# Calendar

In addition to the discussion topics listed in the table below, this course also included several activities outside of the classroom including screenings, a field trip, and live performances. These are also noted in the table.

Course calendar.
SES # | TOPICS | KEY DATES
--- | --- | ---
1 | Introduction |
I. Witches
2 | The social history of witch-hunting |
3 | Witch-hunting discussion |
4 | Introduction to Shakespeare's Macbeth |
5 | Macbeth discussion |
Screening: Throne of Blood. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Black & White, 110 min. 1957.
6 | Shakespeare, Kurosawa and context discussion |
7 | Purcell, Dido and Aeneas |
8 | Purcell discussion |
9 | Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique; Verdi, Macbeth | Essay 1 due
Screening: Verdi: Macbeth. Directed by Claude d'Anna. Color, 133 min. 1997.
10 | Berlioz, Verdi discussion |
11 | Verdi's Macbeth |
II. Learned Magic
12 | Introduction to learned magic and alchemy Guest: Tara Nummedal |
13 | Visit to MIT Libraries Special Collections |
14 | Introduction to Goethe's Faust | Essay 1 revision due
Screening: Faust. Directed by F. W. Murnau. Black & White, 85 min. 1926. Note: This film was screened with live musical accompaniment.
15 | Goethe's Faust; Murnau |
16 | Murnau's Faust, Marlowe's Faust, and the Faust puppet play |
17 | Faust in music |
18 | Liszt, Faust Symphony |
III. Ghosts
Field trip to Mt. Auburn Cemetery
19 | Henry James and Spiritualism Guest: Paul Fisher | Essay 2 due
Live performance of Dido and Aeneas by the MIT Chamber Chorus
20 | Introduction to James' The Turn of the Screw |
21 | James' The Turn of the Screw discussion |
22 | Music of Britten's The Turn of the Screw |
23–24 | Student presentations preparation |
25–26 | Student presentations and discussion | Essay 3 due