FREN 354 - Absurdity, Cruelty, and the Search for Meaning

FC ARHU CD

4 credits
We will enjoy reading (and at times staging) plays associated with the Theatre of the Absurd, a 20th-century theatrical movement that was known for its serious and unserious ways of grappling with the meaninglessness of human existence. Influenced by Existentialism, this genre used illogical plots, nonsensical dialogue, and surreal situations to challenge traditional dramatic structures and explore the breakdown of communication. Authors include Jarry, Sartre, Camus, Beckett, Genet, Ionesco, Koltès, and Tansi, and we will draw from the imaginative thinking of theorist Antonin Artaud (hence, “cruelty” in the title of the course). Course conducted in French.

Prerequisites: FREN 309, 321, or the equivalent.

This course is appropriate for new students based on placement exam.