Theatre: History, Concepts, and Evolution PDF

1. Theatre is a world where people enact stories, often with an antagonist and a protagonist, and is understood through myth, stimulating the senses and evoking emotional and intellectual reactions. This type of community ritual has been present throughout history, from ancient Greece to modern-day...

1. Theatre is a world where people enact stories, often with an antagonist and a protagonist, and is understood through myth, stimulating the senses and evoking emotional and intellectual reactions. This type of community ritual has been present throughout history, from ancient Greece to modern-day sporting events and Igungun masquerades of the Yoruba of Nigeria. Professor Lewis identifies seven metaphors to describe the purposes of theatre, including entertainment, education, and reform, where theatre can be a space for escape, education, and transformation. Theatre can also be a place for social change, where people can come together to witness or participate in a performance that allows for transformation and growth. Understanding Theatre: Metaphors and Concepts The concept of theatre can be thought of in various ways, including as a network that builds community, a space where people come together to witness a performance and create relationships between spectators and performers. Theatre can also be seen as a mirror that reflects society or reality, showing us what we are and providing a common way of thinking about it. Additionally, theatre can be viewed as a question mark, exploring philosophical or existential questions such as the meaning of life, the nature of violence, and what it means to be a human being. Theatre can also be considered a dream, a place where we can imagine and suggest different possibilities, moving beyond our everyday lives and into the space of fantasy. Furthermore, theatre can be seen as a hammer, inciting action or instigating social change, serving as a call to action for the audience. Defining Theatre: Origins and Scope The word "theatre" is derived from the Greek word "teotron," meaning "a seeing place," and can refer to a physical space, a discipline or profession, a body of literature, and a repertoire of embodied practices. Theatre encompasses various aspects, including teaching, viewing, acting, directing, design, and playwriting, and is distinct from other art forms with its own conventions and styles. Performance and Reality: Schechner's Distinction Performance studies scholar Richard Schechner distinguishes between two types of performances: those that "make believe" and have a clear boundary between the performance and everyday reality, and those that blur this boundary. The ancient Greeks have had a lasting impact on theatrical practice, with many conventions and styles still used today, which will be discussed further. The concept of theatre is often associated with the idea of illusion or pretense, but Richard Schechner also talks about performances that "make belief," which create social realities and blur the boundaries between performance and everyday reality. These performances can be seen in various aspects of life, such as performances of gender, race, or other significant topics, and they often exist in a liminal space between the performance and reality. Universals of Theatre: Live, Synthesis, Collaborative Mira Fellner, a performance scholar, identifies three universals of theatre that are consistent across cultures and time: theatre is live, it is a synthesis art form, and it is collaborative. The live aspect of theatre refers to the present moment and the interaction between live performers and audiences, which creates a unique energy and potential for transformation. Theatre as a synthesis art form combines various elements such as language, painting, sculpture, costume, music, dance, and light, and it also draws from multiple disciplines like history, psychology, literature, philosophy, sociology, business, and science. The collaborative nature of theatre involves many people working together, including directors, actors, designers, promoters, stage managers, and backstage crew, to create a piece that is shared with the audience, who are also an essential part of the collaborative process. Origins of Theatre and the Significance of Ancient Greece The origins of theatre and its persistence throughout history are questions of interest to theatre historians, who seek to understand why theatre continues to be a vital part of human culture and community rituals. Performance has existed since the beginning of human existence, as humans naturally mimic one another, and children learn by imitating their parents and others to acquire basic skills. The origin of theatre in the West is commonly attributed to ancient Greece, specifically Athens, and the document "Poetics" written by Aristotle around 335 BCE. The "Poetics" was preserved and rediscovered through the commentary of 10th-century Islamic scholar Averroes, which contributed to the Renaissance. In "Poetics," Aristotle defines tragedy as an imitation of noble and complete action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude, presented in a high, elevated language, and driven by action rather than narrative. Aristotle's definition of tragedy includes six requisite elements, although the specific elements are not listed in this section of the text. The Greek word "tragoidia" literally means "goat song," and Aristotle's focus on tragedy in "Poetics" has led to speculation that he may have written a separate book on comedy, which has not survived. Aristotle's concept of tragedy involves the audience experiencing pity and fear, leading to a purgation or catharsis of these emotions, which can be understood as either a medical or emotional cleansing. Aristotle distinguishes theatre from epic poetry, such as Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," by emphasizing the importance of action over narrative in theatre. Aristotle's Poetics and the Conventions of Greek Tragedy The six conventions of theater, as defined by ancient Greeks, include plot, character, thought, diction, song and melody, and spectacle, which were used to determine what constitutes theater. Plot refers to the beginning, middle, and end of a story, while characters are the people enacting the story, with the protagonist typically being someone of high stature who falls. Thought is the theme of the story, which can include topics such as politics, love, or power, while diction is the way words are spoken. Song and melody refer to the role of the chorus, which was an essential part of ancient Greek theater, and spectacle refers to the visual elements of the performance. Aristotle ranked spectacle as the least important element, prioritizing the poetry and words spoken, whereas in modern times, spectacle is often considered more important due to the visual nature of contemporary culture. The City Dionysia and the Context of Greek Theatre Ancient Greek theater was closely tied to the city Dionysia festival, a public celebration dedicated to the god of wine and theater, Dionysus, which involved processions, animal sacrifice, and fertility rituals. The city Dionysia festival was guided by the spirit of Comos, the god of revelry and merrymaking, and was