Othello: In Performance
University of Birmingham
  • Start Date: 22 Feb, 2016
  • 4 weeks
  • Study Content: Videos


Explore how Othello has been performed and interpreted, from its original staging to the modern day, with this free online course.

Course Fee: Free
Certificate Cost: See Fees and Eligibility

Introduction

Introduction Video

Course Description

This course is made available through the eLearnAfrica and FutureLearn partnership.

While Shakespeare’s Othello is studied and read all over the world, it was written to be staged and can only be fully understood as a play in performance.


Discover how Othello has been performed through time


On this free online course, designed with A-level learners in mind, you will discover how the performances and interpretations of Othello have evolved from its first performance in 1604 to the present day. You will find out what influenced performance choices then and now, and how specific themes within the text have been addressed at different moments in history.


After an introductory week looking at Othello as a whole, we will explore different themes and ideas each week:



  • The significance of race

  • The role of women

  • The form of tragedy


Ultimately, you will analyse the Royal Shakespeare Company’s most recent production of Othello, informed by your learning over the four weeks and exploring three specific scenes.


Learn from Othello actors, academics and directors


You will learn with leading experts, based in Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford upon Avon, from the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), the University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare Institute and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.




  • Jacqui O’Hanlon, RSC Director of Education, will offer an overview of Othello, with insights from: Professor Michael Dobson of the Shakespeare Institute; RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran and Director Iqbal Khan; and members of the 2015 RSC Acting Company, including Hugh Quarshie, Lucian Msamati and Joanna Vanderham. As part of this, we will explore what Othello is ultimately about, looking at people, places and perspectives.




  • Dr Nick Walton from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust will discuss the issue of race in Othello, exploring critical responses to this idea, both in original performance and through its performance history before focussing on Act 1 Scene 1.




  • Dr Abigail Rokison-Woodall from the Shakespeare Institute will look at the role of women in the play, uncovering the treatment of those roles in performance from 1604 to the present day, with an emphasis on Act 4 Scene 3, also known as the “Willow Scene”.




  • Dr Anjna Chouhan from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust will explore Othello as a tragedy, looking in detail at the tragic journeys of the play’s characters and discussing the conclusion of the drama in Act 5 Scene 2.




Along the way, you’ll be able to debate the questions that the play raises - with both course educators and learners from around the world - and draw your own conclusions.


This course is open to anyone to join and will be ideal for 16-19 year olds in full-time education.


You can start to prepare for the course by familiarising yourself with Othello. If you have the opportunity, it would also help you to see the play in performance, via the RSC Schools’ Broadcast on 17 March 2016, which is free for all UK schools, or the RSC production, which will be available on DVD in September 2016.


This course is provided through eLearnAfrica’s partnership with FutureLearn.

Please note that, should you choose to purchase a Certificate of Achievement or a Statement of Participation, you will be re-directed to the FutureLearn for processing.

The following information is from the Future Learn website:

What is a Certificate of Achievement?

A Certificate of Achievement is a valuable certificate to prove what you’ve learned on your course.

Your Certificate will include your name; an outline of what you’ve learned and how long it took; the logos of the university and other organisations associated with your course. Your printed certificate will also include the lead educator’s signature.

In addition to the digital and printed certificate, you will receive a detailed transcript of what you’ve learned, how long it took and your average test score (if your course contained tests).

You can view our page about Certificates of Achievement to see what they look like.

How do I qualify for a Certificate of Achievement?

To be eligible to buy a Certificate of Achievement, you must:

  • complete 90% of the steps in a course (by using the “Mark as complete” button on each step),
  • attempt every test question in the course,
  • score over 70% on average across all course tests.

How do I buy a Certificate of Achievement?

If you’re taking a course, we’ll email you details of how to buy a Certificate of Achievement, once you’re eligible for one.

How much does a Certificate of Achievement cost?

The cost of the Certificate of Achievement varies depending on the course. They normally cost from £39.00 (GBP) to £59.00 (GBP) + shipping. The price shown includes a digital and printed certificate and transcript, and VAT or local sales tax. The exact price for your course will be shown within the course itself.

What if I don’t qualify to buy a Certificate of Achievement?

If you don’t qualify to buy a Certificate of Achievement because your test score does not meet the 70% pass threshold, you have a couple of options. You will still be able to purchase a Statement of Participation for the course, or you could join a later run of the course. Unfortunately it is not possible to retake tests in FutureLearn courses. 

What is a Statement of Participation?

A Statement of Participation is a collectable printed and digital record that you can buy, to show that you’ve taken part in a FutureLearn course. Statements are available for the vast majority of FutureLearn courses in both digital and printed formats. You can view our page about Statements of Participation to see what they look like.

Your Statement will include your name; a short summary of the course and how long it took; the logo of the university and other organisations associated with your course. In addition, your printed certificate will also include the lead educator’s signature.

Your Statement will confirm that you’ve completed the majority of steps in a course and attempted all test questions, but it will not show your individual level of completion or your test scores.

How do I qualify for a Statement of Participation?

To be eligible to buy a Statement of Participation, you must complete over half of the steps in a course (by using the “Mark as complete” button on each step) and attempt all test questions.

How do I buy a Statement of Participation?

If you’re taking a course, we’ll email you details of how to buy a Statement of Participation, once you’re eligible for one.

To be eligible, you must complete the majority of steps in the course and attempt all test questions. You can check how close you are to being eligible on your course progress page.

How much does a Statement of Participation cost?

The cost of a Statement of Participation varies depending on the course. They cost from at £19.00 (GBP) to £34.00 (GBP) plus shipping. The price shown includes a digital and printed version, and VAT or local sales tax. The exact price for your course will be shown within the course itself.

For more information on Fees and Eligibility, please feel free to consult the Frequently Asked Questions:

If you do not find an answer to your question, you can also contact FutureLearn directly via email, at: feedback@futurelearn.com

The information provided was current as of 22 September 2016. Please visit Certificates and Statements to check for changes.

Certificate cost may vary. You will be redirected to the host page for cost and payment options.

This course is provided through eLearnAfrica’s partnership with FutureLearn. To go directly to a specific Category of Frequently Asked Questions, please feel free to click on any of the links below (you will be redirected to the FutureLearn website):

Categories

If you do not find an answer to your question, you can also contact FutureLearn directly via email, at: feedback@futurelearn.com

University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham has been challenging and developing great minds for more than a century.

Characterised by a tradition of innovation, research at the University has broken new ground, pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge and made an impact on people’s lives.

The University continues this tradition today and has ambitions for a future that will embed its work and recognition of the Birmingham name on the international stage.

Universities are never complete. They develop as new challenges and opportunities occur. At Birmingham the aim is to innovate and push the frontiers of understanding; it asks new research questions and turns theory through experiment into practice – because that’s what great universities do.

 

This institution is available on eLearnAfrica through partnership with FutureLearn.

You may be able to download course materials after enrolling in this course. If not, all of the necessary course materials provided by the course instructor will be available on the provider's course page.
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