Post Prompt 1: Overtones

In Overtones, Alice Gerstenberg specifies that Harriet never actually sees Hattie (though she hears her) and that Margaret never actually sees Maggie (though, again she hears her). Things are slightly more complicated, however, in terms of if/when/where/how Hattie and Maggie see or hear each other.

Here's your core question to spark your first post: do the "inner selves" see/hear each other? If so, when? Is there some pattern to if/when the "inner selves" hear, see, and/or speak to each other? What part of this question can you answer/defend absolutely from the script? What part of this question is technically un-answerable judging by the script alone (in other words, what does Gerstenberg leave unspecified?)

On a larger level, I'm asking a Fuchs-esque question about the "rules" or conventions for this play's theatrical world. That is, what determines if, when, where, and by whom a character can be seen/heard? How do you know what these conventions are? How would an audience (who doesn't get to read Gerstenberg's stage directions) know this? Are these rules consistent throughout the play? Or are there moments in the play that bend or break these rules? If so, where? How do you know? What effect do these choices (consistency, non-consistency, etc.) have? Note--the questions in this paragraph are just "getting you to think" questions; don't feel like you have to answer each one. Let them inspire you to write--nor not.

Post your response on your own blog in about 300 words by the evening of Tuesday, September 3. Be ready for a quiz on Overtones in class on Wednesday, September 4.

As always, contact me and/or Jenny if you have questions or concerns.

Best,

JF

Greetings, THTR 2130 Fall 2013 class

Howdy--

If you're looking at this page, congratulations! You've reached the course blog for THTR 2130 Script Analysis for fall 2013. This blog is specifically for LSU students enrolled in Dr. Fletcher's Script Analysis class.

Provided you're one of those students, your next steps are as follows:

• Register with blogger.com and create a blog specifically for this course. Call it whatever you'd like, but it helps Jenny and me if your blog's name has some kind of personal identifier like "Keisha's Script Analysis Blog" or "Keisha Reading Plays!" rather than something generic like "2130 Blog."
• After you've registered, find the URL (the address) of your blog site. You can find this by selecting "view blog" and looking in the browser's address bar. Your URL should be something like keisha2130.blogspot.com.
• E-mail your URL to Dr. Fletcher at drjohnfletcher@gmail.com and to Jenny at jball19@lsu.edu . Make sure your name is in that e-mail.
• Follow the main course blog by clicking "Add" under "Reading List" on your Blogger Dashboard. Fill in the appropriate information (select "follow as [yourself]" rather than "follow anonymously").

In the coming week, Jenny and I will arrange you all into sub-groups of five or six. We look forward to having some rich conversations on this site soon.

Until then, Jenny and I will see you all Monday.

Best,

JF