intro to intro-2

8/10/2019 Intro to Intro-2

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What isPerformance???

What is traditionaltheatre? Is this Theatre?

Performance ArtRichard Schechner

(editor of TDR: The Drama Reviewat NYUs

Tisch School of the Arts; first to define what

he was seeing; audience may or may notknow they are witnessing theatre; theatrical

in nature, but very free form

Allan Kaprowshappenings (60s-70s)

movement in U.S., loosely organized

performance art, Doorway Behavior (testedthe publics innate response to 2 approaching

a door at same time, found gender politics

played large role in who goes first


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Performance by definition

Choices made in Collaboration and

bound by Convention.


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In Other Words

Choices: script is a blueprint for a

production

Collaboration: multiple contributors work

toward a common goal

Convention: tradition/custom audience

accepts--(Example: fourth wall or willingsuspension of disbelief)


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Theatre vs. Other Arts

How is Theatre different from other

storytelling or performing arts?

It is a living art form

Ephemeral; transitory; an event in time

LIVE PRESENCE is key!!!


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Ingredients

1. Space

2. Performers

3. Audience

A man walks across this empty space, whilst

someone else is watching him and this is all that

is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged."Peter Brook (Wroe, Guardian Umlimited, May 12, 2007)


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A Brief

Theatrical History lesson

in 7 slides.


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Storytelling: Art & Function

All human societies

Early Theatrical artists compelled to act

them out

Script sources for Theatre


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Ritual: A Root of Theatre

Storytelling fed into ritual

Symbolic in nature

Interactively engaging

According to Stephanie Arnold

Ceremonial observationrepeated in a specific

way.Highly symbolic eventsdensely coded

meaning.


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Societal Examples of Theatrical

Typesof Gatherings Weddings

Funerals

Graduations

Football Games

Political Debates Religious Worship Services


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Origins of Theatre

Quick Reference: chart on page 12 (audio says

page 12but that was my goof! Sorry!)

TRAGEDY:

From Greek word tragoidia (goat song)

Stemmed from worship to Dionysus, Greek

god of wine and revelry


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ANCIENT TRAGEDY

3 sources for info:

31 plays

3 playwrights (Aeschylus,Sophocles, Euripides)

1 Theorist -- Aristotle


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AristotlesArs Poetica

Tragedy is an (1.)imitation

of an actionthat is serious,

complete, and of a certain

magnitude; in(2.) languageembellishedwith each kind

of artistic ornament [](3.)

in the form of action, not of

narrative; through pity andfear effecting the proper

(4.)purgationof these

emotions.

Translation

1.) mimesis, human actors

SHOW us the story

2.) poetry

3.) Stories acted out rather than

told

4.) Catharsisthe purging of

pity and fear


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Greek Theatrical Conventions

Violence offstage (ekklyklema)

Late point of attack; 24 hour time frame

Focused on ethical qualities

Historical and mythical subjects

Use of the mask Chorus

Functioned as group, served various literary

purposes


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Medieval Theatre

Purpose: for Catholic church to communicate

Christian teachings to the masses

Pageant Wagons: horse-drawn carts of

individual playletsparade

Community focused efforts

Episodic in structure

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