Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 4 - Theatre

AE17.TH.4.24

Compare the drama/theatre conventions of a given time period with those of the present.

Unpacked Content

Essential Questions

EU: Theatre artists critically inquire into the ways others have thought about and created drama processes and productions to inform their own work.
EQ: In what ways can research into theatre histories, theories, literature, and performances alter the way a drama process or production is understood?

Skills Examples

  • View one or more dramatic/ theatrical works that reflect the perspective of a particular community or culture in cartoons, advertisements, film, plays, etc.
  • Identify ways in which the piece reflects the perspective of a particular community or culture.
  • Identify community and social issues.
  • Identify student's perspective on the issues. Articulate perspective.
  • Use other content areas to inform student-created dramatic/ theatrical works in response to those issues. Students use at least one other content area (e.g., art, music for emphasis or emotion, literature for allusions or key phrases, history for story ideas and context, math for set design or story ideas, etc.) in their piece.
  • Research cross-cultural approaches to storytelling in dramatic/ theatrical works (e.g., ballads from the British Isles, hula, Chinese Shadow puppetry, Zajal, griot, etc.).
  • Identify the dramatic/ theatrical conventions of past historical periods. Define theatrical conventions and find examples in past historical periods (e.g. Renaissance, Restoration theater, miracle and morality play of the Middle Ages, realism, romanticism, etc.).
  • Identify the dramatic/ theatrical conventions of contemporary times (e.g., realism vs. highly stylized performances, breaking the fourth wall, political topics, narration, experimentation, use of multiple forms of media).
  • Compare and contrast the conventions of a past period with those of the present. It might be beneficial to use a Venn diagram or some other form of graphic organizer to organize similarities and differences.

Vocabulary

Research
Analysis
  • content area
  • theater conventions
  • fourth wall
Voice
  • voice over
  • narration
Movement
Characterization
Directing
Design
  • media
Theatrical production
  • cartoon/ animation
  • advertisement
  • play

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
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