UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS

College of Teacher Education

MODULE (CONTEMPORARY, POPULAR AND EMERGENT LITERATURE)

Course: ENGL ED 112

Course Title: CONTEMPORARY, POPULAR AND EMERGENT LITERATURE
Course Credits: 3 units
Contact Hours/week: 5 hours
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
This course provides pre-service English teachers with opportunities to acquire extensive reading
backgrounds in literature and allied fields needed in the understanding and evaluation of critical issues in
contemporary and popular literature and genres. This course allows them to demonstrate their research-
based content knowledge and its relevance in the teaching learning process using various methods of
literary analysis.
Course Outcomes:
At the end of the trimester, the students are expected to:
a. discuss research-based content knowledge and critical issues on contemporary, popular, and
emergent literature and its relevance in the teaching-learning process;
b. explain the development of a given genre of popular literature from its beginning to its
contemporary practice through a historical timeline; and
c. use various methods of literary analysis, such as formal, psychological, and /or feminist analysis
in writing a response paper

Topic 5:

 Drama

Objectives:
 At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:
 examine theatrical structures of contemporary drama; and
 trace the changes and development of contemporary drama.

Instructional Materials:

 Handout (soft copy)

 Links for self-study

Teaching-Learning Activity/Lesson Proper:

Definition of Drama

Drama is a mode of fictional representation through dialogue and performance. It is one of the
literary genres, which is an imitation of some action. Drama is also a type of a play written for
theater, television, radio, and film.

In simple words, a drama is a composition in verse or prose presenting a story in pantomime

or dialogue. It contains conflict of characters, particularly the ones who perform in front of
audience on the stage. The person who writes drama for stage directions is known as a
“dramatist” or “playwright.”

Types of Drama

Let us consider a few popular types of drama:

Comedy – Comedies are lighter in tone than ordinary works, and provide a happy conclusion.
The intention of dramatists in comedies is to make their audience laugh. Hence, they use
quaint circumstances, unusual characters, and witty remarks.

Tragedy – Tragic dramas use darker themes, such as disaster, pain, and death. Protagonists
often have a tragic flaw — a characteristic that leads them to their downfall.

Farce – Generally, a farce is a nonsensical genre of drama, which often overacts or engages
slapstick humor.

Melodrama – Melodrama is an exaggerated drama, which is sensational and appeals directly

to the senses of the audience. Just like the farce, the characters are of a single dimension and
simple, or may be stereotyped.

Musical Drama – In musical dramas, dramatists not only tell their stories through acting and
dialogue, but through dance as well as music. Often the story may be comedic, though it may
also involve serious subjects.
Examples of Drama in Literature

Example #1: Much Ado About Nothing (By William Shakespeare)

Much Ado About Nothing is the most frequently performed Shakespearian comedy in modern
times. The play is romantically funny, in that love between Hero and Claudio is laughable, as
they never even get a single chance to communicate on-stage until they get married.

Their relationship lacks development and depth. They end up merely as caricatures,
exemplifying what people face in life when their relationships are internally weak. Love
between Benedick and Beatrice is amusing, as initially their communications are very sparky,
and they hate each other. However, they all of sudden make up, and start loving each other.

Example #2: Oedipus Rex (By Sophocles)

Tragedy:

Sophocles’ mythical and immortal drama Oedipus Rex is thought to be his best classical
tragedy. Aristotle has adjudged this play as one of the greatest examples of tragic drama in his
book, Poetics, by giving the following reasons:

The play arouses emotions of pity and fear, and achieves the tragic catharsis.

It shows the downfall of an extraordinary man of high rank, Oedipus.

The central character suffers due to his tragic error called hamartia; as he murders his real
father, Laius, and then marries his real mother, Jocasta.

Hubris is the cause of Oedipus’ downfall.

