THAR 281 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: The Three Stooges, Sophocles, Euripides
26 Jan 2017
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First to have theatrical institution in their society. Generally festivals are religious in nature but included many drunks. Theatre grows and becomes more apart of society. Dithyramb: unison hymn, sung around altar of dionysus by 50 men, modern day church choir. Businesses would shut down, all townsmen would attend. Subject matter in plays tied to religion. First person to speak lines and step outside of chorus and take on their own character: Actors become more important and increasingly lessens importance of chorus. Not a lot of scenery or set changes. Gave individuality by allowing them to have their own opinions. 31 survive written by 3 dramatists: aeschylus, sophocles, and euripides. Formal, focuses on downfall of central character. Usually about a demigod or someone of royal status, not average men. Old comedy: focused on satire, political commentary, wordplay, slapstick, active (someone slipping on a banana peel), chorus wore fallaces (giant stuffed penis)
