\”Slings and Arrows\”: Alternative Assignment\nENG 105: Introduction to Drama\n“Slings and Arrows” Alternative Assignment\nThis assignment counts for 1 quiz or 1 QD or 1 RN. Or it counts toward your \”Get to the Theater!\” assignment (you must clear this with me first).\n\n\nHOW THIS WORKS\n1. If you absolutely, positively can’t find a play to attend in time to complete the “Get to the Theater!” assignment, then you may let me know, that you’ll be completing this assignment in place of attending a theater production live. IMPORTANT: If you do this video assignment, you do NOT have the option of missing a QD or an RN.\n2. Your grade for this assignment can replace your grade for one (1) quiz. Alternatively, if you are happy with your quiz grades but are not satisfied with a grade on a QD or an RN, this grade can replace ONE QD or RN grade. You need to indicate which assignment you are replacing in the heading of the essay.\nTO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT\nWatch the ENTIRE first season of “Slings and Arrows,” a Canadian television series that centers around a repertory theater group as they put on a Shakespeare play. The goal of this assignment is to reflect on the series\’ view of small professional theater in the 21st century.\nFINDING THE SERIES:\n\nYou can get the entire series on Amazon.com if you have lots of money to play with; or you can rent it from Netflix if you have a Netflix account; it is also available free of charge at the Eugene Public Library and likely at your local library. It is also available on Youtube, which I would say is a last resort because it\’s in 8-minute segments. Still, at least it\’s free and available.\n\n\n\nFOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:\n\nWatch all episodes of Season 1, then write at least a 750-word analysis in which you include answers to the questions below. \n\nYour analysis will be focusing on what the series seems to be saying about the status of live theater today. Your answer should answer the questions, but you should use the answers to develop an essay with an introduction and a main idea/thesis, and well developed paragraphs, and a conclusion. You should take notes as you watch so you\’ll have a set of notes to work with when you write:\nMake a list of the characters. Some of the main characters have two \”characters\”–the one that they are playing on stage, and the one that they are \”living\” for the TV series. Using what you\’ve learned so far in this class about character, draw up a quick character sketch of the main characters; for those characters playing a Shakespearean character, you should include some commentary about the similarities between the character they are playing and the character they are \”living.\” This will help you develop your ideas about what the play says about theater.\nWho are the heroes? The villains? Are there some mixed characters who seem to be both?\nWhat are the pressures the theater faces? What values are challenged or threatened as the theater faces these pressures?\nWhat things about the theater company do you like or admire?\nWhat does the live theater experience offer that is missing in most of contemporary life?\nAre the actors in this series \”dinosaurs\” in your opinion? If so, what becomes extinct if live theater ceases to be viable?\nYou may want to post some questions on the forum designed for this show so that you can talk about your experience of the show with each other.\n
