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Theater

Theater. Chapter 7. Major Tragic and Serious plays in theater history. Stone stadium, plays shown once during a festival Masks, all men actors, sing and dance to hymns of the gods No violence, based on myth Larger than life, exaggerated.

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Theater

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  1. Theater Chapter 7

  2. Major Tragic and Serious plays in theater history • Stone stadium, plays shown once during a festival • Masks, all men actors, sing and dance to hymns of the gods • No violence, based on myth • Larger than life, exaggerated • Audience stands or sits near the stage, available year-round • Men play all parts • Violence on stage • Histories, but also comedies and tragedies (not tied to universal themes) • More naturalistic settings/movements Greek Classical Theater (Sophocles) Elizabethan Theater (Shakespeare)

  3. Both Genres… • Include a “recognition scene”-moment where protagonist fully understands what has brought about the disaster • Use elevated language

  4. Aristotle on the Nature of tragedy • Ideal protagonist is mainly virtuous with a fatal flaw • Tragedy requires audience identification with the character • The aim is to stimulate an emotional response not for the sake of the emotion, but for the aftermath of the emotion: the calm that follows (catharsis)

  5. Neoclassical Tragedy • Neoclassicism-return to classical styles of balance and order • Upper class patrons, wanted less violent and sensational works • Women appear on stage • Move away from passion, to harmony and order

  6. Victorian era • Prosperous middle class wanted to see their own lives and times portrayed as they were (contemporary themes and characters) • Audience sits in dark, watches scene where actors do not “know” they are being watched (4th wall) • Still formal language, time passage explained in the program

  7. A “Well-made” play • All characters mentioned in act 1 must be important later on • All scenery must be used (chairs sat in, lamps turned on, doors opened) • Nothing is wasted as everything advances the plot • Exposition is important-revelation of necessary background information

  8. Modern genres and conventions • Expressionism- sets were not realistic, but symbolic • “Our Town” narrator creates a small New Hampshire village in the audience’s mind with minimal props

  9. Modern Tragedy • Classic and Elizabethan tragedy focused on the fall of the aristocracy • Led to ordinary people as the protagonists • Buchner-(expressionism) non-realistic settings and abandoned naturalistic dialogue. Pessimistic, society is what creates tragedy, not a flaw • Miller- Death of a Salesman- cannot admit his failures, commits suicide hoping son will invest the insurance money. Wanted a character that Americans could identify with-hardworking but understands human weakness

  10. Comparision • Hero is innocent and beset by problems from outside forces • No huge demands on the mind • Suspenseful, but know it will work out in the end • Protagonist is mainly virtuous but not totally innocent • Raises moral and philosophical questions • Sad ending, but cathartic Melodrama Tragedy

  11. Deus Ex machina (the god from a machine) • From the Greeks, at the end of a play an actor would play a god and straighten everything out • Now used to describe any plot contrivance that violates the probabilities of human behavior • Expedient but implausible resolution ex: bolt of lightening kills the evil doer right before the gun goes off

  12. Satire • Specific kind of comedy that ridicules corruption, inequality, war as a solution, injustice and hypocrisy. • Gets audience to laugh AND want to change • First World Problems

  13. Comedy of Character • Shakespeare • Uses psychology • Use of subtext to Explain their thoughts • Allows characters to “live”

  14. Farce Genre of comedy that draws laughter from outragoues physical actions and improbably chaotic situations. Superficial characters Famous Farce Authors: Moliere, Wycherley, Oscar Wilde

  15. Parody • Makes fun of a particular work or genre • Modeled after works that the author finds to be unjustifiably successful • Family Guy • South Park • Weird Al • Scary Movie

  16. Theater of Ideas • During Victorian Period would attempt the raise the consciousness of the audience • Ibsen- A Doll’s House, examines hypocracy • Shaw-Pygmalion, attacked rigidity of the class system

  17. Naturalism • Attempt to show life as it really was • Premise: this is life, this is human nature, it’s all there is

  18. Common themes in modern theater • Family-tragedy, emotional intensity from bitter confrontation between family members • Racial Tension- describes prejudice and its destructive effects • Raisin in the Sun • Gay Rights, Political Corruption, decline of family, deterioration of environment

  19. 2 schools of thought • Designed to prevent audience from identifying too strongly with characters • Worry they would miss the point otherwise • Want audience to absorb the message • Achieved through pulverizing the viewer’s emotions through shocking scenes • One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Theater of Alienation Theater of Cruelty

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