Drama 1101 1st Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Current Lecture I Why do we study theatre II What is theatre III Ancient Origins IV Theatre as a place a company an occupation an art and as a performance V The Paradox of the actor VI Theatre v Rituals VII Theatre v Sports Current Lecture 1 Why do we study theatre a As a form of communication and interaction i The exchange between audience and actor b Teaches us about ourselves and the human condition c As a means of self expression and an outlet for coping d For delivering information and points of view e As a channel to educate enlighten enrich and engage f For its aesthetics and entertainment value g For the ways in which it stimulates emotions as a shared experience h In order to think critically about the world 2 What is theatre A form of art that is live performance a Areas of life that are connected to theatre sporting events social roles storytelling rituals etc b They all require performances i We have multiple roles and we change our behavior depending on which role we are in at the moment 1 Student daughter teammate etc 3 Ancient origins a Theatron in ancient Greece i Meaning seeing place These 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 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 b Today theatre denotes more than just a physical space i It denotes theatre as a place company occupation art and a performance Theatre as a Place a Structures vary in size decoration and functionality b One requirement that makes it theatre i An empty space where we go to act and to watch Theatre as a company 2 interpretations a Theatre is a collaborative art i Different individuals create various components that combine together to create a performance ii E g director producer set designer costumes actors music etc b Theatre is a category i E g Elizabethan theatre c Both refer to groups of people that work in a shared vision Theatre as an occupation a Theatre is work and requires labor i Both physical and mental b It is art the labor is the process by which work is elevated and transformed to create art Theatre as art a It involves impersonation makes it unique b Paradox of the actor i Dennis Diderot French dramatist ii The actor is simultaneously himself and his character iii He disappears behind his character and we have to differentiate between the actors and their characters 1 We praise an actor for their performance in a role not always for their talent as an individual Theatre as performance a Theatre is a formal performance as opposed to the way we perform our various roles everyday b 2 types of performances i Presentational 1 Recognize and acknowledge the audience ii Representational 1 Do not acknowledge the audience Theatre is live a As a consequence of its live ness we draw 3 distinctions i There is rapport between the actors and the audience ii There is a relationship between audience members iii There is immediacy ad spontaneity the knowledge that anything could happen changes the dynamic of performance in a palpable way Theatre v Ritual a Ritual a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order b Similar i There is repetition of words roles movement and action ii They both follow a set or sequence of events iii Often use dialogue and costumes iv E g Wedding ceremony c Different i Theatre is not primarily intended for prayer or efficacious results 11 Theatre v Sports a Similar i Costumes spontaneity protagonists teams live audience follow playbook script can t replicate same performance twice leadership and creative thought b Different i Competition passive active audience efficacious results no impersonating roles emotive responses etc ii You have to think of theatre in terms of an illusion while sports is based in factual reality iii Theatre requires a willing suspension of reality 1 You have to accept the conventions of the play on its own terms in order to allow for the kind of real emotional responses that come despite the fact that it s not real