POLI 1001 Lecture : January 25 Lecture
January 25th pg1
Greek Tragedy
Classical Greece (4th and 5th Century)
- harmony, reason, democracy, proportionality, excellence
- poets shared publicly
- told stories of conflicts between gods and humans
- stories showed instability beneath the surface
- Festival of Dionysus in Athens
- funded by Polis (the city)
- attended by 15-18,000 people
- all normal activity stopped for the festival
- took place in a large open-air arena made of stone
- public discourse occurs before the audience in the form of drama
- the festival is so unique, we have nothing comparable to it today
- the chorus represents a mediating body between the audience and the actors
- three poets had the honor to present their work
- 3 tragedies and 1 satyr (comedy)
- poets are in competition every year for prizes from the city
- Edypus Rex was 2nd
- all the actors are men, usually young
- one actor can perform many parts
- chorus were amateurs (trained to sing and dance)
- we think many members of the chorus were of the military because of soldier-like movement
- play begins with prologue by one of the actors
- chorus enters and stays put (chorus represents community)
- actors use costumes and masks
- playwrights draw inspiration from traditional Greek myths
- they borrow stories to tell the truths about them
- most popular story is of the Trojan War
- 2nd most popular is Edypus Rex
- plays are very political
- it was an honor for the wealthy to put up the money for the plays to be produced
- each voice of the debate in the plays all have moral authority
Questions Asked by Greek Tragedy
I. What is the nature of justice?
II. What is the place of women?
III. What is the nature of freedom? (what is your fate/destiny?)
IV. What is the nature of war? (purpose? justifications? dangers?)
V. What is the nature of violence and relation to Hubris? (hubris= self righteousness)
VI. What is the nature of betrayal of trust? (particularly trust of friendship)
VII. What is the nature of perversion (corruption) of speech? (private and public morality)
Document Summary
Told stories of conflicts between gods and humans. All normal activity stopped for the festival. Took place in a large open-air arena made of stone. Public discourse occurs before the audience in the form of drama. The festival is so unique, we have nothing comparable to it today. The chorus represents a mediating body between the audience and the actors. Three poets had the honor to present their work. Poets are in competition every year for prizes from the city. We think many members of the chorus were of the military because of soldier-like movement. They borrow stories to tell the truths about them. All the actors are men, usually young. Chorus were amateurs (trained to sing and dance) Play begins with prologue by one of the actors. Chorus enters and stays put (chorus represents community) Playwrights draw inspiration from traditional greek myths. Most popular story is of the trojan war.
