Drama II Modern Drama

1. Drama IIModern Drama Dr Irum Zulfiqar, Applied Linguist Assistant Professor and Manager Research Operations (ORIC) Department of HumanitiesFaculty of Social SciencesLTC BlockAir UniversityE-9 Islamabad irum.zulfiqar@mail.au.edu.pk

2. Lecture 1Synopsis • Teacher’s Intro • Course orientation Agenda of the Talk: • Drama? • Types of drama • Elements of drama • Conventions of drama • A brief history of drama • Dramatic terminology • Introduction to Modern Drama, how modern Drama is different from Classical Drama

3. Lecture 1Synopsis • Teacher’s Intro • Course orientation Agenda of the Talk: • Drama? • Types of drama • Elements of drama • Conventions of drama • A brief history of drama • Dramatic terminology • Introduction to Modern Drama, how modern Drama is different from Classical Drama

4. Course Orientation

5. DRAMA II- Modern DramaCourse Orientation • Drama II builds on the knowledge of students from Drama - I, and takes them to the Modern Drama covering the elements of Realism, Naturalism and the Absurdist in modern theater.  • The plays included in the course represent: • the modern, western, and continental dramatic perspectives in their true forms and themes • The dominant dramaturgical traditions in the history of Western drama and performance and modernist experiments with the constituent elements of plot, characterization, language, setting, movement, or theme • These aspects are brought out in the plays of Ibsen, Beckett, O’Casey and Shaw Course Orientation

6. Course Description • This course introduces students to drama as one of the dominant literary genres in both ancient and modern worlds. • Its primary goal is to help students identify elements of drama as a literary genre and be acquainted with the history and tradition of modern drama. • This course allows students to analyze and explore intellectual, social and religious issues relevant to the understanding of modern drama of its age and the contemporary times. Course Orientation

7. Description continues… • The intention is to facilitate the student’s comprehen­sion of the Twentieth-century theatre describing a period of great change within the theatricalculture of the 20th century: • a widespread challenge to long established rules surrounding theatrical representation resulting in the development of many new forms of theatre, including modernism, Expressionism, political theatre and other forms of Experimental theatre, as well as the continuing development of already established theatrical forms like naturalism and realism. Course Orientation

8. Course Aims and Objectives • Students should be able to understand the relationship of theatre to the social, environmental and political realities of the period known as Modern Drama (1837-1968) • Students should be able to develop • an imaginative sympathy, inquiring mind, and familiarity with the plays of most important and innovative playwrights of the modern era. • a sense of social responsibility, collaborative attitude, artistic standards and judgment through informed critical analysis. • a sound sense of the process of dramatic structural development in the modern period • respect for the art form and cultivate a foundation for future studies in theatre (Literature) • Students should be able to get • insight and a developed sensibility, i.e., Responsiveness to pathos. to artistic and aesthetic values; and have begun cultivation of imaginative sympathy. • familiarity with some of the works of the most important innovators of the modem era. Course Orientation

9. Authors, Texts and Themes Course Orientation

10. Lecture 1Synopsis • Teacher’s Intro • Course orientation Agenda of the Talk: • Drama? • Types of drama • Elements of drama • Conventions of drama • A brief history of drama • Dramatic terminology • Introduction to Modern Drama, how modern Drama is different from Classical Drama

11. Drama

12. What is Drama? • Drama is a type of literature that is primarily written to be performed for an audience. • When reading a play, it is important to keep certain features of drama in mind. Some of these features relate to drama as literature; others reflect its character as a performance. Drama?

13. A drama is a story enacted onstage for a live audience. Drama?

14. What Is Drama? • Origins of Drama • The word drama comes from the Greek verb dran, which means “to do.” • The earliest known plays . . . • were written around the fifth century B.C. • produced for festivals to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility Drama?

15. Dramatic Structure Like the plot of a story, the plot of a play involves characters who face a problem or conflict. Climax point of highest tension;action determines how the conflict will be resolved Complications tension builds Resolution conflict is resolved; play ends Expositioncharacters and conflictare introduced Drama?

16. Dramatic Structure Conflict isa struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces. A conflict may develop . . . • between characters who want different things or the same thing • between a character and his or her circumstances • within a character who is torn by competing desires Drama?

