CT253 Lecture Notes - Pentheus
Document Summary
October 17, 2012 week 6, wednesday social context in which the plays were preformed: festival of dionysus why important: because dionysian stuff that our culture may be familiar with is on margins. In 5th century dionysian is in the heart of the city- devoted time money and attention to the festival. Decline play is an allegory for the contemporary scene. Bacchae interpretations: story about punishment that results from a transgression. The play is an indictment of dionysian religion all of this exuberant, sexualized, boisterous stuff is a threat to the moral order and look at what happens when it runs wild, palace destroyed etc. Festival of dionysus- emphasized choral singing in praise and honour of dionysus (songs sung by a chorus) Bacchae: an interpretation incredibly violent play, as is much of greek tragedy. Moral position of the gods law: think about the law as not just a legal concept, but theoretical notion in cultural studies, principles that govern social order.
