ELEMENTS OF THEATRE AND LIVE ART PRODUCTION I

The course is part of the Master's Degree Program in Economics and Management of Arts and Cultural Activities (EGART), which offers research methodologies and professional approaches to managing the arts. The course provides in-depth knowledge of theatre, dance, and performance by introducing students to the principal theories governing their production and reception.

Students will be able to situate theater, dance, and performance productions within the broader context of arts and cultural heritage. They will also be able to apply key managerial concepts to these areas. During the course, they will learn to critically analyze theater and dance performances, their cultural contexts and features as much as their role in societies, the preservation politics designed to preserve and transmit them. Students will also learn to take notes from both lectures and reference texts to grasp key concepts, while developing analytical and synthesis skills. Finally, students will learn how to use specialized vocabulary effectively.

No prerequisites or basic knowledge of theatre are required to attend the course.

The course will provide in-depth knowledge of contemporary theatre, dance, and performance as forms of cultural heritage. Students will engage with a range of theater and performance theories and practices through a selection of video recordings of shows and training or acting techniques. They will be exposed to different genres, production processes, and the functioning of the audience reception. The specific terminology used in the texts under scrutiny will be introduced and discussed in class. For non-attending students, the program remains the same; however, a meeting with the professor is recommended before taking the final exam.

Patrice Pavis, The Routledge Dictionary of Performance and Contemporary Theatre, London, Routledge, 2016 (only some entries, see moodle)
(https://books.google.it/books ? id=ryYRDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA161&lpg=PA161&dq=performance+studies+dictionary&source=bl&ots=fUaVN_eBlo&sig=ACfU3U3Vb6UcUT- 2g7vuXKMR0BtBJ9Sb9Q&hl=it&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiGlPOK1eroAhXLfMAKHcNXA0IQ6AEwBHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=performance%20studies%20dictio nary&f=false.)

A selection of essays and videos will be available in the dedicate section of Moodle

The exam consists of a single written test lasting two hours and covering the content of both parts of the course (first and second teaching period). It can be taken during any of the scheduled exam sessions throughout the academic year. The final opportunity to take the exam based on the current program is the summer session (September 2026). After that, students who have not taken the exam will be required to follow the new syllabus.
The written exam includes: 2 open-ended questions and students must base their answers on case studies examined during both parts of the course; and 5 short-answer questions designed to test the content of the assigned texts and videos.

written

Professors will apply the following criterion weight: demonstrated knowledge (50%); accurate references to course materials (30%); Use of specialized terminology (20%)

Score Range Qualitative Evaluation
18–22 Sufficient (Basic understanding, partially correct answers)
23–26 Fair (Good grasp of content, appropriate terminology)
27–30 Very good to excellent (Well-developed answers with clear analysis)
30 cum laude Outstanding (Excellent, insightful, and well-articulated performance)

The course is structured around a series (15) of lectures that include screenings of images and videos, and discussions. It is also linked to an e-learning platform (moodle.unive.it), where students can find information about the required readings and access links to the videos presented and discussed in class.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development