This course will examine three post-War US plays and explore the ways in which they help us to understand both individual human experience and American history, culture and society. The plays we will study are Arthur Miller's 'All My Sons', Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' by Edward Albee. We will spend two weeks on each play exploring their significance in the context of the time they were first produced and the enduring lessons they may teach us about both the human experience as whole and about the nature of United States society, its history and culture. Students will be encouraged to explore the ideas discussed in the live Zoom sessions in their own time through the provision of video, audio and written sources using the Canvas VLE. It is hoped that the discovery of common and contrasting themes and ideas will prompt comparative critical discussion of the works and enhance students' appreciation and enjoyment of drama.
Course aim
This course will examine three post-War US plays and explore the ways in which they help us to understand both individual human experience and American history, culture and society.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This course is suitable for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- articulate an informed personal response to dramatic texts.
- analyse how language is used to shape meaning in dramatic texts.
- understand the significance of Post War American drama within the context of their time and US culture.
- make comparisons between dramatic texts.
- understand how it is possible to interpret texts in different ways.
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
- You may be asked to undertake additional work in your own time to support your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- Your tutor will provide written, text and audio feedback recorded in WEA Canvas, WEA’s digital learning platform.
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
- You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- You will also need access to the internet outside of your sessions. You could do this using a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer (at home or through a library etc.).
- You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to obtain copies of the plays. 'All My Sons' by Arthur Miller 'A Streetcar Named Desire' by Tennessee Williams 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' by Edward Albee
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- You will have access to course resources and links to wider learning through the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- You could progress to Higher Education courses. Follow link to the PEARL website for information http://pearl.open.ac.uk/
Download full course information sheet
Berkhamsted Branch - Failed Fathers phantom Children and Broken Dreams: US post
