Greek Theatre & the origins of Western theatre

Chapter 10, part 1

Ritual
Masks are universal in just about every human culture. So are rituals. Why? What are they for? Two elements of theatre are storytelling and imitation. What religious ceremonies also share these elements?

Why should everyone know about the Greeks?

Greek culture was a powerful influence in the Roman Empire, which carried a version of it to many parts of Europe. Ancient Greek civilization has been immensely influential on the language, politics, educational systems, philosophy, art and architecture of the modern world It was the basis of the Renaissance in Western Europe and again during various neo-classic revivals in 18th-19th century Europe and The Americas.

Golden Age of Greece (also called classical period)

5th century B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) was a time of great progress

The Parthenon is the best-known surviving building of Ancient Greece and is regarded as one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. The building has stood atop the Acropolis of Athens for nearly 2,500 years and was built to give thanks to the Greek goddess Athena.

Golden age
Great inventions of the Greeks:
Democracy Philosophy Pythagorean theorem (math) Hippocratic oath (medicine) Art, architecture (amazing sculpture & buildings)

We know they revered theater

Check out the Theater at Epidaurus obviously built to last

Theater and Culture: Greek Theater Emerges

Theater and Religion
Dionysus was the god of wine, fertility, and revelry. Most historians believe that Greek drama originated out of the dithyrambic chorus, a group of 50 men who sang and danced a hymn to Dionysus. Theater was presented at annual festivals held in honor of the gods. Thespis is credited with transforming these songs into drama when he stepped out of the chorus and became an actor. He became a character and engaged in dialogue with the chorus. Thespian, which means stage performer, comes from Thespis.

Theater and Myth

Myths were the subject of these plays written for religious festivals Myths:
story handed down from generation to generation Often attempts to explain human and natural phenomena (Echo & Narcissus for example, or Demeter & Persephone) Also deal with extreme family situations

Homer
Greek poet, lived around 800 B.C.E. Wrote the Iliad (account of the war between the Greeks & Trojans, remember Helen of Troy? Achilles?) Wrote the Odyssey (voyage of Odysseus) Provided the greatest source of material for all classical tragedy

Progression of the actor

Began with one actor & large chorus (50). Aeschylus added added a second actor who could play different parts, wearing different masks. Chorus reduced to 12. Sophocles added third actor, raised chorus to 15 (where it remained). Dramatic construction could then be much more flexible. Actors were only men.

Greek Masks
All performers wore them Later they had devices like megaphones built in

Greek Chorus
Really important Theater element Usually represented ordinary citizens
Reacted the way people in the audience might Gave background info necessary to understand the plot (exposition) Represented a moderate balance between the extreme behaviors of the principle characters Made philosophical observations & drew conclusions about what was happening

Why would the chorus be used?

From Oedipus Rex

CHORUS
Ye men of Thebes, behold this Oedipus, Who knew the famous riddle and was noblest, Who envied no ones fortune and success. And, lo! In what a sea of direst woe He now is plunged. From hence the lesson draw, To reckon no man happy till ye see the closing day; until he pass the bourn Which severs life from death, unscathed by woe.

Tragedy
Weve gone over dramatic structure & tragedy - look over pgs 214-218 (structure of Oedipus Rex) Most admired form of Greek drama lets meet the 3 famous Greek tragedians

Aeschylus
525-456 BCE Called for 2nd actor, reduced size of chorus from 50 to 12 Master of the trilogy (3 tragedies that make up a single unit) Oresteia - saga of Agamemnon, hero of the Trojan war, when he returns he is murdered by his wife Clytemnestra, who is killed by their children, Electra and Orestes (whew!)

Sophocles
496-406 BCE Added third actor, raised chorus to 15 Adept at dramatic construction (well-made play) Oedipus Rex (King Oedipus) Antigone

Euripedes
You pay for dese 484-406 BCE A rebel for the following innovations:
Sympathetic portrayal of female characters Increased realism Mixture of tragedy w/melodrama Skeptical treatment of the gods Medea The Bacchae Electra

Aristophanes the comedian

448-380 BCE Wrote old comedies Lysistrata, The Frogs
Makes fun of social, political, or cultural conditions Characters are often recognizable personalities (such as Socrates) Modern counterpart: political satire, like on SNL

The Frogs
Enter Dionysus on foot dressed in the skin of the Nemean Lion, and the club of Heracles in his hand, and Xanthias heavily laden on a donkey. Xanthias: Master, should I tell one of those usual jokes which always make the audience laugh? Dionysus: By Zeus, say what you want--except I'm hard pressed - Forget that one, it's really quite annoying. Xanthias: Nothing else witty either? Dionysus: Anything but What a strain! Xanthias: What then? Can I say the really funny one? Dionysus: Of course,Go right ahead--but don't let me catch you saying this. Xanthias: What's that? Dionysus: That you must shift your pack to ease yourself. Xanthias: Well, can't I say I've got such a load on me,unless someone takes it off, I'll bust a gut? Dionysus: Please don't, unless you wish to make me sick. Xanthias: So why should I have to carry all this stuff,without doing any of the jokes that Phrynichusand Lycis and Ameipsias always makethe baggage-carriers say in all their comedies? Dionysus: Just don't. Since when I'm in the theater and hear any of these stupid jokes,I go away just older by a year.

More theatre things we got from the Greeks

Dramatic criticism: Artistotle (384-322 BCE), The Poetics. 6 Elements of drama:
Plot Character Thought or theme Language Music Spectacle (Aristotle doesnt Include performers or audience)