Final Exam Outline PDF

Final Exam Outline Theatre Introduction Oral History Preliterate human past: 99.9% of human history Abydos Passion play - Depicted the crucifixion of Christ - European form of theatre - Used to apply European views in a non-euro content What is a “stele”? - A carved stone in...

Final Exam Outline Theatre Introduction Oral History Preliterate human past: 99.9% of human history Abydos Passion play - Depicted the crucifixion of Christ - European form of theatre - Used to apply European views in a non-euro content What is a “stele”? - A carved stone in the shape of a monument that tell a story - Ex) The 10 commandments Ritual vs. Theatre - Ritual is more “efficacious” - Theatre is more “entertainment” The Cambridge Anthropologists or Ritualists - Came up with the theory that theatre developed out of ritual practices - We don’t accept this theory because it is very disturbing and incorrect for believers that religious rituals were primitive and evolved into a more aesthetic art form of theatre Theatre in Ancient Athens History Thespis: was the first tragic playwright to win a competition at the City Dionysius Thespian=Actor (a term still used to this day) Dithyramb: poem chanted and sung by a chorus of men The Lenaia Festival: Held in Athens in the winter, mainly meant for Athenians, used to make fun of the government The City Dionysia: Held in spring, meant for everyone in the surrounding area of Athens and Athenians, held at the base of the Akropolis The Chorus: consisted of 12-15 men, represented a collective character, sang their dialogue and danced Masks: All Greek actors wore masks as did the chorus Parts of the Theatre - The skene: a low house-like structure was later added to the space, some action took place on the roof of it - The ekkyklema: allowed interior scenes to be exposed, wither actors were wheeled out or a wall was turned - The orchestra: A circular semi circle - The Paradoi: passages into the orchestra between the theatron and the skene - An altar was located somewhere in the orchestra - Thymele: a flat stone in the center of the orchestra Japanese Traditional Theatre: Noh Noh history Noh: stands for talent and ability, comes from the word Nohgaku Masks: represents the actor reincarnating a past person/spirit, a mask lets the sudience use their imagination to make emotions appear, represents a deeper meaning/ deeper emotion Very styalized and ritualistic, takes forever to perform Characteristics of Noh - Set pieces are minimalistic - Actions are dream like - Performed only by men - Features two kinds of characters, the Shite (main protagonist) and the Waki (secondary characters/confidant) - Accompanied by a chorus 6-10 men and musicians - Performed on a small raised stage Action in a Noh play - Jo: intro of characters in a question answer sequence - Ha: the protagonist performs a dance expressing their main regrets and concerns - Kyu: the protagonist changes/appears as their real self, main concerns resolved or ended Noh set up - Four pillars: Shite, Waki, eyeline, flute - Bridgeway - Mirror room (backstage) Japanese Theatre: Kabuki History Kabuki: Comes from the word Kabuku which means bizarre or out of the ordinary Kabuki was catered to the common folk, regular people who weren’t high class enough to watch Noh Onna-Kabuki: was its original name when it was performed only by females. The women were later banned because the shogunate hated that the women were advertising their bodies on stage. Wakashu-Kabuki: young boys became the performers, it was banned for similar reasons Yaro-Kabuki: which was and still is performed by grown men Kabuki is a 5-act performance