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    This spring Thematic Option is offering a CORE 301: Modes of Inquiry course by Professor James Collins from the Department of Classics. This unique interdisciplinary course is entitled “Performing Wisdom” is available to all students. The course is a requirement for the Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society minor (http://dornsife.usc.edu/thematic-approaches-to-humanities-and-society/) or may be taken as an elective. Performing Wisdom combines classical philosophy from the Greeks and Romans with performance exercises (such as method acting, improv games, radical theatre). The full course description is attached along with the reading list. For D-clearance, please contact Richard Edinger at redinger@usc.edu.

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    This spring Thematic Option is offering a CORE 301: Modes of Inquiry course by Professor James Collins from the Department of Classics. This unique interdisciplinary course is entitled “Performing Wisdom” is available to all students. The course is a requirement for the Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society minor (http://dornsife.usc.edu/thematic-approaches-to-humanities-and-society/) or may be taken as an elective. Performing Wisdom combines classical philosophy from the Greeks and Romans with performance exercises (such as method acting, improv games, radical theatre). The full course description is attached along with the reading list. For D-clearance, please contact Richard Edinger at redinger@usc.edu.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    319 views1 page

    Core 301

    Uploaded by

    uscblogs
    This spring Thematic Option is offering a CORE 301: Modes of Inquiry course by Professor James Collins from the Department of Classics. This unique interdisciplinary course is entitled “Performing Wisdom” is available to all students. The course is a requirement for the Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society minor (http://dornsife.usc.edu/thematic-approaches-to-humanities-and-society/) or may be taken as an elective. Performing Wisdom combines classical philosophy from the Greeks and Romans with performance exercises (such as method acting, improv games, radical theatre). The full course description is attached along with the reading list. For D-clearance, please contact Richard Edinger at redinger@usc.edu.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 1

    SPRING2015

    CORE301:MODESOFINQUIRY

    ProfessorJamesCollins,DepartmentofClassics

    Lecture
    TTh
    12:301:50pm
    63570D

    PerformingWisdom

    FundamentaltoGreekandRomanphilosophyistheconceptoftheartofliving(htechntoubiou,arsvivendi),
    which maintains that living a good life is at heart a public performance, and thus entails particular modes of action,
    engagement,andselfpresentationandstylization.Bothphilosophicaltheoryandpractice,boththoughtsanddeeds
    whatonebelievesandhowonelivesasaresultofholdingthosebeliefsareinextricablybound,andtogethercontribute
    to the philosophical art of constructing, performing, and becoming the right sort of character. In addition to reading
    philosophywithaneyetohowtheancientsvariouslyembodiedandperformedtheirwisdom,wewillexploretechniques
    drawn from contemporary performance theory in highly performative, experimental, and collaborative learning
    environmentsinordertodevelopanappreciationforthisparticularsortofphilosophicalactivity.Weaimprimarilyat
    developingthiscraftforourowneffortsatselfexaminationandpresentation.
    While Tuesdays are devoted primarily to close readings of texts which comprise the foundation of Western
    thought,we willbelookingcloselyatevidencethat sagesandphilosophersperformedtheirthoughtsor intentionsin
    dramaticandcompelling,sometimesevenirrationalandcoerciveways,perhapswithoutevensayingaword.Thursdays
    arethengiventorenderingourdiscoveriesintophilosophicalaction.WewilldrawontheStanislavskisystem,text
    bound characterization (Mamet), improvisational techniques (Johnstone), and the gamesercises of radical popular
    theater(Boal)asweexploretheconnectionsbetween,ontheonehand,ourlanguage,intentions,andthoughtsand,on
    the other, how we behave and interact with one another. These dramatic techniques make explicit the notions of a
    charactersobjectiveswhatshewantstogetothercharacterstodoandacharactersactionshowshegoesabout
    workingonanothercharactersemotionstogetwhatshewants.Theartoflivingrequirescertainkindsofaudienceas
    well,soourdramaticworkwilltrainustobecomegoodwatchersaswellasperformers.
    The semester is divided into four units: Becoming Wise (Sages, Presocratics), Becoming Socratic (Phaedo,
    Euthydemus),BecomingStoic(Epictetus,MarcusAurelius),andBecomingEloquent(Sophists,declamation,Cicero).
    However inimitable Socrates seems, we devote considerable energy to exploring, rehearsing, and refashioning his
    philosophicalcharacter.Nopreviousdramaticorformalphilosophicalexperienceisrequired;onlyawillingnesstotry
    newthingsonyourfeetwhilecultivatingbothasupportiveenvironmentandoneself.

    Readings

    Boal,Augusto.GamesforActorsandNonActors.
    Cicero.Cicero:OntheIdealOrator.
    Epictetus.HandbookofEpictetus.
    Johnstone,Keith.Impro:ImprovisationandtheTheatre.
    Mamet,David.TrueandFalse:HeresyandCommonSensefortheActor.
    MarcusAurelius.TheMeditations.
    Plato.Euthydemus.
    Plato.PhaedoinPlato:FiveDialogues.
    Stanislavsky,Constantin.BuildingaCharacter.
    Stanislavsky,Constantin.CreatingaRole.
    CoursereaderwithselectionsfromthearchaicSages,thePresocratics,theSophists,anddeclamation.

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