NPS 1111 --- The Play's the Thing:
Copenhagen (a play by Michael Frayn):
offered in the Fall of 2000
Tuesdays/Thursdays from 3:30 to
4:45
North Classroom 1315
This course will explore the play "Copenhagen" by Michael Frayn
from several angles. Copenhagen is about two great scientific
figures, Niels Bohr, who first understood the nature of atoms from a
modern perspective, and Werner Heisenburg, who realized that
atomic-size things have very different properties from those we
ordinarily deal with in our lives. They meet in afterlife with Mrs
Bohr and re-enact several times (always to different ends) a
mysterious meeting between Bohr and Heisenberg that took place in
1941, after Heisenberg had become the Head of the German atomic bomb
project. We will explore questions like: (1) what is the social
responsibility of scientists, (2) does society have a responsibility
to support scientific research, (3) what are some of the scientific
principles discussed in the play, (4) what is the nature of reality
in light of these scientific principles, and, of course, (5) how
important is this play as theatre. Actors from the Denver Center
Theater Company will visit class and give readings. An expert in
modern British plays will also help us understand the nature and
importance of Copenhagen.
You may want to view some reviews and
commentary about the play.
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