90 likes | 257 Vues
Do Now. As You Like It opens tonight. We are studying The Crucible in this class. Where does western theatre come from? Guess a time period and some potential causes for this. Greek Origins of Theatre. Emerged from early religious rituals – worship gods for crops (~800 BCE)
E N D
Do Now As You Like It opens tonight. We are studying The Crucible in this class. Where does western theatre come from? Guess a time period and some potential causes for this.
Greek Origins of Theatre • Emerged from early religious rituals – worship gods for crops (~800 BCE) • Ritualistic chanting and singing stories • Thespis is the first one to play a character (thus the term thespian) ~6th century BCE
Tragedy first, then comedy • Tragedy comes from the Greek word tragoidiafor the words “goat song” • Tragedy brings about catharsis – the cleansing of emotions • The big difference between tragedy and comedy is evident at the end. How so?
Rules for Tragedy from Aristotle’s Poetics (4th c. BCE) • Plot (action) is very important and must be complete with a singular beginning, middle, and end • The plot (action) must be motivated by character action • The plot (action) must be “of a certain magnitude” • “A change from ignorance to knowledge, producing love or hate between the persons destined for good or bad fortune” • A hero with “good” purpose
Tragedy is all about the FALL FROM GRACE OR EXCELLENCE We can manipulate these factors to make more (or less) effective tragedy Status + Fall = Tragedy Status + Fall = Tragedy
Rank the Following from Least Tragic to Most Tragic • Talented, young college athlete breaks leg during NCAA basketball tournament. • High school student forgets homework, grade drops from D to D-. • All-Star Pitcher goes from $30 million contract to $28 million contract.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller • Born 1915 in Harlem, NYC • Family gained wealth but lost it in the stock market crash • By 1946 he won his first Tony Award • To this day he is argued as the greatest American playwright of all time • 1953 – The Crucible opens on Broadway