Greek Masks: Visibility and Projection

• Greek theatre is so linked with ritual and religion and religious beliefs (like asian theatre, korean, japanese)
• A lot of theatre was purely religious and ritualistic (myths and gods)
• Incredible stories trying to explain life and the nature of life
• Aristotle 4th century BC (some suggest he was the origin of greek theatre)
• Humans are instinctively imitative
• First definitive information about theatre from Greece
• Greek theatre was only in connection with festivals (Dionysus - understanding or cycle and irrational forces. Also recognises mans' passions)
• believed that if they failed to worship nature there would be disasters
• Dithyrambs - showed honour of the Gods - out of these is where drama emerged
• First definitive drama from Greece 435 BC - contest Thespis (first actor/won a contest) (introduced one actor to speak back to another actor) (introduction of mask) (chorus unifying force)
• 5 writers that were the key play writes of the plays that exist (see sheet
• All these plays were from this one time period
• Escalus - earliest dramatist, persians, introduced the second actors (meaning you could have face to face conflict), chorus was still a dominant force
• Oresteia (one of the great examples of dramatic literature) (deals with the concept of justice)
• Sophocles - one of the greatest dramatists, Antigone (greeks believed spirits kept wandering the earth unless properly buried), also wrote a satire play, introduced the third character, very much concerned with human relationship,
• Euripides - one of the last great playwrights from Greece - reduced role of the chorus, mainly psychological, skeptical of 

Terms

• Chorogi - Patrons of the Chorus
• Chorogus - Person who was responsible for everything but the theatre itself and the actors (Medieval Theatre workers sponsored theatres), had to make sure that the playwright making 3 dramas and 3 comedies
• Chorogus
• Theatron - name of the theatre
• Scheme (scene house)
• Paraschenia - sidewings
• Paradoi - where the chorus comes in
• Ecciglema - platform to bring bead people out (people never die on stage)
• Deus ex machina - God Machine

Characteristics of the Greek actor - projection, visibility, dance, singing, versatility. Wear large tunics, stand on platform heels, motions were very stylised

• Mask might've been used as a projectophone
• Chorus would wear masks too
• Masks made from linen wood leather

Greek Chorus 

• Singing, dancing
• Engagement
• Actor in drama
• Express opinions/give advice
• Threaten to interfere with the play
• What's right/What wrong
• React to situations
• Add mood/colour/movement/spectacle
• Keep rhythm and speed and/or change it
• USE THE IDEA OF THE GREEK CHORUS

Elements of Tragedy

• Role of Fate - Fate triumphs everything. Rules everything

Naturalism - present reality in as convincing and natural way possible

Presents a bleak outlook on the world because he wrote it after WWII