Instructors
Dr. Melinda Lewis ( mml332@drexel.edu
)
Ana Castillo-Nye, Ed.M. ( ana.nye@drexel.edu
)
This course seeks to explore the relationship of space (geography) and comedy. In the 20 th century, Chicago became its own cultural hub. Labeled “Second City,” the city provided opportunities for those in the Midwest to congregate and collaborate. While every city has a
“scene,” Chicago’s became majorly influential, particularly in the realm of comedy.
Improvisation, in particular, became a staple to Chicago, with Improv Olympic and Second City training comedians who would go on to help shape our national sense of humor. Students will experience Chicago, gain knowledge of its history, and examine the relationship between
Chicago as a place and its sense of humor. Through touring spaces and talking with various theatre directors and performers, we will also discuss various facets of comedy performance, mentorship, and arts management.

1.
Identify and differentiate different forms of humor
2.
Analyze the relationship between culture, geography, and humor
3.
Identify and analyze modes of performance
4.
Explain relationships between text and context
5.
Engage and interact with Chicago as place, its history and its culture
6.
Write pieces that analyze, address/incorporate theory, text, and humor.
•
Chicago: A Fairly Serious History by Margaret Hicks
•
Albums posted on Spotify
• Performances
Course Structure
The course will meet everyday for a brief overview/lecture and discussion. After these meetings students will be free to explore or work until we reconvene at venues to participate in talk backs with practitioners, performances, tours, and workshops. Students will be provided a detailed schedule prior to travel and will be reminded daily of where they are expected to be that afternoon/evening.
Content Advisory
As all of you will have passed through at least one other comedy course at Drexel, you will be aware that sometimes (often times) comedy can cut deep. This trip will involve language and content that might be suggestive or offensive to some. There will be no excused absences (and since these will be live performances, there will be little control, on our part, over content). Part of this class, will be discussing issues of content. Uses these discussion periods to challenge points or raise issues.
Conduct
Attendance is mandatory!
As this as a travel course, your attendance to all activities is necessary. All students are expected to abide by the guidelines set forth by Pennoni Honors College, Office of Student Conduct and
Community Standards, and Drexel University. Though you will have a lot of freedom to explore on your own terms, remember you are a representative of the class and Drexel University.

In addition, you are responsible for attending all meetings, interviews/talkbacks, and performances and plan accordingly to either be on time or early. Lateness puts the group waiting on you and informally indicates your time is more important than ours. We will not wait more than five minutes. Any tardiness (after five minutes) or absences will result in lost points.
We have also organized discussions with members of theatres and organizations. They have all agreed to provide us insight into the workings of their groups and answer questions about their performances, comedy philosophies, and Chicago. This is a privilege. We definitely encourage you to participate in these discussions (as they are required), but at the same time, be sure to approach questions thoughtfully and with consideration. Respect all parties (fellow students, instructors, and guests) involved in these conversations.
Assignments will be Submitted on Blackboard
Instagram Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger Hunt Reflection
Live Event Response
Live Event Observation
Attenance/Participation
Final Project
TOTAL
100 pts
100 pts
100 pts
100 pts
200 pts
500 pts
1000 pts
Instagram
On the first day, you will be let loose on the city of Chicago. You will be provided with a list of things to find in the city. Some will be more abstract/conceptual while others will be more conceptual. Working in pairs or small groups, you will attempt to find as many as possible and post your pictures on the course Instagram account. This assignment will be graded on completion.
Scavenger Hunt Reflection
Post-Scavenger Hunt, students will write a short reflective paper (approximately 500 -700 words) about their experience in the city. You should include sensory experiences (smells, sights, textures) as well as initial impressions of the city, and the themes you noted from the Scavenger
Hunt. This will be considered the foundation for the rest of your engagement with the city and sites for comedy.
This will be due by our meeting the next morning.
Live Event Response
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday will end with live performances. This assignment asks you to reflect and write about the performance. Instead of a summary; you should consider

