THEA 100 Lecture 8: Greek Theater
Document Summary
Sources of greek theater: extant plays and fragments. Because so much has been loss (destruction of the library at alexandria, egypt in. Rst century ad), and we have only a few extant (still in existence) plays (45 in all) written by 5 playwrights: we also have fragments and titles of other plays. -wright = a crafter: playwright = someone who crafts drama, records of dramas. Because greek theater was nanced by the government, there are governmental records that give us information on greek plays. Why government funds the arts: appease the people, propoganda, entertainment, teach people, commentaries. Besides playwrights, we have the writings of others about greek drama. Ruins of amphitheaters scattered about the mediterranean: visual arts; vase painting. We can deduce something about how greek costuming may look like from paintings: vase painting as a major art style. Social hierarchy: gods demi-gods men boys women and slaves animals. Only men were allowed to act: the gods.
