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Ancient Athenian Tragedy. Origins, Context, Practice. Agenda. Opening discussion Your Suggestions Tragic Origins Cult, komos , Phallic Procession Athenian Tragedy Context Athenian Theater, Tragic Drama Where, What, How. Opening discussion. Your Comments. Issues…. Reading – clarify
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Ancient Athenian Tragedy Origins, Context, Practice
Agenda • Opening discussion • Your Suggestions • Tragic Origins • Cult, komos, Phallic Procession • Athenian Tragedy • Context • Athenian Theater, Tragic Drama • Where, What, How Csapo
Opening discussion Your Comments
Issues… • Reading – clarify • Why Dionysus? (Dolphins? Goats?) • Festivals… • Why the big deal? • Why religion + entertainment? • The politics? • Athenian drama – who paid? • Komasts v. satyrs. (And satyr drama?) • Choregus, chorus • Jury selection… • Competition – altered structure? • Compare Athenian reality with modern • Chorus – purpose? • Genres – differences… Csapo
Discussion Why Dionysus? Entertainment + religion? reflection of grksoc gods reflection of elemental forces gods themselves entertaining • associated with wine • brings out passion • audience • lose inhibitions • the group thing Csapo
Tragic Origins Cult, komos, Phallic Procession
Dionysus with Satyrs,Athenian cup (“Brygos painter”)circa 510 BCE
Aristotle on Origins • Ethnic-geographical • Psychological-anthropological • Ritual-dramatic Aristotle Csapo
Procession of the Phallus Pole Proto-Dramatic Performance Komos Phallic procession Komasts: archaic Corinthian vase Csapo
Dionysus Hephaestus padded, phallic costume Proto-Drama (?): komos-like Performance of the Return of HephaestusProtocorinthian vase painting , 600-575 BCE Csapo
Dionysian Masks Red-Figure Athenian Vase,500s BCE Red-Figure Athenian Vase,500s BCE Csapo
Athenian Tragedy Context
Historical… Athena, 500s Athenian owl, 490s • Pisistratus, 561-527 BCE • Tragedy (ca. 534-) • Democracy, 511-323 • Comedies (486-) Csapo
Dionysus Religious-Civic-Social… • Rural Dionysia (Dec.) • Lenaea (late Jan/Feb, from 440/430-) • citizens • Anthisteria (Feb) • City/Greater Dionysia (late March) • anyone • (theoric fund) Csapo
Greater Dionysia: Program Dramatic preliminaries “Showtime” Dithyramb — 10 men’s choruses of 50 boys’ choruses of 50 Comedies — 5 Tragedy — 3 tetralogies • Prefest • chorus assignments • Proagōn • “Introduction” • Pompē • Ceremonies Csapo
Tragic Tetralogy Four plays, one playwright Aeschylus’ Oresteia (458 BCE) Agamemnon Libation Bearers Eumenides Proteus • Tragedy • Tragedy • Tragedy • Satyr drama Csapo
Athenian Theater, Tragic Drama Where, What, How
Athenian Acropolis N Parthenon Odeon Roman Theater of Herodes Atticus Temple of DionysusEleutherius Theater of Dionysus
Theater of Dionysus ca. 420 BCE theatron (“viewing place,” auditorium, theater) wooden bleachers stone seats (dignitaries) orkhēstra(“dancing space” for chorus) kerkis (“wedge”seating section) altar entry (parodos) entry (parodos) Low wooden stage with, steps, skene (from ca. 420 BCE) skene (stage building)
Production: Personnel & Gear Personnel Gear, etc. Masks Costumes Music Props Scenery Special effects mekhanē ekkuklēma • poet • poiētēs, “maker” • producer • khorēgos • director • didaskalos, “teacher” • actors • hupokritai • chorus, “chorus leader” • khoros, koruphaios • piper • aulētēs Csapo
Theater at Epidaurus Tragedy: Ritualized Secularism • Dual Focus (Barlow) • mythic, archetypal • contemporary, topical • Ambivalent affirmation Csapo