THE 2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, The Public Theater
Document Summary
Christians were often involved as victims; didn"t like it: pagan origins, christians were often tortured and killed, morally corrupt subject matter, actors lie For 500 years no record of theatre taking place! The feudal system (priests and clergy at top) Quem quaeritas: call and response; spread even outside church. Oberammergau: play of suffering, death, and resurrection of jesus christ. Germany; pray and promise that if town is saved from plague and war then they will perform play every decade. Protestant reformation and trade and age of exploration took place during this time. Theory of medicine that involves excess or deficiency of 4 major bodily fluids which dictate health and personality. Shows up in some famous plays of this period. Did not allow religious mention in public theatres. Outdoor, open air theatre; cheap tickets; 1500-3000 ppl. 1 of top 10 british playwrights of all time. 4 full length plays in 6 years. Cult of shakespeare: priviledges shakespeare"s work above all others.
