THE THEATER AND HISTORY OF ANCIENT ROME

Founded (app.) 753 BCE

Kingdom 8th/10th century BCE – 509 BCE

Republic509 BCE – 27 BCE

Empire27 BCE – 476 CE

Western Roman Empire– 1453 CE

London to Baghdad

“Republican” Virtues Discipline

Economy

Endurance

Military Precision

Loyalty to Family

Incorruptibility

Sense of Duty

Faith in Law and Order

Greece vs. Rome Philosophical

Seeking answers to theoretical questions

Why? Art: a serious exploration of the human

condition

Pragmatic Superb engineers, military tacticians,

and administrators How? Art: grandiose, sentimental, diversionary

Tour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_phjB19ZEg Tour #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrIEwjgfbYs

Democracy vs. Republic

Republic vs. Empire

Novelties: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuIzVut3JF8

Spectacle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrI-eK5IV0I

Panem et circensus

“Translates into ‘bread and circuses.’ The writer was saying that in return for full bellies and entertainment, his people had given up their political responsibilities and therefore their power.”-Orson Scott Card

Tragedy Seneca Horace

Ars Poetica

Comedy

Melodrama 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-GZJhfBmI Melodrama 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZexYRkIRhVs Comedy Tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvrh2e8Ep14

Roman Tragedy Dramatic Structure Divided into 5 episodes

Elaborate speeches resembling forensic address

Morality reflected through sensational deeds that illustrate the evils of unrestrained emotion

“Sententiae: pity, proverbial generalizations about the human condition

Violence and horror Preoccupation with magic, death, and

superhuman worlds Characters dominated by a single obsessive

passion that drives them to their doom Technical devices used like asides,

soliloquies, confidantes

Atellan Farce

Stock characters & situations Improvised dialogue Slapstick comedy

Stock Characters

Miles Gloriosos

Braggart Soldier

Shakespeare Theater’s Forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8NdEWc1faI

Fabula Rinciniata (Mime)

Allison firespinning: https://video-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-xap1/v/t43.1792-2/1330679_10103432060041013_61865_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOjE1NjEsInJsYSI6MTAyNCwidmVuY29kZV90YWciOiJsZWdhY3lfaGQifQ%3D%3D&rl=1561&vabr=1041&oh=e0d043bf43e4f39924c70fd528380003&oe=56D399F E

Fabula Saltica (pantomime)

Roman Theater Architecture

790 known classical theaters 311 entirely Roman 290 mostly Roman

Theater of Pompey

Circus Maximus

Flavian Ampitheater

“Morituri te salutant”

Naum

achi

ae

Romans vs. Christians