentation and Paper Final Presentation Mash-up and Paper Total A AB+ B

Unit 1 Course Overview ,personal perceptions of solo performance Write: Introductory Blog post on Blackboard, Minimonologue exercise Unit 2 Understanding the historically based solo show, going beyond the words Reflection Journal #1 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 1 readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Units 3 Addressing the differences between historically based an original solo performance? Reflection Journal #2 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 2 readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Unit 4 How does the artists image/behavior/personality affect

the message? Reflection Journal #3 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 3readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Present the First Performance Note with text and visuals Skype/conference call with fellow classmates and instructor Unit 5 Understanding Society, Race, Class and Gender Issues through solo performance Reflection Journal #4 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 4 readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Unit 6 Understanding one artists process Anna Deavere Smith Reflection Journal #5 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 5 readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Conference Call with Instructor Post Best Reflection Journal and Best Reading Response from weeks 1-5 on Blackboard. Unit 7 Application of the process And -Comparison of the traditional and the innovative Reflection Journal #6 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 6 readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Performance Note #2 due Skype/conference call with fellow classmates and instructor Unit 8 With or without? Movement versus set, costumes, and props Anna Deavere Smith Project Paper and Reading Due Reflection Journal #7 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 7 readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Skype/Conference

Call with classmates and instructor Unit 9 Understanding the politics behind the art and can a performance change the world? Reflection Journal #8 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 8 readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Performance Note #3 due Final Project Subject due Unit 10 Understanding the evolution of stand-up and how it relates to society Reflection Journal #9 on discussion Board, Reading Response to Unit 9 readings on Blog post. Post to fellow classmates posts on Discussion Board Post Best Reflection Journal and Best Reading Response from weeks 6-9 on Blackboard. Unit 11 Present Final project paper, visual and oral presentation Final Reflection journal #10 Introduction This course is being presented in an online fashion. It is important that you login on a regular basis (daily if possible) and work on a consistent basis to complete your requirements. Since we are not meeting face to face, it will be imperative that you participate in the discussion board with your journal reflections, blog posts and responses to each others blog posts, as well as on the phone and in Skype conferences with your instructor. You will be invited to join a Ning network where you will post your journal reflections and blog posts, reading responses and responses to each others postings. This course utilizes both Blackboard and Ning to facilitate learning and assessment. Ning is a social networking site where much of our discussion will happen this semester. It is much more dynamic than blackboard for discussion and includes easy ways to upload photos and videos and a blog feature to document your experiences. You will be required to re-post some of your journals, blogs and responses on Blackboard as well, so keep track of both sites. I am available to answer questions and the helpdesk ([email protected]) is also an important resource. If you are having difficulty with the online interface or with particular assignments, please communicate with me right away.

Blackboard is like an electronic syllabus. The structure for each unit is most clearly outlined on blackboard. You should always go to blackboard first if you have a question about the guidelines for particular assignments. You will also submit work here for grading using the journal feature. Be sure to use the rubrics to help you clarify what is needed for these assignments. It can be helpful to think of your original posts on Ning as rough drafts of what you later submit to Blackboard for a grade. You will need to be self-motivated and try to stay as organized as possible; developing a schedule would be a good idea. I also suggest that you login in the beginning of the week and copy all assignments to a Word document. This will allow you to construct a quality answer, spell check, grammar check, and copy and paste it into the forum. Requirements for Discussion Board Sessions 1. You are required to respond to each of your classmates student journal postings every week (Since there are only three students in this class, it should not take too much time). "Studies report that peer learning promotes greater conceptual and procedural gains for students, accommodates a broad range of learning styles, results in greater enjoyment of the learning task, and encourages a stronger persistence in learning" (Johnson & Johnson, 1999). 2. Your postings will be evaluated based upon the substantive nature and how it efficiently addresses the question at hand. Simple responses such as "I agree" are of no value and will not be counted as an acceptable posting. Be thoughtful, open minded and creative, succinct and to the point. Discussion Etiquette In this course, I welcome the creation of a dialogue that is open, thoughtful, and founded on the basis of research in the field. At times, some of you will not agree with one another. This diversity is welcomed. However, each student must exercise respect for the thoughts and comments that are posted by their peers. If any posted comments are inappropriate or of an offensive nature, they will be removed from the forum and I will address the issue with the author of the content. Please follow the following guidelines: Never post, transmit, promote, or distribute content that is known to be illegal. Never post harassing, threatening, or embarrassing comments. If you disagree with someone, respond to the subject, not the person. Never post content that is harmful, abusive, racially, ethnically, or religiously offensive, vulgar or otherwise potentially offensive.

