Download History and Origins of Theater

History and Origins of Theater
Greek Theater
Origins of Theater
 There is evidence in every culture and every historical period
that people have used elements of theater 1. To communicate,
2. to educate, 3. to entertain
 TWO MAIN ELEMENTS OF THEATER: 1. Storytelling, 2.
Costuming
Drama
 Theater in the written
form is its own genre of
literature, known as
DRAMA
 DRAMA is the basis of all
written theater
Greece
 Greece in the 5th century is known as either THE
CLASSICAL PERIOD or THE GOLDEN AGE
 Athens, Greece is the first recorded occurrence of theater
Greece’s many accomplishments
 The birthplace of
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DEMOCRACY- only men
had a voice in politics
Philosophy: Socrates and
Plato
Recorded history and science
by Herodotus
Pythagoras developed the
Pythagorean theory
Hippocrates formulated the
physician’s oath
Architecture developed such
as the Parthenon
Theater’s beginnings
 Theater began as a religious
rite or ceremony honoring
DIONYSUS- the god of
wine, fertility, and partying
 Greek Drama originated
out of the DITHYRAMBIC
CHORUS- a group of 50
men who sang and danced
a lengthy hymn honoring
DIONYSUS
Thespis
 In the 6th century, a performer and playwright named
THESPIS had one member of the chorus stop out from the
group and assume the role of a character.
 Thus, the concept of ACTING was born
 Thespian- anyone involved in an aspect of theater,
particularly a stage performer, coming from the founder of
acting, THESPIS
Thespis and Aeschylus
Aeschylus and Sophocles
 Aeschylus (A-She-Lus): writer of tragedies, added the
second actor to the performance
 Sophocles: a playwright, added the 3rd actor
 With actors out front, dramas could not have
DIALOGUE- conversation between actors
The chorus
 The Chorus- was still used, often to represent the elders of
the city or the major character’s conscience.
 The chorus would often interrupt the action,
foreshadow what was to come, and summarize what
had gone on before.
Theater and Religion
 Greek theater was
intimately bound up with
religion
 Greek religion was
centered around a group of
gods led by Zeus- we now
call this Greek Mythology
Greek Myth
City Dionysia
 In Athens, the City Dionysia was a festival held to honor
Dionysus and theater was at its core
 Tragic Drama began here in 534 BC
 Comedic drama was added in 487 BC
 The festival lasted for several days, 3 days were devoted to
tragedies and time was set aside for 5 comedies
 THINK ABOUT IT: “DO WE STILL HAVE FESTIVALS
LIKE THIS TODAY?”
Greek Myth
 The Writers of these plays
took their stories from
Greek Myth
 A myth is a story or
legend handed down from
generation to generation;
usually attempting to
explain human and natural
phenomena or family
situations
Tragedies and Performance
 Almost 900 tragedies were produced in Athens
during the 5th century; 31 of those survived to today,
all by one of the 3 great dramatists:
 Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides
 All performers in Greek Theater, both actors and
chorus members, were MALE; EVEN THOSE PLAYING
FEMALE ROLES WERE MALE
THINK ABOUT IT…
 Why would men have to play women’s roles?
 Think about the roles of women in the past. Did women
always have the same roles and rights as men?
Oedipus Rex
 The most famous Greek tragedy to
survive
 Story of man who is prophesied (or told
that in the future) he will have a
“relation” with his own mother
 He leaves home and vows to never
return
 Through plot twists, he kills his own
father, takes position as King of Thebes,
and marries his mother, THUS fulfilling
the prophecy
 When he discovers what he has done,
he gouges his eyes out and is exiled
Oedipus Rex
 Watch the following video that summarizes the classic play Oedipus
Rex
 Try to get 8-10 important events that occur within the play
 We will discuss afterwards how this play is regarded as a Greek
Tragedy
 https://www.schooltube.com/video/d33645abf62f40b0bb59/O
edipus%20Rex%20%20The%20Short%20Version!%20%28Animated%29%20Major
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