Download Political atmosphere that affected Old Greek Comedy and New

Political atmosphere that affected Old
Greek Comedy and New Greek Comedy.
A comparative analysis of political atmosphere that
affected Greek Comedies to be identified as Old
Greek Comedy and New Greek Comedy.
M.A.D.M.K.Gunathunga
HU/2012/2060
What is a drama?
Drama is a genre in literature which could be performed in a theater or
television.
These plays are usually written out as a script, or a written version of a play that
is read by the actors but not the audience.
Drama is a unique tool to explore and express human feeling.
Drama is an essential form of behaviour in all cultures, it is a fundamental human
activity.
What is a comedy?
The dictionary definition is that the
play or movie of light and humorous character with a happy or
cheerful ending, a dramatic work in which the central motif is the triumph over
adverse circumstance, resulting in a successful or happy conclusion.
The origin of the word are found in Ancient Greece.
According to Etymology dictionary the modern usage of this word is “LaughterProvoking”.
The intention of the characters in this dramas is to provoke the laughter.
What is a Greek comedy?
Ancient Greek comedies were a famous form of art during 6th century BC.
Athenian Comedies could be divided as Old, Middle and New comedies.
Only Aristophanes‟ 11 comedies are preserved From Old Comedies. Middle
Comedies are largely lost. The works of Menander are preserved from New
Comedies.
The dramas were performed in a Greek Theater.
Masks and clothes were used to increase humor and also to identify character. All
emotions were evoked by the masks they wore.
Many pottery paintings of ancient Greece portray scenes in Greek Comedies.
Old Greek Comedy
Old Greek Comedies originated from festivals which were done to commemorate
God Dionysus that were performed for good harvest.
They have done many acts that induce humor and used indecent words while
celebrating.
It is said that Old Greek Comedies came into being as a result of these festivals.
The only surviving comedian of this era is Aristophanes. It is believed that he had
performed in the 5th cen BCE. And he had experimented with the conventions. Out
of all his comedies only 11 plays have survived.
Aristophanes lampooned the most important personalities and institutions.
Result of Democracy at the period.
New Greek Comedy
New Greek Comedy emerged in late 4th century which started about 320 BC and
ended at 260 BC. By this time Athens was a subject state and lost the freedom
The democracy enjoyed.
Only works of Menander have survived to the present period.
Menander focused on day to day domestic affairs and did not use any political
theme for the stage. His interest was on domestic aspects. Where it was „safe‟.
The result = Menander became the poet of the humane.
Comedians

Aristophanes (446-386 BC)
Known as the Father of Comedy and
represented Old Greek Comedy.

