Antigone

1. Antigone A Greek Tragedy by Sophocles

2. How Did Theatre Begin? • Evolved from religious rites dating back to at least 1200 BC • A group arose during these religious antics that worshipped Dionysus: God of fertility and wine • Cult of Dionysus practiced ritual celebrations: intoxication, orgies, human and animal sacrifices, and hysterical rampages by maenads (crazy ladies!) • Took place in spring: Why?

3. These Ceremonies…. • Dionysiac ceremonies were simple at the beginning but controversial • Uninhibited dancing created altered mental state (picture hippies dancing at Woodstock) • Altered state = ecstasis • This state became important: Greeks saw theatre as way of releasing emotions: • Catharsis • little by little became more complex and were accompanied by flutes and drums.

4. Dithyramb: Theatre Becoming a Bit More Organized • But the ceremony was still weird even though it became a little more organized • Dithyramb: hymn/ode to Dionysus accompanied by flute and chorus of 50 “men” • Satyrs = half human/half goat servants of the god • Played instruments, danced around an effigy, wore phallus headgear • At first in dithyrambous, there were no actors • The leader of the the dithyramb was the EXCHARON

5. Changes Were Made • Thespis • Greek poet who reputedly originated Greek tragedy • Modified the dithyramb (which had been exchanges between the leader and the chorus) • Introduced an actor separate from the chorus. • This actor = protagonist = birth of dialogue • This actor was called the hypocrit or “responder.” • Thespian = actor as well • Now we’re getting to theatre as we know now

6. Now, Instead of Crazy Ritual Dancing…We have theatre competitionsThese take place in ampitheatresTheatre and ampitheatre come from theatron:the wooden stands built on the hillsidesThe word orchestra comes from the Greek word for the platform between the raised stage and the audience where the chorus was

7. Architecture of Ancient Greek Theater • Greek theatre buildings were called a theatron ('seeing place') • The theatres were large, open-air structures constructed on the slopes of hills.

8. The centerpiece of the theatre was the orchestra, or "dancing place", a large circular or rectangular area. Site of the choral performances, the religious rites, and, possibly, the acting. An altar was located in the middle of the orchestra; in Athens, the altar was dedicated to Dionysus.

9. SKENE-Behind the orchestraused as a "backstage" area where actors could change their costumes and mask, Sophocles first started painting scenery to the façade of the skene.

10. Paraskenia

11. The Actor + the Chorus • The chorus was considered to be the mouthpiece of society (in its humble form) and morality and suffered along with the heroes. • After Sophocles, the chorus had 15 members and stood in a circle

12. Tragedy • A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.

13. The etymology of the word "tragedy" is "tragos"+"ode", which means the hymn of goats.Tragoi (the goats) were the priests of god Dionysus.

14. The Tragic Form • Prologue: described the situation and set the scene • Parados: an ode sung by the chorus as it made its entrance • FIVE dramatic scenes, each followed by a KOMOS, an exchange of laments by the chorus and protagonist • Exodus: the climax and conclusion

15. Ancient Greek Masks • The use of masks in ancient Greek theater draw their origin from the ancient dionysiac cult. • The members of the chorus wore masks: usually similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors • Main actors and masks: to play more roles: to help them project: to help them be seen.

16. Sophocles • Greek dramatist. Together with Euripides and Aeschylus, he is considered one of the greatest dramatists of ancient Greece. His surviving plays include Ajax, Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus • A man of wealth, charm, and genius, Sophocles was given posts of responsibility in peace and in war by the Athenians. He was a general and a priest; after his death he was worshiped as a hero • he composed about 123 dramas), winning first place about 20 times and never falling lower than second • A definitive innovator in the drama, he added a third actor—thereby tremendously increasing the dramatic possibilities of the medium—increased the size of the chorus, abandoned the trilogy of plays for the self-contained tragedy, and introduced scene painting.

17. Antigone • a tragedy written in 442 BC by Sophocles • chronologically the third of the three Theban plays but was written first • Oedipus the King • Oedipus at Colonus • Antigone

18. The Story of Oedipus • You have to know this to understand the story we’re about to read. • Now listen up!! • Oedipus Background: how he became king

19. The current ruler, Creon, has made a decree: Since Polynices fought against Thebes, he shall not be buried. Meanwhile, Eteocles is to be buried with full military honors.

20. Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and the sister of the dead brothers, believes this proclamation to be against the gods' orders. • She confides her plan to bury Polynices herself to her sister Ismene. The more timid of the two, Ismene refuses to take part out of fear, but agrees with her motive.

21. Why study Antigone? • Ancient Greek Drama is the basis for all modern drama and film • The story gives many important clues to the Ancient Greek culture and character • Tragedies still contain the basic elements that they originated with

22. Film Versions of Antigone • Antigone (1964) Directed by Yorgos Javellas, Sophocles’ play about the daughter of King Oedipus caught in a moral dilemma about whether to obey the laws of the state or to follow her conscience is brought to the screen with Irene Papas performing the title role. English subtitles • Antigone (1974)Directed by Gerald Freedman, this screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach, and Fritz Weaver. • Antigone (1984)Don Taylor directed this made for TV adaptation of Sophocles’ play