Unit Schedule Unit 1- 5/21-27 Unit 1 Objectives: Introductions, Course Overview and personal perceptions of solo performance -The Art of Acting Solo whats in a monologue? Why Solo? The history of the solo performer Unit 1 Readings: Prologue and the first three chapters of Acting Solo: The Art of One-Man Shows, by Jordan Young (pages 13-68) Unit 1 Assignments: Introductory Blogpost, Mini-monologue exercise Unit 2- 5/28-6/3 Unit 2 Objectives: Understanding the historical solo show, going beyond the words What are the images and production elements and how do they contribute to the story? Unit 2 Readings/Videos: From Acting Solo: The Art of One-Man Shows, by Jordan Young Will the Real Mark Twain Please Stand Up? (Pages 69-82) Watch the Video: View Mark Twain Tonight! Unit 2 Assignments: Reflection Journal #1, Reading Response to Unit 1 readings. Post at least one response to fellow classmates posts Unit 3-6/4-10 Unit 3 Objectives: Practitioners traditional or non-traditional? Using what is around you to create a solo show What compels one to use his or her own life experiences in solo performance? Unit 3 Readings/Videos: Read: From Zen and the Art of the Monologue Watch the following videos Danny Hoch: Crafting the One-Person Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG5c5OWE0jo God Said Ha! Julia Sweeney | Profile on TED.com As a solo performer, comic actor Julia Sweeney explores love, cancer, family and faith. Her latest solo show and CD, Letting Go of God, is about the "quest for something I could really believe in" ... http://www.ted.com/speakers/julia_sweeney.html Julia Sweeney The Talk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysxz5Ug70G0 Julia Sweeney Letting Go of God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqh53RCkURQ Elizabeth Gilbert TED Talk on Nurturing Creativity

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html Sarah Jones A one-woman global village http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/sarah_jones_as_a_one_woman_global_village.html Unit 3 Assignments: Reflection Journal #2, Reading Response to Unit 2 readings. Post at least one response to fellow classmates posts, First Performance Note Due Unit 4-6/11-17 Unit 4 Objectives: What is the difference between a cross dresser and a transvestite? And what does that have to do with the message? Unit 4 Readings/Videos: From Acting Solo: The Art of One-Man Shows, by Jordan Young (read pages 173-188), Life as Art Watch: Dressed to Kill Eddie Izzard Unit 4 Assignments: Reflection Journal #3, Response to Unit 3 and the process of creation (either writing or creating solo shows). Post at least one response to fellow classmates posts Skype Conference Call with Instructor Unit 5-6/18-24 Unit 5 Objectives: Understanding Society, Race, Class and Gender Issues through solo performance
Unit 5 Readings/Videos: Freak John Leguizamo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C8cvQQmiV8
Unit 5 Assignments: Reflection Journal #4, Response to Unit 4 Reading. Post at least one response to fellow classmates posts

Unit 6- 6/25-7/1 Unit 6 Objectives: Understanding one artists process Anna Deavere Smith Unit 6 Readings/Video: From Talk to me: Listening between the Lines, by Anna Deavere Smith (Read Pages 3-22, 46-59 and 95-107) Read From Twilight: Los Angeles Read the Introduction, Prologue and pages 244-249 Watch Bill Moyer Interview with Anna Deavere Smith on her process http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ33dh082Rs&feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jCuCtQ1Ioo&feature=relmfu

