THEATER 2040 1ndEdition Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture I Playwright Dramatic Structure Genre a Wright b Playwright c Theme II Qualities of a Good Play a Credibility b Intrigue c Speakability d Stageability e Richness f Depth of Characterization g Gravity h Pertinence i Compression j Economy k Celebration III Goal of theater IV Dramatic Structure a 6 parts of Drama Outline of Current Lecture I Dramatic Genre a Definition II 5 Types of Drama a Tragedy b Comedy c Farce d Melodrama e Tragicomedy Current Lecture I Dramatic Genre a Definition most prevalent way to classify plays b All plays are some form of entertainment where certain emotions are aroused II The 5 types of Drama 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 a Tragedy i Motto I did this to myself ii Biggest threat our own mistakes and human failings iii The hero heroine must pay for the errors he or she has committed even though it was in an effort to do the right thing iv Hero heroine has to be good but also not perfect who will make mistakes v Emotions aroused fear and pity vi Hero heroine must deal with big issues a moral and ethical choice 1 NOT expedient everyday choices vii Hero Heroine either dies or is in the midst of horrible suffering at the end b Comedy i Motto What is harmful ii Characters always come out on top iii In the world of comedy lasting harm doesn t usually take place iv Emotions aroused laughter and ridicule 1 Incongruities harmless things that do not go together 2 Disproportionate Choices a Characters are concerned with the wrong things when making a decision b The choices don t have the anticipated effect that they thought they would v Comedies often end with a celebration c Farce i Motto Don t pull that string ii Basis simple choices that have much greater effects than one could ever anticipate iii Thrives on exaggeration and the complete breakdown of social order snowball effect iv Other elements of Farce include 1 Mistaken identities 2 Slamming doors 3 Accelerated pace 4 Mock violence 5 Stereotypical characters d Melodrama i Motto Music drama ii Originally performed with music in order to get around the laws of limited theatrical productions iii Big business iv Simple and exciting plotlines v Emotions aroused fear and hate vi Ultimate threat evil person or social force 1 Ex of social force racism or vii Specific types and examples of TV shows that are melodramas Reality television True Blood and Grey s Anatomy e Tragicomedy i Most recent addition to types of drama ii Over the last 100 years 20th cent it has become most popular genre for most playwrights iii Emotions aroused laugh and cry pity fear and ridicule all at the same time iv Characters suffer from their mistakes but are also funny