It’s GREEK to MeDRAMA, Greek DRAN = to act, to do.THEATRE, Gk. THEATRON = seeing place. MIMESIS = imitation.APPROACHING A PLAY CONTEXT SUBJECT TREATMENTNATURALISM vs. Classical Conventions AUTHENTICITY vs. ARTIFICE MODERN DRAMA vs. Greek ComedyGreek MIMESIS Formal Ritualistic Poetic Non-IllusionistGREEK DRAMA: ATHENS, 5th c. BC OCCASION8th – 5th c. = ORIGINS RELIGION – DIONYSUS & DITHYRAMBSART – HOMER & EPIC POETRYPOLITICS - CITY DIONYSIA- CHORAL WORSHIP & ORAL POETRYTHESPIS- DRAMATIC COMPETITIONSDIDASKALOS - ARISTOPHANES & ATHENSDIONYSUS 3 COMIC PHILOSOPHERS“Comedy is not pretty.”--Steve Martin“Tragedy is if I cut my finger;comedy is if you fall in an open sewer and die.” --Mel Brooks “This world is a comedyto those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.” --Horace WalpoleSEX AND THECITYLYSISTRATA (411 BC) “This world is a comedyto those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.” --Horace Walpole3 KEYS TO COMEDY Objectivity SurpriseExposure/Deflation Bridesmaids (2011)PARTHENON – ATHENA’S TEMPLE AKROPOLIS – “HIGH CITY” ATHENS, 5th c. BCOCCASION CITY DIONYSIA Religion Politics ArtSPACE AMPHITHEATRE = outdoor space w/ tiered seat- ORCHESTRA – “dancing place”- THEATRON – “seeing place”- SKENE – “tent”CHORUS SELF & SOCIETY The Process of Democracy Human Bridge: ThePerformance Conventions Men Masks ChorusSUBJECT WAR & PEACE: Peloponnesian War MEN & WOMEN: Human Passion DIVINEATHENA APHRODITE MARS EROSHUMAN- Female Protagonist - Gender Wars- Divided ChorusTREATMENT OLD COMEDY INVERSIONKEYS TO COMEDY Objectivity Surprise Exposure/Deflation ARISTOPHANES OLD COMEDY INVERSION GREEK STAGE Lysistrata Myrrhine Kinesias Chorus“Are you a man or a fertility symbol?”REMINDERPRIVILEGE CARD SALES END FRIDAY!DIONYSUS POLISDEMOSOIKOSTHUCYDIDES CHORAL UNIONRECONCILIATION ARISTOPHANES OLD COMEDYINVERSION UTOPIAN = “good / no place”UTOPIA +HISTORY ANTI-WAR ? * PRO-WOMAN ?What’s in a Name? TEMPLE SETTING LYSIMACHE SACRED OATH LYSISTRATA ATTRIBUTES ATHENA ORACLE PROTECTRESSA ristophanes’ Dramaturgy- FORMAL CONTEXT / SEMI-FORMAL STRUCTURE- EVERYDAY CHARACTERS- POLITICAL FOCUS- WIDE COMIC SPECTRUM- UTOPIAN CLOSUREHAPPY ENDINGS: DIVINE HARMONY Dirty Dancing