IDEAS IN ANTIQUITY

IDEAS IN ANTIQUITY

FALL2020 Adaptation Assignment

Conflict Scenes in Greek Tragedy

The Reception Course under Ideas in Antiquity program is designed to help the students understand the different adaptations of classical texts available, particularly in post-colonial Africa, in both printed text and film format. This will also help students experience the journey that playwrights take when they chose to adapt Greek plays. However, at the heart of the Greek tragedy is the notion of agon (conflict). Since tragedy attempts to celebrate the virtues of man, the agonistic context seems useful for characters in conflict to articulate and assert themselves and articulate their values. The original texts were written for performance, and the dramaturgical elements help to create the intended mood and message through acting, costume, lighting and stage setting. The written Text-only format needs a degree of linguistic compensation through the ‘dramatically’ written word.

Task: Study a conflict scene very carefully in either Oedipus Rex or Antigone, then compose your own conflict scene that will be part of a larger adaptation of Oedipus Rex or Antigone. Locate the adaptation within your home culture. Try to create a dialogue between the protagonist and antagonist in the scene and maintain the original emotional intensity that is created in Sophocles. In your study, identify the main causes of conflict and other attendant issues and in your own way adapt the text for your own purposes. Elements of differentiation and dichotomies must be well articulated in the dialogue(s).

NOTE: In your draft, ensure that you tabulate [create a two column table]. On the one side, itemisethemes, issues and technical aspect of Oedipus Rex [or Antigone], while on the other, your adaptation, themes, issues and technical aspects. Include on your side of the table what your modifications to the classical text, viz: cultural, temporal (time: modernity), location, costume, names etc. You must realize that this assignment is about decision making, as well ashow you make decisions to create a similar but different narrative from an already existing text. You must include a description of the qualities of each of the characters (list of characters) that you choose to use in your adaptation. Also, write a short story (summary of a full-length story, aka plotline) that will give an idea of before, during and after events of your narrative (conflictual dialogue). Try to indicate the kind of adaptation you are working on and the appropriate methodology. The Keyword list and Lorna Hardwick’s methodology will help you here. Every aspect of your work must be clear and lucid. Draw the Reception Proximity Scale [1; Not the expanded scale], clearly label the diagram and locate with the measuring bar your adaptation on the scale and providea very clear justification for how you made your decisions on cultural selection of material. In other words, how much of the Greek culture are you using and why, and how much of the local (your culture) you have included in the adaptation and why?

Due Date: November24, 2020[No late submissions please!!]

Length: treatment 1 page, 3-4 pages (dialogue), tabulation 1 page and justification 1 page; Reflection 1 page [Total – 8+ pages]

Important Page: Include all References

***If you need further clarifications, please contact me

TOTAL:  40 Marks [Adaptation 20 Marks; Fate Essay: 10 Marks; Conflict Essay: 10 Marks: Make sure that you make necessary corrections and include in your portfolio] Also don’t forget to include you notes/reflections.

Best Wishes!!