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Classical Theatre History A Journey Through Time Greek and Roman History By Margaret Foland AET 541 Dawn R. Tittle Introductions to Classical Theatre History Week 1 Greek History this will focus on both the history of the Greek Culture and Theatre. It will encompass philosophy, religion, and the society of Ancient Greece. Week 2 Roman History This will focus both the history of the Roman Culture and Theatre. It will encompass philosophy, religion, and the society of Ancient Rome. Greek History 5th century B.C.E. standing achievements in politics, philosophy, science and arts Western theatre born due to the culture of the period Advances made in art such as pottery and also in the performance of elaborate ceremonies such as those performed in Abydos, Egypt. Advances in science, astronomy and math Athens carried all these traditions forward Start of the 5th century B.C.E. most important city-state was Athens, in Greek History at the time That changed between 431 to 404 B.C.E. – during the Peloponnesian Wars, between Athens and Sparta. Athens, otherwise, enjoyed a period of remarkable achievements – this time was called the Classical period or the Golden Age of Greece Birth place of Democracy – Athens, Greece all male citizens had a voice however, men who were slaves or non-Athenians had no voice in the political and governmental bodies women were subservient – not allowed to participate in government Greek History cont’d Greek Philosophy Socrates and Plato tried to explain the world around them Herodotus transformed history into a social science Scientific discoveries made Pythagoras – Greek Mathematician, invited his theory (theory formulated) and it is still used today and is one of the corner stones of geometry Hippocrates – Greek Physician created the physicians oath – the Hippocratic Oath and it is still in use today for our doctors – to do no harm. Aristotle – philosopher, teacher of Alexander the Great, and first theatre critic of the ancient world, wrote “The Poetics.” Classical Greeks were also remarkable artists and architects Greek sculptures from this period can be found in museums world wide These monuments have with stood time and natural disasters – the Parthenon and the Temple of Acropolis The most significant field – theatre We love color, beauty, competition, revelry, balance, and democracy http://youtu.be/7SyAhSjj4KE Discussion Questions What were some of the great achievements of the Ancient Greeks during the Classic period? Who were the philosophers and what did they contribute to the society? Greece was the birth place of Democracy, but why did they feel that only the men of the city could run it, and why were women subservient at this time? The Theatron of Ancient Greece A state theatre Archon – producer Choreogus – Appointed to run chorus Chorodidascolos – chorus was considered the most important thing; later star actors took over thanks to Thespis. Theatre of Dionysus Ancient Greek Theatre structure and performance (Classical Greek, Hellene, and Roman Adaptation) The basics Capacity of 15,000 to 17,000 The grand and expensive demanded Theatre – seeing place Orchestra – dancing place, 66 ft. in diameter Skene – scene house In front of the skene was the proskenion (proscenium) There were 3 doors – the native door on the right side of the stage, the kings door in the center of the stage, and the alien or foreign country door on the left side of the stage it was called the thyromatae. Paraskenia – side entrances Episkenion – Roof or second level or structure Paradoi – parade, chorus parades in… Scenic Effects or Periakoti Machane (Machine) Deus des Machina – crane – god from the or in the machine Ekkyklema – used for reveals Revolving or pivoting stage Literally “a wheeled thing” Used for reveals either wheeled on stage or rotated Orange, Eretria, Athens, Epidaurus – Hellene theatres Videos on Ancient Greek Theatre and its music: http://youtu.be/ynYpzrmpscc http://youtu.be/DISMbiJByw0 Tools of Theatre The mask Onkos (onkos) – a giant headdress that gives extra height and grandeur Megaphone? – They may have had one this is still not proven fact Basic costume – everyman Chiton Himation Cotherni – for grandeur Melpomene – muse of tragedy, holding a mask and wearing a Cothurnus – like a platform shoes Arete – striving for excellence Anake – I understand something maybe holding me back, necessity Early Greek Festivals Dionysian Feasts