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THTR1020- Study Guide for Final Exam

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THTR1020- Study Guide for Final Exam

Art: Major Forms

·         The major forms of art include theatre, sculpture, fine art, painting, and architecture. Further, art has several functions, such as expressing personal feelings, reinforcing the shared sense of identity, expressing spiritual belief, and enhancing ideological connection (Schneider, 2014). The typical aesthetics in art include humans, landscapes, and sunsets.

The Humanities (Credo- world view)

·         In art, humans focus on the visual field rather than specific objects. Various factors influence how humans perceive art, such as psychological makeup, religious background, and education (Schneider, 2014).

The Origins of Theatre

·         The first instance of theatre began in the rich theatrical tradition of ancient Greece due to the impulse to create or perform. Essentially, the beginning of theatre was motivated by the imitation of life demonstrated through Greece art. The impulse to perform is part of how humans survive (Schneider, 2014).

·         Storytelling and imitation are central to the formation of theatre. Aristotle discusses the contribution of man's innate impulse to imitate in the origin of theatre. He maintained that theatre came from the instinct to imitate the actions of men. In other words, Aristotle defines theatre as imitating human actions in society.

·         Furthermore, theatre emerged from the rituals of ancient Greece. Aristotle also points out that theatre is rooted in rituals to honor god Osiris in ancient Greece (Schneider, 2014). 

The Golden Age of Greece

·         The classical period of Greece was when the Greeks accomplished new heights in theatre, philosophy, architecture, and art.

·         During the Golden Age, Ancient Greece practiced polytheistic religion. The familiar ritual in society was the animal sacrifice within the sanctuary. Cities also held a festival known as the City Dionysia yearly to celebrate and worship Dionysus. Further, the Golden Age marked the mythical period of many (Schneider, 2014).

·         Dionysus was considered the Greek god of entertainment and theatre.

·         Greek tragedies containing mythological and historical events were written and directed by several writers, such as Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus.

·         The Greek actors in the Golden Age of Greece were recognized historical figures. These actors included Nikos Tsiforos, Michael Cacoyannis, Nikos Koundouros, Katina Paxinou, Melina Merkouri, Dimitris Horn, and Irene Papas (Schneider, 2014).

·         Aristotle criticized drama by refuting the separation of universals from the particulars in the Golden Age.

Medieval Drama

·         The medieval drama had several distinctive characteristics. For example, the dramas produced during this period were based on Biblical stories and featured religious themes. After severing links with the church, people performed these dramas on festival occasions in vernacular languages (Schneider, 2014).

·         The typical plays in medieval drama included morality, mystery, and miracle. Performances happened in two specific areas: Mansions and platea.

Renaissance Theatre- Shakespeare

·         Themes such as humanism, exploration, gender, religion v. magic, and the rise of the merchant class were significant characteristics of Renaissance drama. The drama also featured elements of secularism (Fortier, 2016).

·         William Shakespeare was a recognized playwright, actor, and poet during the Renaissance era. The date traditionally given to his birth was April 23, 1564, and he died around 1616. Shakespeare's works inclu de King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello (Schneider, 2014).

Modern Drama- Ibsen

·         The father of modern Drama was Henrik Ibsen. The Norwegian playwright conceived himself how the theatre should evolve. Ibsen was born in 1828 and grew up in Skien, Norway. During his school days, he used his leisure time to write plays. In 1864, he moved to Italy and succeeded considerably with his play Brand 1866 (Schneider, 2014). Ibsen wrote numerous intense plays in the 1800s that would inspire many writers to come. Unfortunately, he developed symptoms of heart failure and died in 1906.

August Wilson (playwright) and Play (Joe Turner)

·         August Wilson was an American playwright born on April 27, 1945. Wilson was born and raised in the Hill District of Pittsburg, a poor neighborhood. In 1968, he became the director and co-founder of the Black Horizons Theatre in Pittsburg (Schneider, 2014). The playwright wrote several works, including Joe Turner, Fences, and Game of the Ocean. Unfortunately, he died in 2005.

·         The story in the play Joe Turner centers on the transformative experience and rebirth of the character of Loomis, who is a man on a quest. The play explores Blacks' search for their cultural identity in American society following the oppression of American slavery.