Introduction to Drama Why Study Drama?

Why study Drama? Theater is a kind of storytelling which has existed for 3,000 years. Theater is a kind of storytelling which has existed for 3,000 years. The question isn’t "why should we study the drama?" but "how can we possibly avoid it?" The question isn’t "why should we study the drama?" but "how can we possibly avoid it?" Drama is everywhere. Drama is everywhere. Movies Movies Television Shows Television Shows Radio Broadcasts Radio Broadcasts News Casts News Casts Commercials Commercials Classrooms Classrooms The Dinner Table The Dinner Table

Why study Drama? To fully appreciate drama you must know something about it. What is it? What is it? What is it made of? What is it made of? How can we understand it? How can we understand it?

What is Drama? Literature that is meant to be performed before an audience, otherwise known as a play. Contains elements of plot, character, setting, and theme. Drama can be read, somewhat like a poem or novel. Drama can be read, somewhat like a poem or novel. But the word “drama” comes from the Greek word meaning “act.” But the word “drama” comes from the Greek word meaning “act.”

What is a Drama Made of? (Elements of a Drama) Script Script Cast of Characters Cast of Characters Dialogue Dialogue Stage Directions Stage Directions Scene and Act Scene and Act Style Style

Script Drama begins with a script – the written form of the play. The playwright, or author of the play, creates the script from his or her imagination. However, the events may be based on real life, or another story. Like any story, a script has settings, characters, plot, and one or more themes.

Cast of Characters The script usually begins with a list of the cast – the characters that will appear in the play. Often, a short description appears by each character’s name. To help the audience recognize each character, the cast is listed in order of appearance rather than in order of each character’s importance to the story. Get it???

Dialogue Most of the story of a play is told through the words, or dialogue, of the characters. The actors and actresses recite the dialogue written by the playwright. These conversations move the plot forward and show what the characters are like.

Dialogue - Example KATHERINA: Mov'd! in good time: let him that mov'd you hither Remove you hence. I knew you at the first, You were a moveable.195 PETRUCHIO: Why, what's a moveable? KATHERINA: A joint-stool. PETRUCHIO: Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me. Act II Scene i Meeting of Kate and Petruchio Shakespeare’s The Taming of The Shrew.

Stage Directions Within the script, playwrights include a set of instructions, or stage directions, to help the players and audience comprehend the action. They normally appear in a different kind of type from the rest of the script, and may be separated by parentheses or brackets.

Stage Directions - Function Stage directions may describe scenery, props, lighting, costumes, music, or sound effects. Stage directions may describe scenery, props, lighting, costumes, music, or sound effects. Stage directions are often used to explain how the characters should move and speak. Stage directions are often used to explain how the characters should move and speak.

Stage Directions - Example PETRUCHIO: Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu. I will to Venice; Sunday comes apace; We will have rings and things, and fine array; And kiss me, Kate;[Sings] we will be married o' Sunday.325 [Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHERINA, severally.] Act II Scene i Shakespeare’s The Taming of The Shrew.

Scene and Act The plot of a drama is divided into scenes. Each scene establishes a different setting, either in time or place. Long plays are divide into acts. Each act is a group of smaller scenes.

Types of Drama The Greeks developed two types of drama to explain the two distinct personalities of Dionysus. They were: Tragedy Tragedy Comedy Comedy

Tragedy Considered the highest form of drama Considered the highest form of drama Shows strong emotion, humans trying to rise above their instincts Shows strong emotion, humans trying to rise above their instincts Protagonist always suffers and is defeated because a tragic flaw – a character trait possessed by the tragic hero (causes his/her misfortune) - in his or her personality Protagonist always suffers and is defeated because a tragic flaw – a character trait possessed by the tragic hero (causes his/her misfortune) - in his or her personality Audience feels intense emotion and is left with a feeling of calm Audience feels intense emotion and is left with a feeling of calm The purpose is to teach us improve our instinctual responses to “better” or more civilized ones. The purpose is to teach us improve our instinctual responses to “better” or more civilized ones.

Types of Tragedy Greek Tragedy Greek Tragedy Shakespearian Tragedy Shakespearian Tragedy Modern Tragedy Modern Tragedy

Comedy emotionally simplistic, but amusing or funny emotionally simplistic, but amusing or funny Minor catastrophes, coincidental problems Minor catastrophes, coincidental problems Happy endings Happy endings Wide range of types Wide range of types Low Comedy (Slapstick – Ex. The Three Stooges) Low Comedy (Slapstick – Ex. The Three Stooges) Farce (ex. The Hangover) Farce (ex. The Hangover) Light Comedy/Situational Light Comedy/Situational High Comedy/Satire (Witty) High Comedy/Satire (Witty)

Other Types of Drama History History Drama Drama Serious or Social Drama Serious or Social Drama Melodrama Melodrama Mixed Form Mixed Form