Dithyrambs started around 600 B.C.E. Thespis – becomes first hypocrite (actor) around 535 B.C.E. The Dionysia and Rural Dionysia December – Lenaia January – City Dionysia March – First contest 534 B.C.E. Drama till you drop 7 day festival – seven day festivals Proagon Awards and punishments Aristotle’s Dramatic Elements Aristotle argument in “The Poetics” was written in 322 B.C.E. What survives are lecture notes preserved over two millennia. Tragedy is helpful as a purgative, called Katharsis, which eliminates antisocial urges dormant in our nature. The definition of drama: drama is the imitation of an action, and tragedy is serious, important and tells one complete story Tragedy is not narration, but shows the story in action The aim of tragedy is to conjure up the emotions of pity and fear, leading to Katharsis The elements of tragedy in order of importance, the elements are plot character theme (idea) language music / musicality Spectacle – dancing, singing, set, costumes, etc. Dramatizations and Playwrights When Drama Began and its Themes Dithyrambs 5 comedies Trilogies, Satyrs Structure of old comedy Prologos – Prologue that begins the play with dialogue indicating the focus or theme of play Parados – (1) song sung buy the chorus when it enters, (2) the moment when the chorus enters Episodes – scenes in which the dialogue involves one or two characters and the chorus Agon – debate between characters Parabasis – an ode in which the chorus addresses the audience to express opinions of the author Stasimons – chorus sings a song, leading up to the finale, the conflict is resolved Exodus – final part, play ends Themes love you wife, not your weapons of war war is a senseless waist of lives, money and energy war not only divides nations it also divides families although men hold all power in Greek Society, they back wisdom, common sense, and peaceful nature of Greek women the weak can be strong when here cause is just in unity, there is strength All small organized group can become united and strength thru numbers Playwrights Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides Aristophanes Menander Some Play Titles Prometheus Bound The Suppliants Antigone King Oedipus Hecuba Ion The Frogs Lysistrata The Grouch The Girl from Samos Video Clips of Ancient Greek Playwrights http://youtu.be/elSGufIxc7s http://youtu.be/IGT24uYPb2Y http://youtu.be/gqpB5BgZDnE http://youtu.be/1SMiA G-8nak http://youtu.be/YygOR5JxcnM http://youtu.be/S15s-HbCGIw Discussion Questions What are the parts of the Ancient Greek Theatre, called the Theatron? Why did they use masks? What is the basic everyman costume? Why are the Cothurnus compared to platform shoes? Who are the Greek playwrights and who wrote what? Roman History Rome was founded around 750 B.C.E. over 200 years was ruled by a series of kings from Etruruia 500 B.C.E. the kings were over-thrown Republic was to established that lasted nearly 500 years 3 main classes in Rome Patricians the rich upper class who ruled the country through the Senate plebeians ordinary citizens who had no voice at first and than eventually gained an equal voice in government through a people’s assembly Slaves who made up roughly half the population. During the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C.E. – 264 to 146 B.C.E. Punic Wars Rome won Rome controlled a large part Mediterranean including Spain Sicily Sardinia A portion of North Africa 1st century B.C.E. – signs of struggle they had trouble with the following maintaining checks and balances in the government upheavals Rome in the midst of this turmoil Julius Caesar declares to be the dictator of the Roman Empire Roman History Cont’d Caesar was assonated by a group lead by Brutus Brutus was in turn defeated by Mark Anthony and Octavius 27 B.C.E. – Rome became an empire with the following one supreme rule Most of the lands bordering on the Mediterranean Sea All of Europe, basically the following Spain, France, Britain all the Balkans Religion importance in Roman history The Romans worshipped gods counterparts of the Greek gods Also worshipped divinities from lands they conquered Worshipped in their own pantheon Romans stage religious festivals Which they incorporate elements of theatre Romans persecuted the Early Christian 4th century C.E. Emperor Constantine splits the empire in two East - Byzantine West - Western the emperor Constantine’s Mother was a Christian Constantine converts to Christianity Conversion of