Saving the Essay: An Apologetics for Essay Writing in Theatre and Beyond

Abstract: This Note from the Field argues for the need to both retain and reapproach the essay as pedagogical tool in theatre studies, particularly within the larger context of the emergence of generative AI. By tracing the historiographic roots of the essay as a technology of thought and exploring current studies on students’ challenges with essay writing, I suggest a series of strategies that will enable theatre educators to reclaim the essay’s pedagogical purpose in light of the recent advances in artificial intelligence.