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Intro To Intro-2

This document provides an overview of performance art and theatre. It discusses Richard Schechner who first defined performance art, noting it can be theatrical in nature but free form. It also mentions Allan Kaprow's "happenings" from the 1960s-70s. The document defines performance as involving choices made in collaboration and bound by convention. It contrasts theatre with other storytelling arts, noting theatre is live and ephemeral. It provides a brief history of storytelling and ritual as roots of theatre and discusses origins of tragedy in ancient Greece.

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Jesse Venzor
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
44 views

Intro To Intro-2

This document provides an overview of performance art and theatre. It discusses Richard Schechner who first defined performance art, noting it can be theatrical in nature but free form. It also mentions Allan Kaprow's "happenings" from the 1960s-70s. The document defines performance as involving choices made in collaboration and bound by convention. It contrasts theatre with other storytelling arts, noting theatre is live and ephemeral. It provides a brief history of storytelling and ritual as roots of theatre and discusses origins of tragedy in ancient Greece.

Uploaded by

Jesse Venzor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is Performance???

What is traditional theatre?


Is this Theatre?
Performance Art Richard Schechner
(editor of TDR: The Drama Review at NYUs
Tisch School of the Arts; first to define what
he was seeing; audience may or may not
know they are witnessing theatre; theatrical
in nature, but very free form
Allan Kaprows happenings (60s-70s)
movement in U.S., loosely organized
performance art, Doorway Behavior (tested
the publics innate response to 2 approaching
a door at same time, found gender politics
played large role in who goes first

Performance by definition
Choices made in Collaboration and
bound by Convention.

In Other Words
Choices: script is a blueprint for a
production
Collaboration: multiple contributors work
toward a common goal
Convention: tradition/custom audience
accepts--(Example: fourth wall or willing
suspension of disbelief)

Theatre vs. Other Arts


How is Theatre different from other
storytelling or performing arts?
It is a living art form
Ephemeral; transitory; an event in time

LIVE PRESENCE is key!!!

Ingredients
1. Space
2. Performers
3. Audience
A man walks across this empty space, whilst
someone else is watching him and this is all that
is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged."

Peter Brook (Wroe, Guardian Umlimited, May 12, 2007)

A Brief
Theatrical History lesson
in 7 slides.

Storytelling: Art & Function


All human societies
Early Theatrical artists compelled to act
them out

Script sources for Theatre

Ritual: A Root of Theatre


Storytelling fed into ritual
Symbolic in nature
Interactively engaging
According to Stephanie Arnold
Ceremonial observationrepeated in a specific
way.
Highly symbolic eventsdensely coded
meaning.

Societal Examples of Theatrical


Types of Gatherings

Weddings
Funerals
Graduations
Football Games
Political Debates
Religious Worship Services

Origins of Theatre
Quick Reference: chart on page 12 (audio says
page 12 but that was my goof! Sorry!)
TRAGEDY:
From Greek word tragoidia (goat song)
Stemmed from worship to Dionysus, Greek
god of wine and revelry

ANCIENT TRAGEDY

3 sources for info:


31 plays
3 playwrights (Aeschylus,
Sophocles, Euripides)
1 Theorist -- Aristotle

Aristotles Ars Poetica


Tragedy is an (1.)imitation
of an action that is serious,
complete, and of a certain
magnitude; in(2.) language
embellished with each kind
of artistic ornament [](3.)
in the form of action, not of
narrative; through pity and
fear effecting the proper
(4.)purgation of these
emotions.

Translation
1.) mimesis, human actors
SHOW us the story
2.) poetry

3.) Stories acted out rather than


told
4.) Catharsis the purging of
pity and fear

Greek Theatrical Conventions

Violence offstage (ekklyklema)


Late point of attack; 24 hour time frame
Focused on ethical qualities
Historical and mythical subjects
Use of the mask
Chorus
Functioned as group, served various literary
purposes

Medieval Theatre
Purpose: for Catholic church to communicate
Christian teachings to the masses
Pageant Wagons: horse-drawn carts of
individual playlets parade
Community focused efforts
Episodic in structure

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