the Roman world to Christianity begins Early Christians deemed theatre pagan evil The Roman Catholic Church was a contributing factor to the decline of Theatre Roman Empire The Coliseum of Rome, its remains that has lasted for over 1,000 years. Discussion Questions When Rome was a Republic who was in charge and why? How did Rome become an Empire? Who was Julius Caesar? Why did Brutus kill Caesar? Who was Constantine? Why did the empire get split into two factions? The Roman Theatre Capacity 50, 000 4 tier theatre Auditorium partially covered hydraulics awesome spectacles Theatre organization Curale Aediles – hired by government, producer, Ludi – sports (gladiators) Circenses – spectacle, theatre Giant head – Dominus Gregius – director, theatre representative Siparium – 2nd drapes Auleum – grand drape, 2nd behind it Pulpitum – Stage of Roman Theatre, 4 to 5 ft. raise length to Colosseum Stage Theatre Structure They kept the Orchestra, Scaenae (Skene), and the cavea (theatron) Scaenae frons - scene house Porta dexter, (right, entrance port), porta hospitale (left entrance port) porta regia (center entrance port) Side entrances Versurae – doors on sides Periatoi, panels, mechane Drop curtain Stage 300 X 40¹ Average capacity 25,000 Dexter – Rome door Hospitale – foreign door Regia – king’s door Horace – Rome’s Theatre Critic Horace – Quintus Horatius Flaccus – theatre critic Famous for his literary poetry Satires and Epodes The Art of Poetry Horace’s rules of theatre comedy and tragedy must never combine Plays should have 5 acts Only 3 speaking characters should appear at the same time The gods should not be used unless it is absolutely necessary to resolve a plot The chorus should be used to forward the action, set a high moral tone and give “good and sage counsel.” Felt that the purpose of drama was “to profit and to please” Writers should both entertain and instruct their audience Horace’s concerns emphasized during the Renaissance was decorum Decorum – meant that the language and actions of characters must fit traditional ideas of suitable behavior for their age, gender, social status and emotional state, Wilson, E., & Goldfarb, A. (2008). He wanted writers to avoid using extremes – or extreme emotions and to attempt to be truthful Anything overly offensive or overly marvelous needed to be kept off stage Playwrights of Rome Tragic playwright Lucius Annaeus Seneca – 4 B.C.E – 65 C.E. Plays of Seneca Some of his works survived, here are some titles The Madness of Hercules The Trojan Women The Phoenician Women Phaedra Medea Thyestes Agamemnon Oedipus Comic Playwrights Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) 254-184 B.C.E. Terence – Publius Terentius Afer 185 to 159 B.C.E Plays of Terence All 6 survived Andria – 166 B.C.E. The Mother – In – Law 165 B.C.E. The Self – Tormentor – 163 B.C.E. The Eunuch – 161 B.C.E. Phormio – 161 B.C.E. The Brothers – 160 B.C.E. Plays of Plautus 20 plays and one if fragment survived, here are 8 of them The Merchant The Carthaginians The Rope Casina This is a picture of Titus Maccius Plautus, an actor and Playwright of Ancient Rome. The The The The The The Pot of Gold Haunted House Captives Churl Girl from Persia Menaechmi Video Clips of Ancient Roman Playwrights Videos on Ancient Roman Theatre and Music : http://youtu.be/GDMfjvqGuyc http://youtu.be/uJLXyBzMci0 Roman Playwrights Video Clips: http://youtu.be/WHX-cM_tBjI http://youtu.be/uX-aWZa2qqA http://youtu.be/_32z0k3r9v4 Discussion Questions What is the structure of the Ancient Roman Theatre? How many people could sit in the Ancient Roman Amphitheatre? How was the theatre Organized? Who are the three major Playwrights of Ancient Rome? Who is Horace? References Ancient Greek Theatre. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110tech/theater.html Hellene Theatre. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.wildfiregames.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6255 . Julius Caesar. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://fany.savina.net/wpcontent/uploads/2010/10/JuliusCaesar.jpg Roman Theatre. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.vroma.org/~plautus/theatmodlab.jpg Titus Maccius Plautus. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.rightwords.eu/imgupl/author/t-232x250xffffff/titusmacchius-plautus--924--t-232x250xffffff-rw.jpg Wilson, E., & Goldfarb, A. (2008). History of the Theatre: Living Theatre (5th ed.). New York, New York: McGraw Hill.