Roman Drama
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Transcript of Roman Drama
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Roman Drama
240 B.C. – 476 A.D.
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From Greek to RomanAs Rome expanded, they borrowed elements from Greek culture, even their gods
Instead of tragedy, Romans focused on comedy
Developed domestic comedy, similar to our situational comedies (sitcom) today
Gave us many new theatrical terms:Auditorium-”hearing place”
Persona-mask or character represented by the mask
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Changes in Theater DesignSkene (now called Scaenae)– 3 stories tall with porticos (porch/roofed walkway) and statues
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Orchestra
half circle
used by musicians
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Pulpitum
raised stage for acting
2-5 feet high
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Changes cont.
Voms – entrance and exitways for audience
Auleum-reversed curtain, pulled upward on poles
Theater now called the Auditorium, not the Theatron.
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Skene
Voms
Orchestra
Pulpitum
Audience
Auleum Line
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Theater Designs
Actors sometimes performed in temporary, moveable wooden theaters.
Permanent theaters were built in 55 B.C.
Although temporary, they were still elaborate.
Built to be free-standing and usually removed after the festival or occasion.
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Roman vs. Greek Theater Design
Orchestra: semi-circle, used only by musiciansOne free-standing unit Backstage entrance: Skene with many doors and porticosEntrances and Exits: VomsLocated in cities
Orchestra: circular, used by actors and chorusSeparate buildings built into hillsBackstage entrance: Proskenion and 3 doorsEntrance and Exits: ParadosLocated in country
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Pompey’s Contribution
Built permanent theater, called it a place of worship
Placed a statue of Venus outside to disguise it (permanent theatres not allowed)
Steps to the temple were actually seats for the spectators
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Pompey continued…
It was copied by nearly all other future theatres in Rome and throughout the empire.
Multipurpose-used for meetings of the Senate and other gatherings
Thought to be the place Julius Caesar was assassinated.
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Roman Drama TermsCloset Drama: A play that is better read, not performed, because of extremely violent scenes.
Satire: A play mocking or ridiculing society or a well-known institution.
Farce: Comedy that is possible but highly unlikely
Claque: Someone paid to influence the audience to clap or shout.
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Plautus
Copied Greek tales and made them comical
Used slapstick and stock charactershttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-iZ6Tw4dg4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-iZ6Tw4dg4
Works inspired later playwrights
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Plautus cont.
Plays did not use a chorus
Did not deal with political or social issues
Depicted the trials and tribulations of romance
Resembled modern musical comedies
About 20 fragments of his plays survive, although he may have written over 50
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Plautus’ Stock Characters
A stock character was a stereotype of a certain person in society, stressing their personality traits
Country BumpkinsYoung LoversWise servant, Inept MasterSmart or naïve personThe braggart soldier
What are stock characters we use today?
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Terence
Freed slaveBorrowed/stole Greek play ideas and themesConsistently styled after MenanderWrote differently from Plautus
CharacterizationSubtlety of expressionElegant language
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Terence cont.
Used plot elements from 2 Greek plays and created 1 new workMay have been the first major black playwright in Western theaterNot as whimsical as Plautus, more literary6 comedies survive
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Seneca
Only major tragedian
Borrowed plots from the Greeks
Served as models for later European playwrights
9 plays, all based on Greek myths
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Seneca’s Closet Dramas
Seneca’s plays were so gory, they were better read than performed, making them closet dramas
Jocasta cuts out her wombOedipus blinds self onstage
Did not exploit violence, but used it to show tragedy
Did not use tragic flaws, obsessed with overwhelming emotion
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Decline in TheaterBecause of the growing spectacles in the Coliseums (gladiators, lion fighting, slave/ship fighting etc.), theater was eventually overshadowedRome fell in 476 A.D., becoming a Christian societyThose who went to theater instead of church were excommunicated.Theatrics were banned because they were sinful, European drama dead for 500 years