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Chapter1 Powerpoint

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16 views21 pages

Chapter1 Powerpoint

Uploaded by

Justin Tucker
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How we define theatre can be more complicated than you

probably think!
 That translates literally as SEEING PLACE

 But- it implies more than that:


 It implies that theatre is a visual art
 It implies that theatre is where you go to “see”
something
 It implies that theatre involves active viewing of an event
 Theater of War
 Spare me your theatrics

 MOVIE THEATER
 Kabuki Theatre
 Home Theater
 Theatricality
 Theatre Arts
TO NAME JUST A FEW…
 There is, in fact, debate about the spelling of theatre
with either an “er” or “re” ending
 Lots of time and languages have altered the spelling of
the word
 For now- it is safe to think of it this way:
 theatER- refers to the building or space
 theatRE- refers to the art form itself

 Really this is no giant deal but simply a fun excursion in


spelling (if there is such a thing)
 Drama comes to us from the Greek word “dran”
meaning “to do”

 It implies ACTION- ACTIVITY- SOMETHING


ACCOMPLISHED
 Sometimes you’ll hear people use them as though they
mean the same thing- they do not!

 Think of how you have heard “drama” used…


 He is being dramatic
 There is too much drama around here
 Don’t be a drama queen
 Save the drama for your mama
 Theatre is the art form. It is the viewing of an event. It
can also mean the building where the event is held.

 Drama is what is done in the theatre. It is the actual


action of the story

 AND to complicate things even more: DRAMA doesn’t


always have to be serious. Today’s use of the word
tends to lend a serious tone to the word but it simply
means- the action of something that is done!
 Theater as a “place”

 Theatre as a “company or troupe”

 Theatre as a “job or occupation”

 A more GENERAL: Theatre as an “art”


 The physical building
 An extant 4th century BC Greek theatre holds as many
as 17, 000 spectators

 That is similar to our own Assembly Hall which seats


16,618- (sure, primarily used for basketball ball but it
houses touring theatre shows too!)
 Theatre artists or practitioners- the people part (which
would also include the “live” aspect discussed in the
intro)
 Yes- contrary to popular belief theatre can be your job,
the work you do with your life, and you can actually be
paid!

 A short list of “jobs” in theatre- just to get us


started(we’ll hear more about all of these this
semester):
Producers Crews Playwrights
Directors Stage Managers Critics
Designers Actors Box Office Staff
Builders House Manager Agents
 Ever been to cocktail party? Ever been to a formal
party where small talk is expected? Ever find yourself
wondering what to say? Looking for interesting things
to chit-chat about on a job interview when everyone
has had enough shop talk? Want to amaze people with
how well rounded you are?

 USE OUR HANDY COCKTAIL PARTY PHRASES-


important gems that can be real conversation starters!
 This is important while we’re looking at the people
who make up the world of theatre-

“THEATRE IS A
COLLABORATIVE
ART FORM”
 Theatre is collaborative- everyone works together to
create a single project. Multiple artists (actors,
playwrights, designers, directors, dramaturgs… etc.)
come together around a single project.

 Theatre relies on this collaboration of many, many


people in order for it to be created.

 This is unique in most art forms- while there certainly


are arts that require more than one artist very few arts
compare with the needed collaboration of the theatre!
 Your text attempts to define “art” as “… a supreme
pursuit of humanity, integrating in a uniquely
integrating our emotions with our intellects and our
aesthetics with our revelations.”

 While that is true it is also important to recognize that


the individual has the power to define “art” for
themselves. You, personally, can define “art” to your
own specifications- BUT- that does not negate what
someone else defines to be “art.” There is plenty of
room for multiple definitions.
 A space (and idea to fill that space)
 A performer (or performers)
 An audience

 If you remove any of these from the equation you


might have something interesting but you don’t have
theatre!
 Notice that part of the definition is AN AUDIENCE.
That is an integral part of theatre and we’ll be coming
back to that!
THE
PARATHEATRICAL
 An event sharing similarities to our definition of
theatre but not expressly meant to be theatre in the
formal sense. (According to Dr. Peter Davis here at the
University of Illinois.)

 Paratheatricals are all around us all the time but aren’t


meant to be formal theatre in the “art” sense.

 Think of it this way:


 A Wedding (there are even costumes…)
 A Political Rally (there are usually audiences…)
 A Sporting Event (there is even an intermission…)
 A Concert (there can be special effects…)
 Watching People Walk Through the Mall (the ultimate
FREE theatre…)

 WHAT OTHERS CAN YOU THINK OF?


 Theatre elements are around us all the time
 We use elements of theatre in our everyday lives (Have
you ever dressed in a particular way to have a particular
impact? That is theatre…)
 We have all tried acting in some form (Have you ever
tried to get an extension on an assignment- you’ve
probably acted a little…)
 Theatre is part of our lives- IF WE LOOK FOR IT.
 As we continue to explore this question we have
learned some additional information in this chapter:
 Theatre can mean many different things
 Theatre is around us all the time in some form
 Even without knowing it we may have used elements of
theatre in our daily lives
 If it has multiple meanings, is around us all the time and
plays a role (there’s another theatre phrase by the way)
in our daily lives:
 WE MUST HAVE SOME VALUE FOR THE THEATRE!!!

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