Explore Theatre: A Backstage Pass Michael M. O’Hara & Judith A. Sebesta PowerPoints prepared by the authors This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Paradigms & Theatre Chapter 4

Where is Important! What paradigms exist that govern your experience or reception of culture? For example: Harvard Business School? What percentage of the class is: Female? Ethnic? International? What was their undergraduate major? Use a show of hands to gauge the class’s “paradigm” for their own expectations to get into a prestigious school. Break it down by: % of women % of minorities % of international students % of Humanities & Social Sciences% of Engineering and Sciences/Tech% of Business% of Other Record their answers.

Facts Harvard Business School (http://www.hbs.edu/about/statistics/mba.html)

Paradigms affect Reception Any world view shapes reception. Paradigms can be: contextual ideological rational Equally good or bad? Any world view will affect how a given phenomenon is received by individuals who share paradigms.Paradigms can be contextual (situational/ethically based judgments), ideological (rule or faith based judgments), or rational (scientific method based judgments).None serve equally well in all situations.Which ones will serve best in which situations?

Theatrical Paradigms Paradigms of Space create and sustain audience experience. What kinds of experiences do you see audiences having that could be attributed to the 18th century space?

Guthrie Theatre The Modern shape of the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis creates a very special sense of groupness. What elements can you see that contribute to the audience’s relationship with the play/actors? Do an internet search for a photograph of the interior of the Guthrie theatre (there are many good examples). Paste here.

Paradigms of Arrangement can affect audience behaviors. Baldwin’s Theatre - 1870 Paradigms of Arrangement can affect audience behaviors. Everyone can see each other clearly, thus the rather obvious audience disapproval of the acting.

“Belief” Systems and Performance How does society separate performance behavior from moral behavior? Sports stars? Movie stars? Others? What conclusions can we make about our cultural values based on these separations? It’s possible to be a great performer (numerous athletes behaving badly, famous actors, etc.) but not a great person. When should moral, political, ideological issues (paradigms) influence your behavior?

Paradigms Govern Behavior Paradigms can predict behavior Paradigms can limit behavior Paradigms can guide behavior Paradigms do not remain static Life demands successful negotiation through multiple paradigms

Four Basic Spaces Proscenium. Thrust. Alley. Arena. How might each "paradigm" affect your experience? Find pictorial examples of each space on the web or from your own locality. Use them to guide discussion.

Different paradigms Broadway - NYC, ↑cost, ↑quality The Road - USA, ➚cost, ➚quality Off-Broadway - NYC, ➚cost, ↑quality Off-Off-Broadway - NYC, ↔ cost/quality Regional Theatre - ➚cost, ➚quality Local Theatre ➷cost, ➷/?quality Amateur Theatres Theatre for Special Audiences

Summary: Where you see plays and in what contexts such plays develop or are presented affects both your response to the play and the player's response to you. "You have only to search an emancipated man's mind long enough to come upon an abyss of superstition somewhere — nowadays generally 'scientific.’” (G.B. Shaw)