Theatre History & Literature III
Mark E. Lococo, PhD
Theatre History and Literature is a part of a four-course sequence that examines works of dramatic literature in their historical context. Theatre History and Literature III focuses on the development of theatre from the 19th through mid-20th centuries. This class is writing intensive. Learning They will also apply research to creative practice.
Theatre History and Literature III deepened my understanding of how theatre evolved from the 19th through the mid-20th centuries and how dramatic works respond to major social changes like industrialization, modernism, and shifting ideas about identity and power. In this class, I explored new styles and movements such as realism and expressionism, which challenged how I thought about what theatre can look and feel like on stage. The course pushed me to closely analyze texts for form, structure, and theme while always grounding that analysis in historical context. Because the class was writing intensive, I strengthened my skills in building clear, research-based arguments and articulating how history shapes dramatic literature. Overall, I learned to see plays not just as stories, but as cultural documents that reflect and critique the worlds they come from.
Machinal by Sophia Treadwell
Final Paper
My final paper on Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal allowed me to apply research directly to creative and critical practice by connecting the play’s expressionist style to the social realities of women in 1920s America. This project strongly aligned with my passion for feminism, as it gave me the opportunity to examine how theatre exposes patriarchal systems and centers women’s voices and experiences. Through historical research and close textual analysis, I explored themes of gender, control, labor, and autonomy, and considered how Treadwell uses form itself as a feminist strategy. Writing this paper helped me understand how scholarship can deepen both interpretation and potential staging choices, especially in portraying the Young Woman’s psychological confinement and resistance. Ultimately, the assignment strengthened my ability to use research not only as an academic tool, but as a way to advocate for feminist perspectives and meaningful storytelling in theatre.
Program cover for the 1993 Royal National Theatre production