There are two required group projects this semester (March 3, May 3), which constitute 10% of the course grade. The group presentations focus on how one of the plays (or some specific aspect of it) that we read in this course is "received" in post-classical culture, for example, in a film or television show. The post-classical work you choose to report on should either explicity recall a play and adapt and update it for a new audience (= direct reception) or it should closely and compellingly share similar themes, characters, ideas, etc., with the Roman play (= indirect reception).
General Instructions for Group Projects:
(1) presentations should be 15 mins. long (prepare & organize as a group, and please don't “phone it in” separately);
(2) your group must provide an outline of your presentation (in, e.g., PowerPoint or some other electronic format for the class) that includes your main points, names, dates, titles, texts, links to film clips, images, etc., as appropriate for your topic (make sure there will be no technical delay!);
(3) have clearly prepared and focused points (= arguments) to make about your reception project and get directly to them in the presentation (e.g., don't summarize entire plots);
(4) please do not fill, waste, and/or kill time on irrelevant or quasi-relevant background about a work, author, film director, etc. (i.e. only include material of this type that is necessary for your audience to follow the arguments of your presentation);
(5) cite any sources, print or online, that you use in researching your topic (be sure to critically scrutinize materials you find online: have they been created by individuals, organizations or institutions with relevant professional expertise?)
Some questions to consider as you develop your group presentation
Your group will be graded on:
(1) the strength of your arguments;
(2) how compelling the connections between the work of reception you choose and some aspect of Plautus, Seneca or Terence are;
(3) the clarity and usefulness (for your CLAS 351 audience) of your organization and presentation.
N.B.: You may choose how you want to present as a group, but all group members must contribute as equally as possible to the project. If someone is not participating in your group’s preparations, let me know immediately. Participating group members will receive the same grade; those who refuse to participate will receive a “0” for the assignment.