characterized by its wild and ecstatic nature, with elements of ritual, celebration, and theater. The word "tragedy" comes from the Greek word "tragoidia," meaning "he goat song," which is believed to refer to the prize goat or goat sacrifice awarded to the winner of the dithyrambic festival competition. Dithyrambs were performances by choruses of up to 50 men and boys, accompanied by an aulos, a special Greek flute, and took place in a large outdoor amphitheater with a central playing space known as the orchestra. The ancient Greeks developed a theater structure, known as the auditorium, which was carved into the side of a mountain, with a rear building called the orchestra, a scene or skene, and a platform called the proscenium. Many modern theater terms, such as orchestra, auditorium, scene, and proscenium, originated from the ancient Greeks, demonstrating the significant influence of Greek theater on the development of modern theater. The Great Greek Tragedians and Their Works Despite the limited number of surviving ancient Greek plays, with only 31 extant plays from three tragic playwrights, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, these works have had a profound impact on the history of theater. Aeschylus is known for his trilogy, the Oresteia, which includes Agamemnon, the Libation Bearers, and the Eumenides, and explores the theme of revenge and its consequences. Sophocles is famous for his plays Antigone, which tells the story of a woman who defies the state, and Oedipus Rex, which is considered the most famous Greek play and was used by Aristotle as an example of tragedy. Euripides is known for his plays Medea, which explores the complexities of a woman's character, and the Bacchae, which tells the story of the consequences of defying the gods. Greek tragedy typically involves a protagonist and an antagonist, creating a binary conflict between good and bad, and often features a chorus of commentators who provide insight and raise questions about the story. The chorus in Greek tragedy serves as the conscience of the protagonist or the audience, and their conversations with the protagonist and antagonist add depth and complexity to the story. Other notable Greek playwrights include Aristophanes and Menander, who are known for their comedies and will be discussed in more detail in a later lecture. Elements of Greek Tragedy: Protagonist, Antagonist, Chorus The protagonist in Greek tragedies is typically a person of high standing who possesses a tragic flaw, often referred to as hubris, which ultimately leads to their downfall. The story of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is a classic example, where King Oedipus vows to find the cause of the plague in his kingdom, only to discover that he is the cause, having unknowingly killed his father and married his mother, resulting in patricide and incest. Upon realizing his mistakes, Oedipus blinds himself, and the chorus laments the fall of a great man due to fate, teaching the audience about the importance of avoiding certain behaviors in society. The audience experiences catharsis, purging their emotions through the tragic events, and develops a sense of pity for the fallen protagonist. Examples of Greek Tragedies: Oedipus Rex and Medea Another example is Euripides' Medea, where the title character, Medea, seeks revenge against her husband Jason by murdering his new lover and their own children, highlighting the drastic behavior and violence often depicted in Greek tragedies. Despite the violent themes, the Greeks did not depict violence on stage, instead relying on messengers to relay the events to the audience. The Experience of Attending a Greek Tragedy Attending a Greek tragedy would have been a festive experience, part of a larger festival such as the city Dionysia, where citizens would gather to watch the performances in a large amphitheater, with men playing both male and female roles due to the absence of women on stage. The audience would have been comprised of male citizens, with speculation surrounding the presence of women in the audience, and would have been seated in a large amphitheater carved into the side of a mountain near the Acropolis in Athens. The Greek theater performances took place during the daytime, utilizing the sunlight, and featured a large chorus of 12 to 16 men dressed in robes and masks, who sang and commented on the action. The chorus was positioned in the orchestra space, where the actors would step out to perform, and at the center of the space stood the timellio, an altar where sacrifices were made, highlighting the connection between theater and religion. The skene, a backdrop, had exits and entrances, and the Greeks employed various techniques, including the periaktoi, a three-sided canvas or object that could be rotated to create different settings. Another technique used was the mekanē, a pulley device that allowed actors to fly in, often used in Greek tragedies, such as in the end of Medea, and referred to as the deus ex machina, or the god in the machine. During festivals like the city Dionysia, playwrights would offer tragedies, comedies, and satyr plays, with satyr plays being raunchy interludes that were comic fertility rituals, and only one fragment of a satyr play remains. Playwrights would be judged, and the winner would receive glory, a monetary prize, and potentially a goat, hence the origin of the word tragedy, tragoidea, meaning goat song. The spectators were primarily Athenian citizens, and the performances served as a mirror of their society, providing reflections and suggestions on how to behave, making it an educational tool as well as a religious and informative experience. Notably, the Greek theater performances were likely attended by an elite group of mainly males, with speculation surrounding the presence of women and slaves. Evolution of Theatre: From Ancient Greece to Elizabethan and Spanish Golden Age The Elizabethan period and the Spanish Golden Age saw a shift in theatre, with people from all walks of life, including peasants and royalty, attending performances. Many terms and concepts used in theatre today originated from the ancient Greeks, including the division of plays into tragic and comic forms, and the use of the comic and tragic masks as iconic symbols. The structure of plays, including building to a climax, resolving, and bringing about catharsis for audiences, also originated from the Greeks and was influenced by Aristotle. Although modern theatre has moved indoors and adopted more sophisticated lighting and technology, it still relies heavily on spectacle, which was considered the lowest part of Aristotle's list. Ancient Origins and Continued Relevance of Theatre The origins of theatre can be traced back to ancient civilizations, including Egypt, where the Abydos Passion Play of Osiris was performed, and Africa, where the Igungun Masquerade is still performed today. Despite the evolution of theatre over time, its core function remains the same: to tell stories in an embodied way, using myth, symbolism, and sensory appeal to teach, instruct, and incite action. The next session will explore the development of comic forms from the Greeks to the Romans, and how the Romans influenced contemporary forms of comic performance.