1. Explore Theatre: A Backstage Pass
Michael M. O’Hara
&
Judith A. Sebesta
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2. Paradigms & Theatre
Chapter 4

3. 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.

4. Facts
Harvard Business School (

5. 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?

6. 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?

7. 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.

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

9. “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?

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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)