ANCIENT GREEK/ROMAN DRAMA
As long as humans have existed in communities ("tribes"), there has been a need for entertainment to explain the natural world. Over the course of thousands of years a tradition of "live performance" was established.
Origins of Drama Began as ritualistic, tribal and religious in nature Communicated: 1.accumulated knowledge, traditions and morality 2.supernatural events (the natural world) 3.history of a people (heroes, wars, events) 4.entertainment and pleasure.
Elements of tribal/ritualistic drama Stories maintained as an oral tradition Music Dance Speeches Costumes Performers/audience “stage.”
Greek Drama Tradition Descended from the lyric traditions of Homer and epic poets 10 th -8 th century BC The center of the growing society of dramatic culture was Athens
Greek Drama Tradition Factors that helped establish the social impulse towards a formalized dramatic tradition: advances in philosophy phenomena in the natural world aspects of nature self-understanding self-consciousness
Greek Drama Tradition Ancient Greeks combined singing, dancing, chanting to present narrative Dithyramb-group chanted narrative
Greek Drama Tradition After hundreds of years of evolution, individuals began chanting alone Legend states that “Thespis” was the first “actor”
Greater City Dionysia Day 1: Massive ceremonial parade Day 2: Dithyramb competition Day 3:Presentation of comedies Days 4-6:The Drama competition Each playwright presented plays in groups of four (a trilogy or group of three plays united by plot, theme, or characters, and a bawdy satyr play) A six day religious festival that commemorated the god Bacchus/Dionysus in order to please him for a successful spring harvest. What began as a purely religious event transformed into a massive social spectacle over six days that culminated in the presentation of theatre.
Ancient Greek Play Structure Prologue-introductory scene Parados-first appearance of chorus in the orchestra. The chorus is made up of several singers/dancers who comment on the actions of the play, symbolize public reaction, and/or present the universal theme of the play. Episode-actors play out a scene from the play Stasimon-Chorus performs (The episode and stasimon alternate until the end) Exodos-closing scene
Presentation of ancient Greek drama Actors used: Large masks Elaborately colored costumes presented themes Cothurnus-wooden, platform shoes over 1 ft. high
The Greek Theatre Koilon-The theater Diazoma-the audience area Orchestra-the chorus utilizes this area Parados-entrance/exit Proscenion-the stage/acting area Scene-large building (up to three stories) that serves as background and entrance/exit for actors
Ancient Greek Theatre
Stage Machines Eccyclema-platform on wheels Machina-crane like device that lowered actors or other objects
Aristotle The Poetics Six Unities of Drama 1. Plot (action/events of play) 2.Character 3.Diction (language) 4. Reasoning/thought 5. Spectacle (visible part of play) 6. Sound (audible part of play)
I am Aristotle! Tragedy involves: 1. a tragic hero a great person who strives to do the right thing in a world of chaos who eventually succumbs to: 2.tragic flaw some character flaw such as extreme pride, etc. 3.catharsis a purging of extreme emotions by the end of the spectacle.
We are Aeschylus & Sophocles! Aeschylus ( BC) "The father of tragedy" Introduced the 2nd actor Reportedly wrote over 90 plays; only 7 exist Great works: The Orestia Trilogy; The Suppliants SOPHOCLES ( BC) Introduced the 3rd actor Shakespeare emulated style in monologues Main theme-fate Only 7 of 123 survive Great works: Oedipus trilogy; Electra
We are Euripides & Aristophones ! EURIPIDES ( BC) Prologue and opening scene Realism/psychological themes Female protagonists Most modern of Greek writers Moral and social issues Not popular during time Seventeen of his plays exist Greatest works: Medea; Trojan Women; Alcestis ARISTOPHONES BC Primarily wrote comedies Style consisted of "old comedy" Great works: The Frogs, Lysistrata