writing about the performance space, the performance itself, the skill sets, and the issues raised through the performance (did the performers bring up issues of race, class, gender, sexuality?
Did they reaffirm or dissect stereotypes?).
This will be due the Wednesday AFTER our trip. These assignments should 500-750 words each, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins.
Live Event Observation
Like the assignment above, students will write about a performance (NOT THE SAME
PERFORMANCE AS THE ONE USED FOR ABOVE RESPONSE). Rather than talk about performance, students will step outside of themselves and consider the performance in context.
Observations should consider issues of venue, the audience (demographics and reactions), and the relationship between jokes and reaction.
This will be due the Wednesday AFTER our trip. These assignments should 500-750 words each, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins.
In-Class Participation and Attendance
As noted above, attendance and participation is vital to your success in this course. Students will lose points for non-attendance. It is also important to remember that if you are not in class, you cannot participate, nor will you be able to fulfill your obligation for the reflection – by missing class you miss points across the board.
Active participation is vital to student learning. Engaging in discussions with colleagues is vital.
Students will be graded on their level of participation – this includes asking questions, referencing texts, bringing up examples, and answering instructors’ prompts. While we will note those who are taking notes and are “present,” it is important for students to find and use their voices within the context of class! This class is about developing analytical skills AS WELL as forming, asserting, and defending arguments. Active engagement is the best way to practice.
Final Project
By the end of the term you will be expected to produce one of two options
1.
An Analytical Project (Case Study) – Analyzing a text using the theories and concepts discussed in class
2.
An Creative Project – Producing an original work influenced by the theories and concepts discussed in class
You will have freedom to select your option and the content, but topics must be approved by the instructor (when you’re ready to propose talk with your instructor). We will be presenting our final project ideas the final day of class.

Research oriented essays should be approximately 5 pages. Creative choices should be AT
LEAST 5 pages. Both should be written in 12 pt, double spaced, Times New Roman font with 1inch margins. Academic papers should also adhere to the MLA guidelines.
These will be due the Wednesday following our return from Chicago.
Assignments must be submitted on time.
10 points will be deducted for each day an assignment is overdue. Responses to your peers must be submitted on time, otherwise we will all consider you selfish and lazy
All students should be in compliance with the University’s Academic Honesty Policy. Those who try to pass off work that is not their own will be reported to the College of Arts and Sciences and will be the subject of a judicial review. Be sure to know what constitutes as plagiarism and
Academic Honesty by looking at Drexel’s Academic Dishonesty Policy http://drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty/
Plagiarism includes: copying and pasting from online sources, using nothing but citations to make your arguments, turning in somebody else’s work as your own, and turning in the same paper/project multiple times (either in the same class or different classes). Do not try to pass off others’ work as your own , be careful if collaborating on projects with others that your work is truly your own (in cases where papers being copied are suspected, both names are sent to the College), and be sure to cite all of your sources. If you have specific questions about citations or your work ask us!
If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation in order to participate in this course, please contact me via email so that we can make arrangements for such accommodation to be made (in all cases, documentation must be provided in order for reasonable accommodations to be considered). Also, please note that the University has a Disability
Resource Center. Their office is located at 3201 Arch Street, Suite 210 and their phone number is
215-895-1401 if you need further information about their services.

Prior to class students should have read the following excerpts (some light airplane reading) from Chicago Comedy: A Serious History.
Day 1: Monday, June 13
Course Overview
Instagram Scavenger Hunt
Homework: Chicago Reflection due TOMORROW
Day 2: Tuesday, June 14
Class Meeting
TBD
Homework:
LISTEN to Gilda Radner, Live from New York
READ excerpts from Second City Unscripted
Day 3: Wednesday, June 15
Class Meeting
Second City Tour/Workshop
Show
Homework:
LISTEN to Del Close, How to Speak Hip (can be found on Spotify and iTunes)
READ DePasquale and Lewis, “Yes….And, Here We are Twenty Years Later: Del Close and the Influence of Long-Form Improvisation on
Contemporary American Comedy”
Day 4: Thursday, June 16
Class Meeting
ImprovOlympic Dinner and Talk
ImprovOlympic Show and Talkback
Homework: TBD

Day 5: Friday, June 17
Final Project Discussions!
Discussion with Neofuturists
Show (LATE NIGHT)