Anne Deavere Smith TED Talk- Anna Deavere Smith's ground-breaking solo shows blur the lines

between theater and journalism, using text from real-life encounters to create gripp... http://www.ted.com/speakers/anna_deavere_smith.html Watch: Twilight: Los Angeles
Unit 6 Assignments: Reflection Journal #5, Response to Unit 5 Reading. Post at least one response to fellow classmates posts Conference Call with Instructor and Classmates Unit 7-7/2-8 Unit 7 Objectives: Application of the process begin the Anna Deavere Smith Interview Project Comparison of the traditional and the innovative Unit 7 Readings/Videos: From Acting Solo: the Art of One-Man Shows, by Jordan Young (Pages 99-114 and 129-146) Watch: The Belle of Amherst with Julie Harris Laurie Anderson O Superman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzYu88jIDYs&list=PLFA23664B20CD1185&index=78&feature=plpp_ video Laurie Anderson: Great thinkers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQV37_nMtSo&feature=related Karen Finley Live performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sql8MbkMQ5o

GRITtv: Karen Finley: Constructing Women's Identities & Art is Threatening

Unit 8-7/9-15 Unit 8 Objectives: With or without? Movement versus set, costumes, and props Imagination versus reality Unit 8 Readings/Video: Watch Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe with Lily Tomlin Unit 8 Assignments: Anna Deavere Smith Project Paper and Reading Due, Reflection Journal #7, Response to Unit 7 Reading. Post at least one response to fellow classmates posts, Conference Call with Instructor and Classmates

Unit 9 7/16-22 Unit 9 Objectives: Understanding the politics behind the art Unit 9 Readings/Video: From The Vagina Monologues (the Foreword by Gloria Steinem and

pages 2-30) Watch: The Vagina Monologues Embrace Your Inner Girl TED Talk
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/eve_ensler_embrace_your_inner_girl.html Suddenly, My Body http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/eve_ensler.html Unit 9 Assignments: Reflection Journal #8, Response to Unit 8 Reading. Post at least one response to fellow classmates posts, Performance Note #3 due, Final Project Subject due Conference Call with Instructor and Classmates

Unit 10- 7/23-29 Unit 9 Objectives: Understanding the evolution of stand-up and how it relates to society Unit 10 Readings/Video: Watch:

Rodney Dangerfield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FPv2toi5og&feature=BFa&list=PLFA23664B20CD1185&l f=plpp_video Woody Allen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmnLRVWgnXU&feature=BFa&list=PLFA23664B20CD118 5&lf=plpp_video Lenny Bruce http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St0Y8-1BlCc&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGlkNmV6SaA&feature=relmfu Dustin Hoffman Playing Lenny Bruce in LENNY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=venWm3sGOpQ&feature=related George Carlin on the 7 words http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Nrp7cj_tM&feature=BFa&list=PLFA23664B20CD1185 &lf=plpp_video&has_verified=1 Carlin on Stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac&list=PLFA23664B20CD1185&index=94&fe ature=plpp_video Robin Williams Golf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnFbCCgTo4&feature=BFa&list=PLFA23664B20CD1185 &lf=plpp_video&index=97 Jerry Seinfeld- Halloween http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MarBVyZVe9s Richard Pryor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mA8imwCGNI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9IlOQeU3lw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Ipxs_yFIY&feature=BFa&list=PLFA23664B20CD1185&lf =plpp_video Eddie Murphy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NyvYwfZR38&feature=BFa&list=PLFA23664B20CD1185 &lf=plpp_video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SniOXFhwIZ8 Chris Rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eG-jigPFyQ&feature=related Joan Rivers Early http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpPCFoXXhF0&feature=fvwrel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNUkLzi46OI Roseanne Barr - early http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqThuH_qGI&feature=BFa&list=PLFA23664B20CD1185 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAEAfEXowTg&feature=related&lf=plpp_video Lily Tomlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9e3dTOJi0o&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GG9GOjoxhk&feature=mr_meh&list=PLFA23664B20CD 1185&lf=plpp_video&playnext=0 Sarah Silverman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3RYrQSir7k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6E9sJ6B-u8&feature=related
Unit 10 Assignments: Reflection Journal #9, Response to Unit 9 Reading. Post at least one response to fellow classmates posts, Create Final Project

Skype Conference Call with Instructor

Unit 11- 7/30-8/5 Unit 11: Present Final project paper, visual and oral presentation Assignments: Final Reflection journal #10 Skype Conference Call with Instructor