TH 2140 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Greek Chorus, Lenaia, Actor
Document Summary
Theatre traditions: began with the dawn of time, north africa/ nile region. Ritual: the very origins of theatre, make it special. Storytelling: validation, makes it personal and affecting. These two came together 6000bc in egypt: it spreads out to greece, turkey, india, italy, etc. The greeks: dionysus wine, fertility, theatre the ritual storytelling that went into his worship begat theatre as we know it, greek value system. It was a civic duty to attend the plays: masks, no women onstage, we only have writing from four greek playwrights. We have 7 of his 70-90 plays. Thespis was the first actor (where the word thespian comes from: the persians, the suppliants, onestia. We have 18 of his 80-90 plays. He questioned the morality of the gods. His language, character, storytelling were the best. He was never less than second in a competition that he was in (he won 24/30) 11 of his plays survived: greek chorus.
