Geeky Greeks and Robust Romans
A look at how a few folks a few thousand years ago began a few trends
HAVPA Grade 10 Lile 2002
Geeky Greeks
Groveling for Great Grapes
Main Characters
Dionysus = god of wine (grapes)
Thespis = first playwright (boring) Aristotle = wrote Poetics
(about drama)
Tragic Playwrights
Aeschylus
Formal characterization Added second actor
(It was all like public speaking)
Sophocles
Added third actor Considered the tragic ideal
Euripides
Less formal Wrote about the underdog
What the big guy wrote
Sophocles
Oedipus trilogy
Oedipus the King
o Guy kills dad, marries mom
Oedipus at Colonus
o Guy wanders, dies
Antigone
o Girl breaks law, hangs self, everyone dies
Style of Greek drama
Who?
Men, boys played all characters No women
What?
Tragedy
When?
Festival for Dionysus Daytime
Style of Greek drama
Where?
Amphitheatre
Why?
Honor the gods Entertainment
How?
Bare stage Formal acting more like public speaking
Tragedy
or Whose Fault Is It, Anyway?
Five key elements
Good, noble, upper class man Hubris
Tragic flaw
– Pride
Bad decisions Falls Dies
Tragedy Part II
or
A Tale of Two Feelings
Two emotions
Described by Aristotle
Fear Pity
Catharsis
Purging of the emotions
Robust Romans
Roaring Rioters
Roman Drama
or
Is this a dagger I see before me?
Romans didn’t do much drama
Mostly comedy
Violent entertainment
Chariot racing Gladiator fights Naval battles Enemies (often Christians) and lions
Life and Death
or
To Be or Not To Be
Greeks
Valued life Philosophy for fun Thinkers Drama No violence (drama)
Romans
Valued fighting Violence for fun Fighters Not much drama Violence (everything)
Stay Tuned To Hear …
The Rest Of The Story