Spring 2022 - CA 150 D100
Introduction to Acting (3)
Class Number: 7720
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Tue, Thu, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
GOLDCORP
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Instructor:
Charles Douglas
charles_douglas@sfu.ca
Office Hours: By appointment – please email to schedule.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An approach to the elements of acting for non-theatre performance majors. Work will include development of individual powers of expression - vocal, physical, intellectual, imaginative, and emotional. Students with credit for FPA 150 may not take this course for further credit.
COURSE DETAILS:
What is acting and how does one do it? This course is an introduction to elements of acting for non-theatre performance majors. Studio exercises and brief assignments will invite students to develop a personally relevant practice that is reflective and embodied. One’s individual powers of expression - vocal, physical, intellectual, imaginative, and emotional – will be developed within an ensemble setting. Through engagement in relevant critical dialogues, students’ growing acting practices will be invited to respond to the context of 21stcentury practice. This course may be of particular interest to students in other departments. Students with credit for FPA 150 may not take this course for further credit.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
- Understand, discuss, and apply fundamental concepts related to contemporary acting practice.
- Experience with fundamental processes related to studio performance practice.
- Reflect critically upon my own culturally-embedded perspective.
- Ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with other artists.
- Experience performing in front of witnesses.
- Experience integrating the feedback of a teacher/coach/director into performance.
- Develop greater awareness of self, environment, and their embedded interaction.
- Ability to engage in and sustain embodied play with oneself, others, and stimuli.
- Ability to embody a diversity of characters within a variety of contexts.
- Ability to engage with emotion in performance safely and practically.
- Develop ability to devise and perform material with others.
- Develop ability to collaborate with others and objects to extend embodiment.
- Build a sustained practice of reflecting upon and analyzing process through discussions, the working journal, and a standalone reflection.
- Experience carrying out creative research, using textual and non-textual sources to generate character.
- Understand current critical discourses, as well as phenomenological and post-phenomenological theory.
Grading
- General Participation 20%
- Presentation / Workshop: Embodied Research 15%
- Presentation / Workshop: Psychological Gesture 30%
- Reflection: Psychological Gesture 15%
- Working Journal 20%
NOTES:
Course Expectations
- Students are expected to abide by SFU’s Student Conduct Policy and uphold our Community Agreement.
- Students should be appropriately attired for studio practice (see 'requirements').
- Students should arrive early for scheduled in-person or virtual classes and meetings. Lateness or absence will adversely impact one’s final grade. The final grade will be reduced by 5% for each absence. Arriving 10 minutes late to a class will be considered an absence. Three late arrivals will also be considered an absence. Please notify the instructor by email in advance of any absence.
- These are extraordinary times. The instructor will therefore allow a student to miss up to two classes with an appropriate excuse before subtracting 5% from their final grade. Examples include: serious personal / family matters, serious illness, Covid-19, etc. Those students absent for an appropriate reason and who have properly notified the instructor will be invited to complete one of two asynchronous assignments.
- Weekly readings and responses are completed on time and prepared in advance.
- Full participation in discussions, studio exercises, and presentations.
- Individual practice and work outside of class time are required.
REQUIREMENTS:
Course Requirements
- Access to computer and internet.
- Readings will be available on Canvas.
- Please wear clothing and footwear that you feel comfortable moving in and which are appropriate for studio-based movement work.
- Please bring a water bottle.
- Please bring a notebook or note-taking device to each class. *
*Students will be provided with a notebook at the start of the course.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Readings will be posted to Canvas.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Readings will be posted to Canvas.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022
Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place. Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes. You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).
Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required. You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.