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UConn DRAM 1101 - What is a Play?

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DRAM 1101 1st Edition Lecture 3Outline of Last Lecture I. Theatrical spacesa. Amphitheatersb. Prosceniumc. Thrust Staged. Arena Stagee. Black Box StageOutline of Current Lecture I. What is a play?II. How is dramatic action organized?a. Chronologically b. NonlinearIII. Ways to understand playsa. According to structurei. Western literature structureii. Aristotelian structureb. According to genrei. Tragediesii. ComediesIV. Dramaturgya. Vertical axisb. Horizontal axisCurrent LectureII. What is a play?a. A basic unit of theatreb. Two meaningsi. An event1. Action surrounding a conflictii. LiteratureThese 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.1. Written playsIII. How is dramatic action organized?a. The events of a play can be structured in two common waysi. Chronologically1. Either a linear cause and effect relationship or a continuous story2. Moves from point-to-point to tell a story 3. Much of modern dramaii. Nonlinear1. Discontinuous 2. Common techniques include flashbacks, time shifts, dream sequences, stream-of-consciousness, etc. b. Can also be described in terms of climactic or episodic IV. Ways to understand playsa. Two waysi. According to structure1. Patterns that the actions follow2. Assumes linear plot structureii. According to genre1. Its “type”V. Classifying plays according to structurea. Western Literature Structurei. Plays often have events that follow a particular sequence1. Expositiona. Sets the context for the rest of the play by giving the audience informationb. Helps introduce the audience to the world that the play is takingplace ini. Whether it is a different time or placec. Provides background information 2. Inciting incidenta. Introduces conflicti. A conflict can emerge between characters, within a single character, or stem from a situationii. A character’s response to conflict helps to demonstrate his or her personality1. How they come to their ultimate decision or consider their choicesb. Conflict is then instigated to crisis level i. Through a series of revelations and confrontations3. Rising actiona. Emerges from a character confronting a conflictb. Usually a series of obstaclesi. Often arrive in three’s4. Climaxa. Extreme breaking-point of conflicti. “Point of no return”ii. Point of dramatic explosion and maximum tensionb. May contain elements of recognition and reversalc. May be a catharsis i. An emotional release 5. Denouement a. Resolution of conflict that results in understanding i. OR new harmony b. Ends the play b. Aristotelian Plot structurei. Exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, resolutionVI. Classifying plays according to Genrea. Discerning genre is a subjective task and critics often disagreeb. Aristotle offered the first major genre classificationi. Ancient Greek philosopher 1. Divided plays into the two major genres that we have todaya. Comediesi. Lighter tone consisting of jokes and satireb. Tragedies i. Based on human sufferingc. The list of other genres is seemingly infinitei. Melodramas, histories, musicals, etc. ii. Wrote His Poetics1. The most influential work of theatre criticism in Western history2. His principles remain as foundations of writing for theatre and film3. Helped define the best protagonists, the best plots, and structure of plays. iii. Aristotle’s tragedy1. Centers on a great person (a hero or protagonist)a. Possesses a tragic flaw or fatal mistake which leads to a reversal and self-recognitioni. This reversal can be in circumstances, in status, or in dramatic action2. Ends in the hero’s death or demise3. Elicits emotions from the audiencea. The audience experiences a catharsis c. Comedyi. Addresses relevant and timely situations humorously1. Although they have the ability to transcend their timelinessii. Depends on human observationiii. Does not have the same historical reputation as tragedies do VII. Dramaturgy a. How action of a play is structuredb. Two primary ways of analyzing dramaturgy i. The “vertical” axis1. The components of a play2. Aristotle’s break-down: a. Ploti. Specific order of eventsb. Characteri. Primary objective of characters is to make the audience invest in themii. Adding depth to a character makes them more complex and elicits stronger, more multi-dimensional emotions from the audiencec. Themei. Abstract intellectual contentii. Also called “thought”—it is the central message or idea that should be meaningfuld. Dictioni. Language of the textii. The language contributes to a play’s rhythm, cadence, tone, and imagerye. Musici. Orchestration of sonic palette (noise and music)ii. Indirectly, music is present in the rhythm of sounds that create a score tat has an aural impactf. Spectaclei. Visual aspectsii. Scenery, costumes, lighting, props3. Contemporary component: a. Conventioni. Agreement of “rules” between audience and performersii. Goes back to a willing suspension of reality—the audience must watch the play giving its conventions ii. The “horizontal” axis1. The temporal experience of a playa. Plays occur over time and as such, are shared experiences2. The time of the play is divided into three wavesa. Preplayi. The transition into the world of the play when the audience becomes a community1. Shifts focus to the playii. Historically, this meant processions, flags, and speeches being used to attract spectators to the stageiii. Today, we use posters and advertisementsb. Playi. The actual showc. Postplayi. The agreement between the actors and the audience that the show has concludedii. Traditionally there is a curtain call1. Actors bow2. Recognition of shared experienceiii. Continues outside the theatre1. Engage in discussions known as dramatic


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