CLA201H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Lenaia, Euripides, Anthropocentrism
Document Summary
City dionysia theatre of dionysus on the acropolis, all tragedies were performed. Every year 3 tragedians, 3 tragedies & 1 satyr play, 1 day of comedies (contest). Plays are written for a ritual context (religious) Orchestra: round space for chorus between audience and stage. Tragic plays have two modes: episodes forward movement of the plot, dialogue, longer speeches, choral odes musical intermission/interlude between the episodes. Usually have meaning how we can interpret the action, include important themes, problems are more manifest, comparisons from other plays. Usually made up of old men not heroes. Scene is normally a house and action takes place off stage (narrated afterwards) Production costs for the festivals were paid by wealthy citizens liturgies: taxes that the rich paid to support the democracy, one of the democracy is for putting on tragedies. Based on aristotle: tragedy evolved from the dithyramb (groups of men who sing songs) as a ritual celebration of dionysus.
