Unlike what we find in most of the English-speaking world, where “attending” a theater performance is generally treated as a special occasion and an entertainment, theater in Poland is ubiquitous, extremely diverse, and closely bound to current public discourses. All major cities, and many smaller ones, have theaters for every taste, theater festivals can be found throughout the country, and important theatrical productions have been broadcast on live television since 1953. This course examines the theater’s role in reflecting and shaping Poland’s turbulent, fascinating history. Unlike a conventional survey, however, our genre-based exploration will begin in the present and work backwards, reverse-engineering the prominent role that theater and dramatic texts continue to play in Polish society.

This course adopts an interdisciplinary, critical-humanities approach to the intersection of literature, history, and performance. Secondary readings are drawn from history, anthropology, and performance theory, and students will be challenged to consider how drama both reflects contemporaneous public discourse and helps shape it.

Course Requirements:

Short paper (1000 words), midterm paper (1500 words), final paper (2500 words), midterm exam, final exam.

Intended Audience:

This course is for undergraduates interested in literature, culture, and performance. It will appeal especially to students of literature, international studies, cultural anthropology, and theater, and more generally to those interested in an interdisciplinary humanities experience.

Class Format:

The course meets for two ninety-minute lectures per week across the full semester. Lecture attendance is mandatory.