Assignment

Deliverable Length: 500 words

Have you ever attended a play or musical? Do you frequently watch television programs or movies? Nowadays, drama is more popular in American culture than ever before. Yet what some forget is that it is a literary art form crafted by playwrights, TV and comedy writers, and Hollywood screenwriters. Drama shares many of the same elements as fiction and poetry; however, this literary genre is designed to be acted out on a stage or “dramatized” in front of screen audiences.

1. Why, in your opinion, are dramas known as “plays?”
2. Talk about a time in which you attended a play, musical or opera—at a school, church or other public venue. Describe the experience: the sights and sounds, the mood of the audience, and the impact of seeing a drama performed on a live stage.
3. Have you ever acted and/or sung in a dramatic presentation? If so, depict for your classmates what it was like to be up on a stage performing material from a script. If you have never performed dramatic material, have you ever desired to? Why or why not?
4. Describe a favorite television show or movie in terms of its main characters, setting(s), basic plot, conflicts and themes. What makes it one of your favorites?