Drew University Moodle

ESS 315/PH 370 – Environmental Justice – Spring 2023 Seminar
Instructor: Lisa Jordan
Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:50am-1:05pm
Office Hours: Mon, 1:30-2:30pm, Fri, 10:30am-12pm, HS134, and by appointment
Email: ljordan@drew.edu; Phone: 973-408-3740 (office)

On the theory and practice of listening and silence. Learn how to cultivate attention, contemplation and reflection in ways that support your personal well-being and relieves the suffering of others.

The history of musical theatre, including its origin in minstrelsy, burlesque, and vaudeville; the contributions of major practitioners of the form; and the current status of musical theatre and its critical evaluation. The history of U.S. American theatrical production has mostly been one of imitation of British and European forms, theories, and ideas with a notable exception – musical theatre. Now a globally recognized and produced genre, musical theatre has expanded beyond the United States and the physical theatre space, impacting multiple media outlets – film, television, streaming, and YouTube, exponentially increasing its importance as a theatrical and cultural topic. This course explores the origins of musical theatre, its major works and practitioners, and the musical’s role in twentieth and twenty-first century U.S. society, with a particular emphasis on the intertwining of U.S. American history and culture with ethnicity, race, sexuality, and gender as expressed through the musical theatre form. Throughout, students will learn about and develop methodologies and approaches to analyzing musicals by watching videos, listening to cast recordings, reading scripts (these are primary sources) and comprehending scholarly writings (these are secondary sources).