THAR 281 1st Edi-tion Lecture 3 Outline of Last Lecture I. Dramatic StructureA. Climactic StructureB. Episodic StructureII. Theatrical CriticismA. What are the criteria?III. Ancient Theatre of GreeceOutline of Current LectureIV.Theatre as a Social ForceV. Theatre as an OccupationVI.TragedyA. Traditional TragedyB. Modern TragedyVII. ComedyVIII. Forms of ComedyIX.Heroic DramaX. MelodramaXI.Domestic DramaXII. TragicomedyCurrent LectureThese are my textbook notes, because Quackenbush has been sick.I. Theatre as a Social ForceThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.•The relationship between the audience members is magnified by the performance on stage•Once a performance starts, the audience is automatically all experi-encing the same thing; they were once individuals and now they are united•The relationship between theatre and society is complex because thetheatre has so much potential power•Theatre can release social tensions or lead to social upheavalII. Theatre as an OccupationTheatre is a labor of love, rehearsals take a min of 4-6 weeks, months-years of planning/casting/designing, huge amounts of money to pro-duceDifferent jobs in theatre:•Producing: getting necessary people, locations, and money; super-vising production/promotions•Directing: controlling/developing the artistic product, coordinating all components, supervising rehearsals•Acting: perform the roles of characters in a play•Designing: map out visual/audio elements, scenery/costumes/makeup/lighting/sound/programs/ambience•Building: translate the design into reality, constructing the “hard-ware” of the show•Crewing: light and sound, visual•Stage Managing: “running” a play production•House Managing: responsibility for admission, seating, general comfort for the audience•Playwriting (composing): creating the story of the playTheatre and games have a shared history: both were developed into a high level of sophistication in Greek festivals (i.e. the Olympic games)III. TragedyDramatic form involving serious actions of universal significance and with important moral and philosophical implications, usually with an unhappy ending•one of the most meaningful forms of expression in any of the arts•probes very basic questions about human existence•two kinds of tragedy: traditional & modernA. Traditional Tragedy•Tragic Heroes/Heroines: stand as symbols of an entire culture/society, caught in a set of tragic circumstances•Tragic Fate: tragic situation becomes irreversible & irretriev-able, must always go forward to meet their tragic fate•Acceptance of Responsibility: willingness to suffer, recognizes the flaw/fault of character that leads to the tragic downfall•Tragic Verse: language of traditional tragedy•Effect: both pessimistic and positive reactions from audienceB. Modern Tragedy•no kings/queens as central figures•written in prose (instead of poetry)•same questions raisedIV.Comedyhumorous drama whose characters, actions, and events are intended to provoke amusement and laughter. (“Laughter is one of the most elusive of human reactions”)Suspension of Natural Laws:•no probability of logic•slapstick: ridiculous physical activity for humor (i.e. silent movies/film cartoons)Contrast between individuals and social order•Society is upside down•“the time is out of joint” - HamletComic Premise•Idea or concept in a comedy that turns the accepted notion of things upside down•provides thematic and structural unityV. Forms of Comedy•Farce: Dramatic genre usually regarded as a subclass of comedy, em-phasizes on plot complications & with few or no intellectual preten-sions•Burlesque: formerly parody, later a serious form of satire•Satire: dramatic form using techniques of comedy (wit, irony, exag-geration) to attack•Comedy of Manners: popular in 17th Century France & English Restoration, emphasizing a cultivated or sophisticated atmosphere &witty dialogue•Comedy of Ideas: comic techniques used to debate intellectual propositions such as the nature of war, cowardice, & romanceVI.Heroic Dramaserious, yet optimistic drama, written in verse or elevated prose, no-ble & heroic characters in extreme situations or unusual adventuresVII. Melodrama“Song drama” or “music drama”made popular in the 19th Century, emphasized action and spectacular effects and music; stock characters; clearly defined villains and heroesVIII. Domestic Drama“Bourgeois”dealing with problems (usually family) of middle- and lower-class characters, there are serious and comic domestic dramasdomestic - “related to the household or the family”IX.TragicomedyRenaissance, tragic themes & noble characters, happy ending, serious& comic elements•Shakespearean - “Problem plays” because they didn’t fit neatly in one category or the other•Modern Tragicomedy - predominant in the last 100 years; theatre of the absurd (expressing the dramatist’s sense of the absurdity & futility of