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Contributions of ancients rome and greek on theatre and drama
Contributions of ancients rome and greek on theatre and drama
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Have you ever heard of ancient Roman theatre? Theatre was an immense part of the ancient Roman civilization. In ancient times, you could see a theatre production almost every day. One of the theatres that you could see one in is the Aspendos Theatre. It has been a very important theatre to modern archaeologists. Both ancient Roman theatres, and theatre had a large impact on modern theatre. If you see a play, or theatrical performance, today, many of the things you see are ancient Roman concepts that have been adapted.
It was possible to see a drama performance almost everyday. According to Mr. Donn, “Plays were performed during religious ceremonies, to honor the gods.” The Romans were pagans who believed that there was a god for most aspects of nature. Since nature surrounded them, it is reasonable that they honored the gods often. “…Rome had over 200 religious days every year…” There was a religious occasion for almost everyday of the year, and you could see a play for every religious occasion. Therefore, everyone saw plays frequently, even the poorer citizens. According to Mr. Donn, Anyone could see a play, since they were free.
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According to Vitruvius, It is one of the most well preserved ancient Roman theatres. This means that we can learn a lot more from it than we can from the ruins of other theatres. Vitruvius also says that it is one of the only Roman building of which we know the architect, Zeno. If we know the name of the architect, then we can learn more about them, and why they built the building. Therefore, knowing the architect helps you learn more about the building itself. We have also learned about Greek theatres using the Aspendos Theatre. This is due to the fact that its structure encompasses many Greek aspects, much like many other Roman
The theater of Dionysus stands at the foot of the acropolis and its date originates back to the 6th Century, B.C.. Its originally wood seats rise in tiers above one another against the slope of the acropolis, creating a natural setting for the plays (D'ooge, 231). The Greek Theater was built to house a drama which, during the festivals of Dionysus, had evolved from the long tradition of choral hymns which were presented each year. As Greek culture changed and flourished, entertainment transformed from being a series of choral chanting and dancing to placing an emphasis on the actor. As the actors' importance grew, there became a need for a stage from which they could be seen by each of the fourteen thousand spectators the theater housed. The chorus was still a very active part of the entertainment and they resided in the orchestra (Norwich, 64). The orchestra was the oldest part of the Greek theater and thus, when the actor was given
Plays at this time were a representation of life. People, at this time, did not have modern visual luxuries upon which to garner entertainment. Plays, as well as playwrights, were supposed to bring life to the people and life to the story,
How would you feel if you lived in a time period where god and goddesses controlled your everyday life (“Religion”). Ancient Greece contained many important events and the people created many important things. Greek theater was very important as well, it was a great source of entertainment for its people. Ancient Greek theater was influenced by the time period in that it involved a lot of mythological gods and goddesses as evidence in the play The Curmudgeon by Meander.
Beacham, Richard C. Later Stages and Stagings. The Roman Theater and its Audience. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ Press, 1992.
First I will discuss the various aspects of ancient Greek theatre then compare to today’s modern version of theatre. Today it is widely believed that theatre first began in ancient Greece, the evidence. people used to come to this conclusion from ancient Greek plays. Greek art and architecture. Orchestra [ IMAGE] The diagram on the right shows the layout of a typical Greek theatre.
As an Ancient Greek, one could expect to spend a fair amount of time in theatres for social and religious reasons. Thus, the design and construction of auditoriums was vital to the comfort and experience of viewers.
Tragedies in the Greek and Renaissance theater were very effective in portraying the social and religious constraints that tainted society. Both playwrights, through the use of their ingenuity and vast literary knowledge were able to perfect and display such flawless spectacles. The differences and similarities between Greek tragedy and Renaissance tragedy, although vast, can be narrowed down to the audience. Greek and Renaissance theater targeted very different audiences that demanded a certain type of play in order to be entertained.
There were two theatres at Pompeii used for a variety of purposes. One of these includes drama performances. The two theatres held a large number of patrons. The largest held 5000 people while the smaller once called the Odeon held approximately 1500 people. The types of performances that where held were usually tragedies, comedies and farces. They took place in the larger theater usually during religious celebrations and in celebration of achievements.. The larger theatre was designed for comfort in mind with facilities for an awning on days that where very hot. Historians including Paul Zanker and Richard Beacham suggest that the theatres of Pompeii were as much as a political venue then a entertaining one. Entry was free in the theatre but social class assigned seating. The lower social class sat in the back of the theatre while the upper class sat at the front where the best view was. The smaller theatre known as the Odeon was ...
Like any journey, it is necessary to begin with a single step – the evolution of lighting in theatre began with the resources available to the ancient Roman and Greek societies; sunlight and candles. As such, performances and events were held at the height of the day, so as to allow the most natural light to fill the stage. While this method successfully brought the stage to life and made the actors and scenery visible, it did little to create dynamics, establish mood, or manipulate the audience’s perspective and emotion. Rather than a creative tool, lighting was viewed as a solution to a problem – a product born out of necessity. Innovative uses of light were limited to grand demonstrations that often became the centerpieces of Greek and Roman theatre. For example, large burned houses graced center stage, but any other indications of lighting were strictly two-dimensional, painted on the backdrop. While this forced the audience to focus their energy and attention on the players and the action, it also limited their experience – without lighting t...
The building of this famous Roman structure is still a mystery to us today. However, the excavation of this site has helped archeologist better understand the structure itself and the way it was built. Along with this, it has helped us understand Roman culture and history more than we had before. The Colosseum is an extremely important part of Roman history and has shaped ancient Roman culture into what it is known as today.
The Globe Theater is widely known as the world’s greatest amphitheatre of its time, bringing in crowds of thousands of people. The Globe was also where most of the famous playwright, William Shakespeare, performed his plays. With its unique design, the audience was able to enjoy the plays. Inside of this round and globe-like structure, the people from all around the area packed into the seats to watch Shakespeare and his actors. Despite the Globe Theater’s success, the theater had gone through many shut downs and rebuilding projects. Finally, the Globe was demolished for the last time. It was not until years later that the theater was discovered. Now, people from around the world are learning about this amphitheater and its role in the Renaissance time period. The Globe Theater is known for its structure, audience and actors, and history.
The Ancient Greeks took their entertainment very seriously and used drama as a way of investigating the world they lived in, and what it meant to be
Greek and Elizabethan theatre, while similar in some respects, had a few large differences. The Greeks believed in a certain unity of theme, which was prevalent throughout the production. Greek plays were often drawn from myth or of historical significance, so it seems that only ki...
Over the 200 years from Thespis’ first accomplishments to the death of Sophocles, Greek Theater thrived. However, all good things eventually come to an end. The golden age was ending as Athenian culture was overrun in 404 BC by the Spartans. Theater, of course, evolved over time and is now a school subject, hobby and profession. Today, it wouldn’t hurt to look back over some historically recorded plays and appreciate what the ancient Greeks created for us.
For as long as humankind exists, theatre will always take on an important function within its cultures. Through theatre, a culture expresses itself, reflects its society, and displays its individuality. It invites people to experience other cultures.