17. Lecture 1Synopsis • Teacher’s Intro • Course orientation Agenda of the Talk: • Drama? • Types of drama • Elements of drama • Conventions of drama • A brief history of drama • Dramatic terminology • Introduction to Modern Drama, how modern Drama is different from Classical Drama

18. Types of Drama

19. Types of Drama- Tragedy • Tragedy: A play in which the main character experiences disaster, but faces this downfall in such a way as to attain heroic stature.* • Even though Tragedies are “gloomy” they are triumphant, because they inspire exaltation at the greatness human beings can attain even in defeat. Types of Drama

20. Tragedy A tragedy is a play that ends unhappily. • Most classic Greek tragedies deal with serious, universal themes such as right and wrong justice and injustice life and death • Tragedies pit human limitations against the larger forces of destiny. Drama? Types of Drama

21. Tragedy The protagonist of most classical tragedies is a tragic hero. This hero pride • is noble and in many ways admirable rebelliousness • has a tragic flaw, a personal failing that leads to a tragic end jealousy Drama? Types of Drama

22. Comedy • Comedy closes with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict.* • High Comedy: The humor arises from subtle characterization, social satire, and sophisticated wit. • Low Comedy: Emphasizes absurd dialogue, bawdy jokes, visual gags, and physical humor.* Drama? Types of Drama

23. Comedy A comedy is a play that ends happily. The plot usually centers on a romantic conflict. boy wins girl boy loses girl boy meets girl Drama? Types of Drama

24. Types of Comedy • Romantic Comedy: The main characters are lovers, and the plot tends to follow the pattern of “boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again.” • Satiric Comedy: Uses humor to ridicule foolish ideas or customs with the purpose of improving society. • Comedy of Manners: Satirizes the vices and follies of the upper class.* Drama? Types of Drama

25. Comedy The main characters in a comedy could be anyone: nobility townspeople servants Drama? Types of Drama

26. Comedy • Comic complications always occur before the conflict is resolved. • In most cases, the play ends with a wedding. Drama? Types of Drama

27. Additional Forms of Drama • Farce: Relies on exaggeration, absurdity, and slapstick • Straight Drama or Drama: Deal with serious subjects, but do not always end in disaster. Drama? Types of Drama

28. Modern Drama A modern play • may be tragedy, comedy, or a mixture of the two • usually focuses on personal issues • usually is about ordinary people Drama? Types of Drama

29. Modern Drama Modern playwrights often experiment with unconventional plot structures. long flashbacks music visual projections of a character’s private thoughts Drama? Types of Drama

30. Lecture 1Synopsis • Teacher’s Intro • Course orientation Agenda of the Talk: • Drama? • Types of drama • Elements of drama • Conventions of drama • A brief history of drama • Dramatic terminology • Introduction to Modern Drama, how modern Drama is different from Classical Drama

31. Elements of Drama

32. Elements of Drama • External Conflict: Pits a character against nature or fate, society, or another character • Internal conflict: Between opposing forces within a character. • Protagonist: The central character of the play and often undergoes radical changes as the action progresses.* • Antagonist: The character who opposes the main character* Elements of Drama

33. Protagonist Elements of Drama

34. Antagonist Elements of Drama

35. Foil: A minor character whose traits contrast sharply with those of the protagonist • Dialogue: Conversations between characters • Monologue: A long speech spoken by a single character to himself or herself, or to the audience • Soliloquy: A monologue in which a character speaks his or her private thoughts aloud and appears to be unaware of the audience. Elements of Drama

36. Aside: a short speech or comment delivered by a character to the audience, but unheard by the other characters who are present. Elements of Drama

37. Lecture 1Synopsis • Teacher’s Intro • Course orientation Agenda of the Talk: • Drama? • Types of drama • Elements of drama • Conventions of drama • A brief history of drama • Dramatic terminology • Introduction to Modern Drama, how modern Drama is different from Classical Drama

38. Conventions of Drama

39. Conventions of Drama • Cast of Characters: listed in the beginning of the play, before the action starts. • Act: a major division of a play • Scenes: Major division of an act • Stage Directions: a dramatist’s instructions for performing a play. Conventions of Drama

40. Performance of a Play When you read a play, remember that it is meant to be performed for an audience. Conventions of Drama

41. Performance of a Play • Theater artists include • Actors • Directors • Lighting technicians • Stage crew Conventions of Drama

42. Setting the Stage Stages can have many different sizes and layouts. • “Thrust” stage • The stage extends into the viewing area. • The audience surrounds the stage on three sides. Drama? Conventions of Drama Conventions of Drama

43. Setting the Stage “In the round” stage is surrounded by an audience on all sides. Drama? Conventions of Drama

44. Setting the Stage Proscenium stage • The playing area extends behind an opening called a “proscenium arch.” • The audience sits on one side looking into the action. upstage stage right stage left downstage Drama? Conventions of Drama

45. Setting the Stage Stages in Shakespeare’s time were thrust stages. Drama? Conventions of Drama

46. Setting the Stage Scene design transforms a bare stage into the world of the play. Scene design consists of • sets • lighting • costumes • props Drama? Conventions of Drama

47. Setting the Stage A stage’s set might be realistic and detailed abstract and minimal Drama? Conventions of Drama

48. Setting the Stage A lighting director skillfully uses light to change the mood and appearance of the set. Drama? Conventions of Drama

49. Setting the Stage The costume director works with the director to design the actors’ costumes. • Like sets, costumes can be minimal detailed Drama? Conventions of Drama

50. Setting the Stage Props (short for properties) are items that the characters carry or handle onstage. • The person in charge of props must make sure that the right props are available to the actors at the right moments. Drama? Conventions of Drama