Approaching plays

Taking the Approaching Plays MOOC has been an insightful and valuable experience. As part of a group project in my MPKT course involving a theatre performance, I selected this course to deepen my personal understanding of drama and contribute meaningfully to my team’s collaborative efforts. The course offers a well-structured and thorough introduction to analyzing dramatic texts. It explores essential components such as dialogue, stage directions, blank verse, dramatic conventions, and overall structure. What stood out to me most was its emphasis on the performative aspect of drama; how a single script can be interpreted in multiple ways depending on the context of the performance. This perspective gave me a newfound appreciation for the complexity of theatre, shifting my role from a passive audience member to an active interpreter and potential creator.

Although some of the technical terms and dense material were initially challenging, I valued the opportunity to learn from such a high-quality and comprehensive resource. The course broadened my analytical perspective and deepened my understanding of how stories are constructed and how characters and conflicts develop throughout a play.