A sinkhole of working class degradationThe third tier was reserved for prostitutes19th Century movement to inhibit alcoholAli WendroffTheater 110NotesGreek Theater:Difficulty in Studying Theater History:-Western Theater-A lot of generalizations-Ephemeral-Limited extant materialInfo About Greek Theater:-Extant texts-Archeological remains-Commentaries-Visual Art (statues and vase paintings)-specific roles for men and women: not equals Women were supposed to be home with the children and run the houseMen were away at war a lot.Religious festival, turns into 5 day play competition every march in Athens 1.wel-coming ceremonies 2,3,4. day the playwrites submitted their plays. Day 5. winner was determinedOrigins of Western Theater:-Ritual theoriesA. Tragedy- DithyrambB. Comedy- Phalic Processions*Great Man Theory: Actor Thespis stepped out of dithyramb chorus to enact the roleof God. (pretending to be someone)Aeschyles- introduced second actor to theaterSophocles-introduced the 3rd actor. Wrote Antigone and OedipusPolitical Structure:-democratic-city states or polisReligion:-polytheistic-Gods interacted with humansCultural Values:-competition-wisdom and research-rhetoric and oratory-male dominatedTheater Practices: -Occasional and competetiveA. Prize was a goatB. Tragedy translates to “goat song”Festivals:-3 major ones which were a package of plays-Tragedy, Comedy, Satyr (short comic plays making fun of politics)Audience: -whole polis-very important for society-theater was a civic dutyTragedy:-plot: based on historical and mythic stories-characters: feature kings, queens, gods-Idea: hero has a flaw that leads to his or her downfall-teaches the audience a lesson and allows them to release their emotions-music: songComedy:-everyday people-main character faces a difficult situation “happy idea”-humor comes from sex jokes, scatological potty jokes, and satires of fa-mous people. Satyr:-features the satyr-written to accompany tragedies-parodied mythological stories-only one extant satyr play = CyclopsChorus:-between 14-50 men-Role: characters, source of discussion, ideal spectator, spectacleTheater Practice:Theater: -like a thrust theater and outsideCostumes:A. Tragedy-robes and accessoriesB. Comedy/Satyr-padded body suits C. Chorus-same costumes, human or animalMasks and Shoes:-actors played multiple characters -emblems to communicate gender, race, class, and jobs-later developed in megaphone-platform solesParts of the Theater:-Theatron: where audience sits “seeing place”-Orchestra: “dancing place”-Skene: building behind orchestra. “facade stage”-Parados: entries-Thymele: Altar-Ekkyklema: revolving or rolling platform hidden behind skene doors-Mechane: crane, a quick way to tie up an ending by dropping in a god from the sky. mechanical crane lowered an actor playing god onto the scene.Roman Theater: big spectacle. Putting on huge theatrical performances and theater was not really a huge part of it-- did not talk much about it.English Theater:Renaissance and Rebirth:-rebirth from Middle ages-Return to classics of Greece and Rome--Neoclassicism but rising interest in humanism. Breaks stronghold of Catholic church. Staging Practices:-public theaters-private theaters-blackfriars theatersGlobe Theater:-polygon-partial roof-many levels of auditorium (2500 ppl)-yard for groundlingsCharacteristics of the stage:-raised thrust stage-traps-backed by Tiring House-the heavensShakespeare-38 plays roughly-Stratford upon Avon (born)-History, Tragedy, Comedy were his types of playsOther Playwrights:-Marlowe: secret job was being a spy. Died by stabbing in the eye-JohnsonPerformance Practices:-male companies-shareholding-commercial theaterActing Clues:-prose and verse-iambic pentameter-scansion-rhetorical devices: alliteration,consome,couplets,antithesis, lists,imageryPractices:-Skene to change-actors wore clothing of their timeRomanticism and Realism:-In response to neoclassicism-action accompanied by musical score that enhanced emotional toneMelodrama:-simple powerful stories: good is rewarded bad is punished.-set pattern of action-characters = stereotypesRealism/Naturalism:come from marx and freud-break from romanticismNaturalism: wants to put live on stage. (germs under a microscope) vs (germson a petry dish) Doesnt work bc it lasts a second. Realism: situation and put it on stage. Tell a story about a situation going on.Foundations:-art depicts physical world-artist must be impersonal toward his subject-work based on direct observationEffect on Theater:-theatrical design-plays and playwriting-Acting/Directing/ProducingTheatrical Design:-emphasis on detail-melodrama which uses detail to enhance spectacle-techniques developed to make set and costumes better-Box set: allows audience to view characters and their actions -Fourth wall: environment is key and as realistic as possibleRealism vs. Naturalism:-Zola: naturalism on stagePlays and Playwriting:-subject matter: contemporary issues-characters are not idealized, influenced by heredity and are lower mid classIbsen:-dramas controversial-realismActing: -stanislavski: developed intensive training for actors because he felt that actors need to be observers to learn how to portray.Spurt of Blood:-Blood comes from the Bawd-scorpions change into a sun-Knight eats cheeseDolls House:-Nora and Torvald. Torvald treats nora like a doll. Both have very different mindsets.Nora leaves which is surprising given the time period and her future but she freesherself from the confines of her unhappy marriage. Symbols: tarantella costume and macaroons.Influences on Realism:-Gregor Mendel-Karl Marx-Darwin-Freud-ComteReactions to Realism:Futurism: nationalistic, opposed to existing institutions and glorified war and vio-lence.Dada: exploring the meaningless random parts of life. Anti war and tried to redefineart.Expressionism: see protagonist having a nightmare world. Product of WWI. Looking how a human experiences a world that has become a nightmare--industrialism.Absurdism: ridiculous, ridiculing and humorous how do we live in a fundamentally meaningless universe. “Waiting for gudolt.” How do you find meaning?Brecht and Artaud: Two most important figures of the avant garde eraDramatic Theater Vs. Epic Theater:-instinctive feelings -spectator into observerpreserved -each scene for itself-one scene makes -alterableanother-linear developmentBrecht: -epic theater, playwright and director from Germant who encourages people to think
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