Example #3: The Importance of Being Earnest (By Oscar Wilde)

Farce:

Oscar Wilde’s play, The Importance of Being Earnest, is a very popular example of Victorian
farce. In this play, a man uses two identities: one as a serious person, Jack (his actual name),
which he uses for Cesily, his ward, and as a rogue named Ernest for his beloved woman,
Gwendolyn.

Unluckily, Gwendolyn loves him partially because she loves the name Ernest. It is when Jack
and Earnest must come on-stage together for Cesily, then Algernon comes in to play Earnest’
role, and his ward immediately falls in love with the other “Ernest.” Thus, two young women
think that they love the same man – an occurrence that amuses the audience.

Example #4: The Heiress (By Henry James)

Melodrama:

The Heiress is based on Henry James’ novel the Washington Square. Directed for stage
performance by William Wyler, this play shows an ungraceful and homely daughter of a
domineering and rich doctor. She falls in love with a young man, Morris Townsend, and
wishes to elope with him, but he leaves her in the lurch. The author creates melodrama
towards the end, when Catherine teaches a lesson to Morris, and leaves him instead.

Function of Drama

Drama is one of the best literary forms through which dramatists can directly speak to their
readers, or the audience, and they can receive instant feedback of audiences. A few dramatists
use their characters as a vehicle to convey their thoughts and values, such as poets do with
personas, and novelists do with narrators. Since drama uses spoken words and dialogues, thus
language of characters plays a vital role, as it may give clues to their feelings, personalities,
backgrounds, and change in feelings. In dramas the characters live out a story without any
comments of the author, providing the audience a direct presentation of characters’ life
experiences.

What is contemporary drama?

Contemporary plays tackle 21st century issues and present them on stage. From the
uniqueness of ordinary lives to the wonder and horror of extraordinary events, modern
playwrights seek to express what it means to be alive at this time. These different
contemporary plays – as with all creative writing – spring forth from the different
perspectives and voices of these authors. Whether read on the page or seen on the stage, you
can learn more about life today and the craft of playwriting by experiencing these works.

Writing for the stage can unleash your own creative soul. It can explore imaginary worlds, or
historical times. It can speak universal truths or heal your own life. But most of all
playwriting speaks to the time in which it was written.

The following plays explore everything from the Iraq War to dysfunctional families. The
Internet and technology function as a medium for the characters to interact, but so too do
fantastical imaginings of the underworld. In short, there is no limit to the imaginations of
stage worlds that explore our own time.

For a more detailed meaning of contemporary drama, kindly click the link below:
https://prezi.com/5qrs1bbaihib/contemporary-drama-thing/

Differences between classical and contemporary drama:

Modern drama refers to artistic works such as plays that were written and based on the current
events in the 19th and 20th centuries. One of the key concepts of modern drama was realism.
Realism focuses on dealing with real life problems in realistic ways. This was frequently used
as a method of bringing about reforms in society. Drama at this time was more about ideas
than action. Politics and romanticism were also popular topics of this time.

Contemporary drama refers to the drama that we see today. This form of drama is more action
focused. Although modern drama also used theatrics as entertainment, contemporary drama
gears more towards excitement and theatrics on a larger scale. Contemporary drama also
provides more insight opposed to direct realistic life problems and situations. They tend to
allude more to current problems in society than come right out zoom in on it.

Diverse Styles of Contemporary Performance

When someone mentions theatrical performance, it is likely the first things that come to mind
are big Broadway musicals like Phantom of the Opera and great plays by playwrights like
Tom Stoppard, August Wilson, or Theresa Rebeck. Contemporary performance offers a more
expansive range of experiences. While new or hybrid forms continually evolve, let's look at
the major performance forms in the last 50-100 years.

Plays

Plays have always been the core of theatrical performance. Plays have set texts, are written by
playwrights, and are performed by actors under the vision of a director. Since Greece in 523
BC, plays have posed questions of our humanity and reflected our foibles and follies.

