LFU:online

Students will deepen their understanding of historical-cultural contexts and their epistemological implications from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment as an exemplary period of European theatre history by reading texts of the Commedia dell'arte tradition. Theoretically, they gain an insight into the genre history of comedy and into theories of comedy. Methodically, they expand their analytical skills in the field of dramatic text and production analysis. In practice, they gain an insight into directing and staging techniques by a theatre visit of Molière's The Misanthrope at the Landestheater Innsbruck.

The focus is on a comparative examination of the Commedia dell'arte tradition, which was influential in European theatre history, and its reception in Italy and France from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Starting with the masks, Lazzi and the performative play in the Commedia dell'arte, we ask, with a view to the homme de théâtre Molière, to what extent he aligns its comedic figures such as the recurring Sganarelle and constellations of persons with the Italian, stereotypical figure schemes and in how far he develops them further as characters in the context of French classicism. Le Misanthrope ou l'Atrabilaire amoureux, Dom Juan ou le Festin de pierre, Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur and Sganarelle ou le Cocu imaginaire form a basis for discussion. Later we deal with the comedy of death in the renaissance comedy La Calandria by Bernaro Dovizi da Bibbienae, as well as in Molière's Le malade imaginaire. At the end we will study with Il servitore di due padroni to what extent Goldoni again follows the Commedia dell'arte tradition as well as Molière's figures.

The module is theoretically founded with reflections on the genre history of comedy and theories on comedy. Furthermore, it is intended to expand the students' skills in dramatic text analysis as well as to familiarize them with methods of staging analysis. This two-sided approach to analysis (text & performance) will also be trained in practice through parallel reading and the visit of the comedy The Misanthrope at the Landestheater Innsbruck in November 2019.

The regular attendance and the preparation of readings for the respective unit are basic prerequisites for the participation in the course. The modul concludes with an oral examination.

A detailed bibliography will be posted here and on OLAT at the end of July with the request to prepare the first texts, as the blocked course does not start until November.

French and Italian language skills are advantageous for comparative reading, but not mandatory. The respective works can also be read in translation for preparation, i.e. the course is intended for students of both French and Italian literature. The language of instruction is usually German; text excerpts are read in the original language with translation.