European and American Drama in English Literary Studies: Inevitability or Alternatives?

Abstract

Questions have been raised in regard to what constitute English drama studied in English literary studies. Are they drama written by English playwrights, those written in English, or the ones that are translated into English regardless the nationality of the playwright? This article aims to examine the choices of the English plays studied in English drama class in Indonesia. Common practice shows that the choices cover a range of plays either originally written in or translated into English. European and American drama, meaning drama written by European and American playwrights, are more likely to constitute the so called English drama. The emphasis of the English drama class, be it the types or nature of drama, plays an important role in choosing the plays to be studied. Different approach to the design of drama will also result in a different set of English drama that is considered suitable. Therefore, European and American drama can be either inevitability or alternatives in English drama class.