While all civilizations can trace formal storytelling tradition to their early days, contemporary
commercial playwrights represent a greater range of diversity than any other time in history.
Playwrights from every gender, ethnic, and racial background are regularly produced at major
commercial theatre around the world. Highly successful writers like August Wilson, Theresa
Rebeck, David Henry Hwang, and Tony Kushner have led the way, opening up opportunities
for people from divergent backgrounds to make their voices heard from the stage.
Musicals

The musical theatre traces its roots back to John Gay's The Beggar's Opera in 1728, but it
came into its current form in 1943 with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!. The musical
theatre tells stories much as a play does, but in addition to spoken text, it also includes sung
text and dance to tell its story.

Theatre

Documentary Theatre

Documentary theatre uses materials like news reportage, interviews, government reports, and
other documentation as source material for theatrical production. Twentieth-century director
Erwin Piscator created shows called ''living newspapers'' under the auspices of the WPA
during the Depression.

The Laramie Project is about the kidnapping and murder of gay student Matthew Shepard in
Laramie, Wyoming. Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Project interviewed more than
200 people in and around Laramie. In this piece of documentary theatre, the ensemble cast
each played many roles and told the story from multiple perspectives. It encouraged the
audience to consider their feelings about the story.

Dance Theatre

The term dance-theatre was created as some modern dance moved closer to storytelling and
further from abstract expression. Dance-theatre has yet to find a definitive definition,
although the consensus is that it is a form of dance in which all the traditional elements of
theatre (plot, story, character, visual elements, spoken, or sung text) are embraced. A prime
example is Twyla Tharp. With her dance-theatre piece Moving Out, she uses the music of
Billy Joel to tell the stories of specific characters.

Street Theatre

Street theatre is played outdoors, in public spaces, in front of any audience that is willing to
gather. Street performers can perform music, monologues, juggling, tightrope walking, or any
skill that might gather a crowd and inspire contributions from onlookers.

Monologists or One Person Shows

Lone actors giving dramatic speeches is an old theatrical form, but it has taken a new shape as
dramatic monologists appeared as part of the avant-garde theatre movement in the 1970s and
1980s. In 1976, Julie Harris starred in The Belle of Amherst, a one-woman Broadway show
based on the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson. Similar shows appeared based on the lives of
 Mark Twain, and Harry Truman.

Spaulding Gray created a series of monologues telling stories of his own life and exploring
the human condition. Anna Deavere Smith's several one-woman shows are based on news
events with social significance, like Fires in the Mirror about civil disturbances in Crown
Heights, NY, and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 about the Los Angeles riots. These shows
combine monologues and documentary theatre.

Puppetry

While puppetry is an ancient art form, it has never lost its appeal. In fact, its resurgence is
thanks to Jim Henson and the Muppets. Not only have the Muppets inspired interest in
puppetry, but also the Jim Henson Foundation runs a yearly puppet festival and has given
grants to hundreds of contemporary puppeteers. One of the most prominent winners was
director Julie Taymor, who uses puppetry throughout her work, including the long-running
Broadway musical, The Lion King.

Contemporary Drama deals about the life now and the different
aspects that go with it. It is what differs it from classical drama.

When one feels that the drama itself is applicable to his life now,
chances are, that is contemporary literature.

Enhancement Activity/Outcome:

TASK: (Per modular group)

Do you still remember the theatrical plays you have done last year?
Review any of the dramas you have watched from our theatre class before by
answering these questions:

a. Why does it fall under contemporary drama?

b. What makes the drama applicable to our contemporary times?
Be guided by the link below on how to review a drama. Gear it for the
contemporary times.

https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/playreview/

References:
https://literarydevices.net/drama/

https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/playreview/

https://study.com/academy/lesson/types-of-contemporary-theatre-performance.html

https://writingexplained.org/grammar-dictionary/drama

https://prezi.com/5qrs1bbaihib/contemporary-drama-thing/