Menander (342-290 BC)
Was a Athenian general and a
governor and represented New
Greek Comedy.
ARISTOPHANES
Aristophanes has taken the maximum use of
the democracy that prevailed in 5th century
Athens.
MENANDER
Menander lived in Athens when Athens was under
the dominance of Macedonia and Old Greek
Comedy was out of date.
From his dramas it is evident that he has
used his power in expression. I.e.- in his
drama Wasps he highly criticizes Cleon the
politician and the judicial system of Athens.
In the first half the century Menander is
identified as a dramatist who was followed by
Roman dramatists Plautus and Terence.
He mostly dealt with the political and social
themes.
He mostly dealt with day to day domestic
happenings as his themes.
He also addressed the contemporary
problems that prevailed in the society.
He talked about subjects such as love, family
problems, slaves etc.
His themes were safe and mundane.
He has used the theater to lampoon the most
important political personalities as well as
his fellow artists. He knew no limits.
He has composed more than 100 dramas but only
five have survived.
If Aristophanes represented the day of Athens, Menander
represented the evening of Athens.
Aristophanes has tried to educate the people of
Athens about the ill effects of war and the
incompetence of the leaders.
Only 11 plays of Aristophanes have survived as
follows;
• Acharnians
• Assembly of women
• The Birds
• The clouds
• The frogs
• The knights
• Lysistrata
• Peace
• Plautus
• Thesmophoriazusae
• The wasps
The remaining works of Menander are as follows;
• The shield
• Old cantankerous
• Men at Arbitration
• The girl who has her hair cropped.
• Girl from Samos
• Sicyonian
Characteristics
Old Greek Comedy
New Greek Comedy
The most important feature of
Aristophanes is that he has used the
important and famous characters as the
main characters.
Athenians of late 4th century BCE payed much
attention to their domestic affairs than the
political and social contexts.
For example in his drama „The Clouds‟ he
explains that power and war ruin the
society and it is not a tool to develop the
society.
Thus Menander had to deal with the themes
of domestic affairs as Athenian had lost
interest in the art, science, philosophy,
rhetoric and etc.
It was safer for them to concentrate on these
topics.
Political Atmosphere
Old Greek Comedy
New Greek Comedy
Athens was enjoying the DEMOCRACY.
Emerged in the 4th century BCE when Athens was a
subject state of Macedonia.
The patronage for the drama competitions
and festivals were given by the government.
Athenians lost the power of free expression.
In this period Athens was facing the Persian
wars and it was at the zenith of its power.
No freedom to discuss the political and social
issues prevailed in the society.
It was the time of direct democracy.
How did Macedonian power affect the New Greek Comedy of Athenians?
• Rich Athenians were excluded from supplying a chorus to the drama.
• Expel THEORIKA.
• Due to the economical problems Athenians could not watch dramas.
• As the Athenians were excluded from the political affairs audience was indifferent to the
governance. It was also safer to do so.
How did Direct Democracy help the development of Old Greek Comedy?
Power of Athens.
Wealth of Athens.
Political freedom prevailed in the society.
The political situation Athens was undergoing.(War period)
Effects of Political Atmosphere in Old Greek Comedies.
As there was the political freedom to criticize any character in the society Aristophanes
has lampooned the prevailing political leaders, fellow artists and institutions of his time.
For example
In „The Knights‟ he criticizes the system of choosing leaders.
In „The Clouds‟ he criticizes sophists and the most famous Socrates.
Dramas „Peace‟, „Acharians‟ and „Lysistrata‟ are characterized as anti war dramas.
In „The Wasps‟ he criticizes the prevailing judicial system of Athens with the political
leaders of his time.
 Even the main character of his dramas were political leaders or famous characters.
Masks, clothes were used in order to arouse humor which are expensive and valuable.
Aristophanes mostly dealt with a contemperory social or political issues in contemporary society.
Critics categorized these dramas as “sugar coated pills” as they brought out a deeper meaning
beneath the humor.
It gave a chance for Aristophanes to criticize the democracy.
Aristophanes bravely criticize the People who had voted in the democracy.
The impact on the society
Presenting of Dream of a solution.
Plights of fantasy
Infectious loud laughter.
Effects of Political Atmosphere in New Greek Comedies
As Athens was a subject state of Macedonia it had no freedom. This directly affected the
comedies which were made in this period.
There was no social or political themes discussed in the dramas.
Thus Menander had abandoned public affairs and was concentrating instead of fictitious
characters from ordinary life.
Athenians had no interest in the political affairs which were undergoing in their country.
They had no glory either to flatter or no power to protect.
Loss of Theorika.
The characters were common.
No exaggerations and flattering.
Use of cheap masks and clothes in order to arouse humor.
The themes were always domestic. For example
• In the drama „Old Cantakerous‟ or „The Bad Tempered Man‟, the themes are the rural
countryside, love, the generation gap between the old and new.
Menander discusses about the reality or what is happening in the society but it lacks the political
or social impact.
No discussions on injustice.
Impact on comedy
Emergence of stock characters.
They became situational comedies.
Dramas of humane quality.
A smile, not a laughter.
The direct Democracy of Athens gave a chance for Aristophanes to lampooned
any political, social or economical factor in the society through his comedies.
As Athens was a subject state of Macedonia in Menander‟s time there wasn‟t any
political freedom for the writers to criticize.
Due to the political climate after the Macedonian conquest, Old Greek Comedy
had moved away from the daring personal and political satire of Aristophanes
towards the safer, mundane subject matter in New Greek Comedy.
So the New Greek Comedy has moved away due to the lack of freedom and
Menander became the “poet of humane” while Aristophanes became the “Father
of Comedy”.
Bibliography
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/education/DLiT/2001/drama/whatdram.htm
http://www.thesaurus.com/
http://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_menander.html
http://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/aristophanes001.html
Articles on Greek Comedies by Pro.Kamani Jayasekera