1. A Brief History of Western Theater
Introduction to Humanities
Heartland Community College
Author: Sharon Migotsky

2. The History of Literature The genres of fiction appeared in this order:
Poetry
Drama
Novel
Short story

3. Poetry is the oldest form of literature
Literature stems from an oral tradition. Preliterate cultures memorized stories for religious, historical, and entertainment purposes.
Things are much easier to remember if there is a certain rhyme scheme or pattern.

4. Later, when the culture develops writing, the stories are written down—and develop into poetry.

5. Drama is the second oldest form of literature
The public recitation of religious and historical poetry becomes increasingly important. Soon, the ritual of reading these texts in public becomes a performance, and the performance becomes as important as the text being read.
Thus, drama is born.

6. The ancient Greeks called all dramas “tragedy,” because “tragedy” meant “goat song.”
Ancient Greek drama developed as a way to publicly honor the god Dionysus, whose symbol was a goat—hence “goat song,” or a way to “sing of the praises of Dionysus” through public performance.
All citizens, the illiterate as well as the literate, could enjoy watching the public performances.

7. The Novel was developed many centuries later
In fact, “novel” means “new.” The notion of writing or reading an entire text just for entertainment, rather than for religious or educational reasons, seemed extremely modern.

8. And dangerous—women were forbidden to read novels for fear that they were too delicate or would be too easily led to immorality by indulging the imagination.

9. The Short Story is the most recent genre of literature to be developed
After the Industrial Revolution, the average citizen needed to be somewhat literate in order to work. And the invention of electricity meant that the day didn’t have to end with sunset—you could use artificial light to read.

10. The invention of the printing press meant that literature could be mass-produced and more affordable. While most couldn’t afford an entire book, they could afford magazines and stories.

11. The development of electricity and the rapid growth of cities meant that people were looking for more types of affordable entertainment.
Live theater became more popular than ever. Plays were no longer performed solely for religious ritual or historical documentation, but for entertainment, as well.

12. As most of you know, Shakespeare, Marlowe, and other revered playwrights were simply everyday playwrights in their own time—trying to make a living by entertaining the masses.
In fact, many have argued that if Shakespeare were alive today, he’d be writing for TV.

13. As drama became increasingly popular, it began to have an effect on fashion, music, hairstyles, etc.—much the way that movies and TV do today.
And the more popular and influential drama became, the more that playwrights such as Shakespeare and Marlowe began to see playwriting as a way to gain political favor.

14. Many of Shakespeare’s historical plays (especially the many Henry plays) were written to gain favor with the monarchy.
The Tudors were always a little paranoid about having gained the throne by force, rather than by inheritance. By “rewriting” the historical aspects of his plays to show the Tudors as the rightful rulers of England, Shakespeare became a favorite of both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, who helped support him.

15. However, the theaters didn’t always enjoy such support
However, the theaters didn’t always enjoy such support. When the Puritans came to power in England, Oliver Cromwell shut down all the theaters and outlawed all performances. As a Puritan, he felt that drama was immoral because it involved “lying in public.” He also felt that it was sinful to enjoy drama as entertainment instead of spending one’s spare time in religious instruction and reflection.

16. The English theaters were closed from 1642-1660.
When the Puritans were overthrown and the monarchy was restored in England, theater became legal again.
But it was a different type of theater than had been performed prior to 1642.

17. Before 1642, plays had been performed in large, circular structures, such as Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Charles II, heir to the British throne, had spent his exile in France. During that time he became a fan of French theater, which was usually performed in small, intimate indoor theaters where the audience sat close to the front of the stage.

18. When Charles II returned to claim the throne in 1660, he reopened the theaters in the style of French theater. In fact, one of the Restoration theaters (so called because the monarchy had been restored) was a small, converted indoor tennis court.

19. When the Puritans emigrated to the American colonies following the fall of Oliver Cromwell’s son, they carried his attitude toward theater and drama with them. For much of the history of the US, drama, the theater, and actors was considered entertaining for the audience, but slightly unwholesome as a career choice.

20. In some ways, the stereotypes about theater and actors’ lifestyles still exist, as a direct remnant of the Puritan attitude toward the theater and performing.
It wasn’t until the invention of film and the growth and vast wealth of the movie industry in the 1920’s and 1930’s that acting became viewed as a legitimate profession and art form in the United States.

21. The End