Universität Wien

143083 KU South African Theatre: Negotiating (National) Trauma through Performance (2025W)

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikawissenschaften, Südasien-, Tibet- und Buddhismusk
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Th 20.11. 13:00-15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 40 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 09.10. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 16.10. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 23.10. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 30.10. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 06.11. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 13.11. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 27.11. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 04.12. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 11.12. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 18.12. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 08.01. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 15.01. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 22.01. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Thursday 29.01. 13:00 - 15:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

South African theatre is an art form of fierce political engagement and ranks among to most influential and renowned expressions of theatre in the world. This literary studies course looks at some of the most important South African theatre productions and performances, including plays by Lara Foot, Nadia Davids, Athol Fugard, William Kentridge, and Koleka Putuma. Tracing back the development and impact of the institutionalised racial segregation known as Apartheid as well as of colonialism, this course explores the relationship between arts and politics in a South African context and critically investigates theatre as protest, theatre as social criticism, theatre as witness, and theatre as ongoing discourse to negotiate and (re)-shape South Africa’s national narrative(s). The texts discussed address racism, colonialism, political oppression, gender, gender-based violence, environmental justice, and individual as well as collective trauma. Students gain a better understanding of South African theatre and culture by exploring its diversity, colonial impact, and new emerging hybrid art forms.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance and participation in discussions and group work (including online coursework) (30%)
Oral presentation/ acting as expert (20%)
Portfolio (consisting of critical analysis (term paper), blog post or creative writing task; 50%)
Each individual task must be positive in order to pass this course.
You may miss a maximum of two classes without a doctor's notice

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students must fulfil and pass each of the 3 course requirements (portfolio, regular attendance and participation, oral presentation) and score at least 60 points altogether in order to pass this course.

Grading scale:
1: 100-90 points
2: 89-80 points
3: 79-70 points
4: 69-60 points
5: 59-0 points
The course requirements will be discussed in detail during the first session.

Examination topics

This is an interactive course with continuous assessment ("prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung").
In addition to handing in a written portfolio, students are expected to read all set texts and actively participate in class throughout the semester as well as hand in tasks and assignments on time. Each individual task must be positive in order to pass this course.
There will be no written exam.

Reading list

Preliminary reading list:
Lara Foot, Tshepang: The Third Testament
Nadia Davids, At Her Feet
Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona, The Island
Taylor and Kentridge, Ubu and the Truth Commission
Phala O. Phala, Kafka’s Ape
Yaël Farber, A Women in Waiting
Ameera Conrad, The Fall: All Rhodes Lead to Decolonisation
Mamela Nyamza & Mojisola Adebayo, I Stand Corrected
#JustMen
Koleka Putuma, Hullo, Bye-By, Koko, Come-In
Empatheatre, Lalela uLwandle

Association in the course directory

SAL.KU
SAL.T1
SAL.T2
SAG.KU.1
SAG.KU.2
SAG.KU.3

Last modified: Fr 03.10.2025 11:46