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Ancient Athenian Tragedy

Ancient Athenian Tragedy. Origins, Context, Practice. Agenda. Opening discussion Your Suggestions Tragic Origins Cult, komos , Phallic Procession Athenian Tragedy Context Athenian Theater, Tragic Drama Where, What, How. Opening discussion. Your Comments. Issues…. Reading – clarify

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Ancient Athenian Tragedy

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  1. Ancient Athenian Tragedy Origins, Context, Practice

  2. Agenda • Opening discussion • Your Suggestions • Tragic Origins • Cult, komos, Phallic Procession • Athenian Tragedy • Context • Athenian Theater, Tragic Drama • Where, What, How Csapo

  3. Opening discussion Your Comments

  4. Issues… • Reading – clarify • Why Dionysus? (Dolphins? Goats?) • Festivals… • Why the big deal? • Why religion + entertainment? • The politics? • Athenian drama – who paid? • Komasts v. satyrs. (And satyr drama?) • Choregus, chorus • Jury selection… • Competition – altered structure? • Compare Athenian reality with modern • Chorus – purpose? • Genres – differences… Csapo

  5. Discussion Why Dionysus? Entertainment + religion? reflection of grksoc gods reflection of elemental forces gods themselves entertaining • associated with wine • brings out passion • audience • lose inhibitions • the group thing Csapo

  6. Tragic Origins Cult, komos, Phallic Procession

  7. Dionysus with Satyrs,Athenian cup (“Brygos painter”)circa 510 BCE

  8. Aristotle on Origins • Ethnic-geographical • Psychological-anthropological • Ritual-dramatic Aristotle Csapo

  9. Procession of the Phallus Pole Proto-Dramatic Performance Komos Phallic procession Komasts: archaic Corinthian vase Csapo

  10. Dionysus Hephaestus padded, phallic costume Proto-Drama (?): komos-like Performance of the Return of HephaestusProtocorinthian vase painting , 600-575 BCE Csapo

  11. Dionysian Masks Red-Figure Athenian Vase,500s BCE Red-Figure Athenian Vase,500s BCE Csapo

  12. Tragic chorus: masked, dancing, singing (ancient vase)

  13. Athenian Tragedy Context

  14. Historical… Athena, 500s Athenian owl, 490s • Pisistratus, 561-527 BCE • Tragedy (ca. 534-) • Democracy, 511-323 • Comedies (486-) Csapo

  15. Dionysus Religious-Civic-Social… • Rural Dionysia (Dec.) • Lenaea (late Jan/Feb, from 440/430-) • citizens • Anthisteria (Feb) • City/Greater Dionysia (late March) • anyone • (theoric fund) Csapo

  16. Greater Dionysia: Program Dramatic preliminaries “Showtime” Dithyramb — 10 men’s choruses of 50 boys’ choruses of 50 Comedies — 5 Tragedy — 3 tetralogies • Prefest • chorus assignments • Proagōn • “Introduction” • Pompē • Ceremonies Csapo

  17. Tragic Tetralogy Four plays, one playwright Aeschylus’ Oresteia (458 BCE) Agamemnon Libation Bearers Eumenides Proteus • Tragedy • Tragedy • Tragedy • Satyr drama Csapo

  18. Athenian Theater, Tragic Drama Where, What, How

  19. Athenian Acropolis N Parthenon Odeon Roman Theater of Herodes Atticus Temple of DionysusEleutherius Theater of Dionysus

  20. Theater of Dionysus ca. 420 BCE theatron (“viewing place,” auditorium, theater) wooden bleachers stone seats (dignitaries) orkhēstra(“dancing space” for chorus) kerkis (“wedge”seating section) altar entry (parodos) entry (parodos) Low wooden stage with, steps, skene (from ca. 420 BCE) skene (stage building)

  21. Theater of Dionysus, Athens (from East) Csapo

  22. Production: Personnel & Gear Personnel Gear, etc. Masks Costumes Music Props Scenery Special effects mekhanē ekkuklēma • poet • poiētēs, “maker” • producer • khorēgos • director • didaskalos, “teacher” • actors • hupokritai • chorus, “chorus leader” • khoros, koruphaios • piper • aulētēs Csapo

  23. Theater at Epidaurus Tragedy: Ritualized Secularism • Dual Focus (Barlow) • mythic, archetypal • contemporary, topical • Ambivalent affirmation Csapo

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