1. Ancient Athenian Tragedy Origins, Context, Practice

2. Agenda Discussion What does tragedy imitate? Recap and Update Tragedy: Cultic, political, Social Context Aristotle’s Poetics Further Notes Discussion Is Antigone “Inferior”? 13-Sep-112 Csapo

3. Discussion What does tragedy imitate?

4. What does tragedy imitate? How does Aristotle justify imitation? Do you buy his argument?

5. Thoughts To Gorgias… To Plato…

6. Recap and Update Tragedy: Cultic, political, Social Context

7. Main Points Last Time… Tragedy: Ritualized Secularism Dual Focus Mythic, archetypal Contemporary, topical Ambivalent affirmation Tragic Origins Cult, komos, Phallic Procession 13-Sep-117 Csapo

8. Red-Figure Athenian Vase, 500s BCE Dionysian Masks

9. Tragic chorus: masked, dancing, singing (ancient vase)

10. Athenian Dramatic Festivals Rural Dionysia (Dec.) Lenaea (late Jan/Feb, from 440/430-) citizens Anthisteria (Feb) City/Greater Dionysia (late March) anyone (theoric fund) 13-Sep-1110 Csapo Dionysus

11. Greater Dionysia: Program Dramatic preliminaries Prefest chorus assignments Proagōn “Introduction” Pompē Ceremonies “Showtime” Dithyramb — 10 Men’s choruses of 50 Boys’ choruses of 50 Comedies — 5 Tragedy — 3 tetralogies 13-Sep-1111 Csapo

12. Tragic Tetralogy Four plays, one playwright 1. Tragedy 2. Tragedy 3. Tragedy 4. Satyr drama Aeschylus’ Oresteia (458 BCE) 1. Agamemnon 2. Libation Bearers 3. Eumenides 4. Proteus 13-Sep-1112 Csapo Citizen judging

14. Roman Theater of Herodes Atticus Theater of Dionysus Parthenon N Temple of Dionysus Eleutherius Odeon Athenian Acropolis

15. entry (parodos) skene (stage building) stone seats (dignitaries) theatron (“viewing place,” auditorium, theater) kerkis (“wedge” seating section) orkhēstra (“dancing space” for chorus) Low wooden stage with, steps, skene (from ca. 420 BCE) entry (parodos) wooden bleachers altar Theater of Dionysus ca. 420 BCE

16. Theater of Dionysus, Athens (from East) 13-Sep-11 Csapo 16

17. Production: Personnel & Gear Personnel poet poiētēs, “maker” producer khorēgos director didaskalos, “teacher” actors hupokritai chorus, “chorus leader” khoros, koruphaios piper aulētēs Gear, etc. Masks Costumes Music Props Scenery Special effects mekhanē ekkuklēma 13-Sep-1117 Csapo

18. Aristotle’s Poetics Further Notes 13-Sep-1118 Csapo

19. Aristotle 384-322BCE Student of Plato Philosopher and scholar Systematizer of knowledge 13-Sep-1119 Csapo

20. Tragic Teleology Purposeful Imitation of action Evolutionary (entelechy) Phallic procession => poetic imitation Improvisation => through- composition rude => refined imitation Genre => genre satyr drama => tragedy proper “tragic” epic (Homer) => tragedy proper 13-Sep-1120 Csapo

21. Aristotle on Genre Distinctions Tragic Imitative Poetry Dialogic-dramatic Serious-elevated Truth General-philosophic Not Tragic Real Prose Narrative (epic poetry) Low-vulgar (comedy) Truth Specific-historical 13-Sep-1121 Csapo

22. Tragedy: Definition “Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation (katharsis) of these emotions. By ‘language embellished’ I mean language into which rhythm, ‘harmony,’ and song enter. By 'the several kinds in separate parts,' I mean that some parts are rendered through the medium of verse alone, others again with the aid of song.” (p. 61)

23. Aristotle’s Uses of Imitation? 13-Sep-1123 Csapo

24. Perfection of Plot (muthos) Less Good Episodic Simple lacks… reversal (peripateia) and/or recognition (anagnorisis) Better Logical, plausible Complex has… reversal (peripateia) and/or recognition (anagnorisis) 13-Sep-1124 Csapo

25. Discussion Is Antigone “Inferior”?

26. If, Then? If Tragedy “philosophically” truthful (pp. 68-69) Women (like slaves) inferior (p. 81) Then Is Antigone properly tragic? Is she inferior? Does she challenge Aristotle’s scheme? 13-Sep-1126 Csapo (On action and speech “that manifests moral purpose”): “Even a woman may be good, and also a slave; though the may be said to be an inferior being, and the slave quite worthless”