| CODE | DCS2022 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Dance Criticism | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Dance Studies | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This theoretical study-unit investigates the tensions between literary endeavours and journalistic imperatives, or opinions about works of art, specifically those in the performing arts, through a study of the critical operations of evaluation, interpretation, description and contextualisation. Methods and histories of description, discernment, interpretation and evaluation of dance performances and performers are interrogated, and questions raised about categorisation, documentation, authorship and influence with special reference to selected critical writings of dance historians and dance critics in the 20th and 21st centuries. Study-unit Aims: - To investigate selected models, theories and concepts used in dance criticism; - To develop the ability to describe the components of the dance, discern the form of the dance, appreciate interpret and evaluate the dance; - To understand the differences of the critical operations of evaluation, interpretation, description and contextualisation. Learning Outcomes: 1.Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate knowledge of selected models, theories and concepts used in dance criticism; - Critically engage with the importance of quality dance criticism for the development of the art form - Apply the critical operations of evaluation, interpretation, description and contextualisation. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply theories and ideas from dance criticism to live dance and performance events; - Write apt reviews of dance works; Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: - Aloff, Minty. 2005. 'On Teaching Dance Criticism', in Judith Chazin-Bennahum (ed.), Teaching Dance Studies (NY and London: Routledge), pp 115-132. - Banes, Sally. 1994. Writing Dancing in the Age of Postmodernism (Hanover: Wesleyan University Press). - Croce, Arlene. 2005. Writing in the Dark, Dancing in The New Yorker: an Arlene Croce Reader (Florida: University Press of Florida). Supplementary readings: - Selected dance writings of Arlene Croce, Deborah Jowitt, Marcia Siegel, Sanjoy Roy, Judith Mackrell, Luke Jennings, Laura Cappelle, etc. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study, Seminar and Tutorial | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Margaret Jean Westby |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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