ENG 263, 264 - Postwar British Theatre & Film

1 course unit

This course explores what has been called the “second renaissance” of British drama - “the new drama” of 1956 and after - and the parallel British New Wave of cinema. We will begin by examining the cultural and social influences leading up to the “annus mirabilis” of 1956. We will then trace the emergence of John Osborne and other “Angry Young Men” and the development of a drama overtly engaged with issues of class, gender, and sexuality. We will then look at the ways these plays helped to revitalize the British cinema of the postwar era, creating a cinematic scene in which the free cinema and “kitchen sink” films of the 1950s gave way to the bold, taboo-breaking movies of the 1960s. Playwrights may include John Osborne, Arnold Wesker, Ann Jellicoe, Harold Pinter, Joe Orton, Edward Bond, and Shelagh Delaney. Films are likely to include Billy Liar, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Alfie, Tom Jones, The Servant, The Knack and How To Get It, and A Hard Day’s Night.
Meets department Text/Contexts approach.
Meets general academic requirement HU (and W when offered as 264).