Matthew S. Monahan
2.1 Special Issues
Although students will be engaged in reading and critically viewing materials that deal with mature subject matter (i.e. extra-marital affairs resulting in childbirth, incarceration, episodes of violence etc.) and use a great deal of language that may be considered objectionable by some audiences, none of the works included contain nudity or sexually explicit visuals. This being said, facilitators interested in implementing this unit in whole or in part may wish to inform their students of the use of such language and themes before embarking on a course of study that includes these materials. As previously stated this unit is designed for use in the secondary English classroom tenth grade and above; however, upper level classes may contain students who object to these materials on religious or other grounds. In such cases, especially in relation to
Hedley
,
it is advisable to provide alternative assignments. As Maynard stated:
-
If there is any rule to follow when selecting controversial films [dramas or other
-
media] for the classroom, it must be to consider your students first. A teacher
-
should know his class before he tries anything of a disputable nature (Maynard
-
1971).
Another issue to consider is that sophomores may have encountered
Fences
as freshmen. If this indeed the case I would propose studying another work from the cycle possibly
Seven Guitars
or
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
in its stead.
2.2 Aims: Objectives and Goals
By completion of this unit of study students will be able to do the following: work individually and cooperatively in defining democracy and related terms, have an understanding of the role that theatre played in the Aristocratic society of Elizabethan England, understand and appreciate the development of the institution of theatre in the United States of America, read and appreciate multiple works by playwright August Wilson, analyze both literary elements and historical significance of these works and develop theories that relate these dramas to their own lives and to the current American sociopolitical landscape.