Part 1-Intro to Theatre History

University:
Missouri State University, Springfield
Course:
THE 101 | Introduction to Theatre and Drama Arts
Academic year:

2021
Views:

179

Pages:

4
Author:

gartelpabv

Part One- Intro To Theatre/History What is theatre? ● A form of art and storytelling ● Can be interpreted in many different ways History/origins: ● The origins of theatre are greek. ● Began in the 6th century BCE ● Began in Athens, Greece ● Started as part of a festival to the god Dionysus ● Dionysus was the god of wine and fertility. ● Performed in decorative masks, allowing one actor to play more than one character ● The logo you often see representing theatre are two greek masks, one for comedy and another for tragedy. ● Comedic masks are smiling or grinning ● Masks in tragedies are always frowning ● Major part of Greek culture ● Originally, all actors were men ● Performed in outdoor theatres, on the slope of hills ● Thespis was the first actor. ● Two types of theatre: Tragedy & Comedy Greek Mask Photos: Zaklina. (2020, March 26). Traveling in the Past Behind the Theatre Masks. Retrieved November 27, 2020, from https://worldoftheatreandart.co m/traveling-past-behindtheatre-masks/ Tragedy: ● Serious, often teaching a lesson ● Often performances took place as religious rituals ● Earliest tragedies sometimes only had one actor, switching masks to switch characters ● Plays had a chorus which would serve as the narrator ● In the earliest tragedies, the death of characters would have to be offstage, not seen by the audience Cartwright, M. (2020, November 24). Ancient Greek Tragedy. Retrieved November 27, 2020, from https://www.ancient.eu/Greek_Tragedy / Comedy: ● Lighthearted, often made fun of politicians or other people ● Large choruses with up to 24 performers ● Extravagant, showy costumes ● Lots of shows ended up being named after it’s the chorus, such as The Wasps by Aristophane ● First part of the show: The parados, chorus members performed lots of songs and dance routines ● Second part of the show: The agon, included plot turns, contests and debates between the principal actors, and improv ● Third part of the show: The parabasis, chorus members would directly address the audience Edith Hall | Published in History Today Volume 65 Issue 6 June 2015. (n.d.). The Birth of Comedy. Retrieved November 27, 2020, from https://www.historytoday.com/archive/fe ature/birth-comedy Famous Greek playwrights: ● Sophocles (496-406 BCE): added a third actor and painted scenery to performance ● Aeschylus: (525 - c. 456 BCE): known for being innovative and creating sequels to his shows ● Euripides (484-407 BCE): known for realism and making the audience think and wonder Why is it important today? ● Helps people see other’s perspective ● Can be used as satire or to emphasize current issues ● Theatre can be used as entertainment; such as TV shows, movies, and musicals