143095 KU South African Theatre: Artivism through Performance (2023S)

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, Koleka Putuma, and many more. 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. 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.

Course objective:
Students will get acquainted with South African playwrights and performers and learn to critically engage with their work. Students will get familiarised with the history of South African theatre as well as discourses on race, gender, and power from a South African perspective. Students will train critical thinking, close reading, and creative writing, and develop their presentation and writing skills.

Teaching and learning method:
interactive (& New Media); The methodology of this course is based on critical pedagogy. Short input session by the course instructor, which will explain and contextualize relevant theories and contexts, are followed by in class dialogue and group discussions, in which students are expected to actively participate. Students will also engage in close readings and critical analysis of assigned texts. We will follow a code of conduct built on collaboration, respect, and compassion towards one another and actively practice the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu which broadly means, I am who I am because you are who you are, I am me through you and you are you through me. My aim is to create inspiring, engaging, and safe learning environments that are useable, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming and in which students will be constantly provoked to engage in critical thinking. I follow a Universal Design for Learning approach and strive to create inclusive and accessible classrooms and course materials. Please e-mail me if you are in need of any accommodations.