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Ancient Greek Theater, 2006.
A paper on ancient Greek drama, the Greek theater and ancient Greek playwrights.
2,413 words (approx. 9.7 pages), 9 sources, MLA, $ 73.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the role of ancient Greek drama in Greek society. The paper explains the stage styles, how actors performed and the main types of plays performed in ancient Greek theater. The author discusses tragedies, comedies and a special form of theater called "dithyramb," which was sung by a large chorus. The paper goes on to discuss the importance of the elements of prose, lyrics and dancing in the ancient Greek drama. The paper then goes on to discuss some of ancient Greece's foremost playwrights, as well as theories about the origins of drama.
From the Paper
"The word 'Drama' as such has originated from the Greek words that mean 'to do', or 'to act'. When a story is acted out, it becomes a 'play', and this was the medium used by the ancient Greeks to act out their stories, which were either humorous and were about funny situations in their everyday lives, or they would be great tragedies, which would act out some important episode or period of their lives at the time. The speech and actions of the play would therefore, recreate human lives and its flow. It can be stated that ancient Greece was in fact the real birthplace of the future 'drama' of the Western world. In Greece, these plays or dramas were presented on stage twice a year, in honor of the God Dionysius, and there would be choruses made up of men who would be dressed up in goatskins, and who were meant to represent 'satyrs' or those mythical creatures who were partly goat, and partly man."
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Sound in Ancient Greek Theater, 2005.
An examination of sound and audibility in the theaters of Ancient Greece.
2,038 words (approx. 8.2 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 64.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how the acoustics in Greek theater spaces have ultimately proven to play a vital role in spectatorship and performance. It looks at how theater spaces and design were a necessary construct at the time in compelling audiences to become absorbed into the fullest theatrical experience possible, while simultaneously obligating actors to deliver the finest deliverance of dialogue.
From the Paper
"Whether by accident or design, there exists some fundamental objections to the theatre spaces that are the foundation of the acoustics. For example, often noise from any section of the auditorium can be distinctly heard in the others. A rowdy audience therefore could ruin the performance. We may recall the tradition, dating from the early days of the theatre before the buildings had assumed permanent stone form, that audiences drummed their heels on the wooden benches to show their disapproval of a play. In a theatre with naturally good acoustics, this must have been devastating. It illuminates the necessity, both for tragedy and comedy, of embodying additional attention-holding devices, and the dangers of allowing a huge crowd to be distracted."
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Ancient Greek and Modern Theater, 2001.
This paper discusses the differences and similarities of two worlds of theater: ancient and modern, with specific references to history and playwrights of each period.
2,370 words (approx. 9.5 pages), 10 sources, $ 72.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at the many similarities that exist between modern American theater, and the theater of ancient Greece. The author focuses on elements such as costumes, scenery, properties, music, and choreography, drama festivals. The paper examines numerous playwrights, including Aeschylus, Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, the poet Homer, and their works, respectively. Emphasis is put on Greek and modern tragedy.
From the Paper
"Ancient Greek theater and modern theater today have many similarities including way of writing, clothing worn by actors and more, but they also have many differences. In the next few pages, I will explain how these two totally different time periods are really more alike than they seem while showing you their distinct differences too. Theater is a diverse and complex art. It requires collaboration among many artists, craftspeople, and managers in order to create a performance for audiences. Since the time of ancient Greeks, theatrical events have included such production elements as costumes, scenery, properties, music, and choreography. Lighting and sound are additions that are more recent. Each element in today?s theater has its own designer, composer, or choreographer who collaborates with the director to focus the audience?s attention on the actor in the special environment or seeing place."
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Ancient Greek Theater, 2002.
The development of the thetar in ancient Greece.
650 words (approx. 2.6 pages), 4 sources, $ 26.95
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Abstract
This is a paper that focuses on the progress, focus and development of the theater in ancient Greece.
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The Ancient Greek Amphitheatre, 2002.
A discussion of the evolution of the Ancient Greek Amphitheatre.
2,071 words (approx. 8.3 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 65.95
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Abstract
This paper traces the history of the architectural form and cultural function of the amphitheatre from its modest beginning in ancient Greece through to the Roman influenced theatre of today. It examines how, although some aspects of their design and function are debatable because so little of their physical structure exists today, Greek theaters can be chronologically classified into three categories: The early Athenian, Hellenistic and Graeco-Roman. It discusses how all of these theaters could be divided into essentially three parts: the theatron (or auditorium), the orchestra and the skene (or scene building) and how these standards developed over time.
From the Paper
"In its simplest form the orchestra of a theater is simply a circular plot of land designated as a place for dance and this idea defines the orchestra employed during this time. It was circular in shape with a diameter of about 66 feet and was believed to be a locus for supernatural powers. An altar (or thymele), described as "a short drum of marble decorated with low-relief carvings of garlands and satyrs, or other Greek icons? was usually erected in the epicenter of the orchestra. It was primarily used prior to performances for sacrifices in honor of the god Dionysus, however plays with religious content often incorporated the altar into the performance. A level surface area, raised one foot from the orchestra and situated below the skene, termed the proscenium, served as the area in which the majority of the dramatic action transpired."
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Ancient Greek Theater, 2000.
The themes, presentations, significance of Dionysius and the impact on modern theater, focusing on Eugene O'Neill.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 9 sources, $ 47.95
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From the Paper
"The theater in its full form came into being in Classical Greece. At that time, the theater was part of a religious festival and so included a number of ritual elements, several of which have been modified for use in theater ever since. The revival of classical learning in the Renaissance included a revival of Greek plays and certain ritual elements in different form. The theater of today is often profit-centered and secular but still makes use of Greek dramatic principles in many cases. The physical theater has changed greatly, as has the
relationship between the theater and the society of which it is a part.
By the time the Greek drama we know today was offered, the theater had developed into a full-fledged entity, with much of its earlier history lost. The Classic era of Greek theater was..."
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The Theater of Dionysus, 2004.
This paper discusses the ancient Greek theater and the area in which the drama was presented called the Theater of Dionysus.
1,110 words (approx. 4.4 pages), 6 sources, APA, $ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the evolution of theater in Greece may be linked directly to the festivals of Dionysus, the Grecian god of wine and misrule. The author points out that Greek theaters, including the theater of Dionysus, were not free-standing works of architecture, but rather they were built into hills in amphitheater forms. The theaters of Lycurgus replaced the original wood of the Dionysus theater with stone, reaffirming the importance of theater in the city of Athens' civic and religious life, which continued well into Hellenistic times, culminating in the Romans' added changes to the structure and including the addition of the Bema.
Table of Contents
History of Theater in Ancient Greece
Architecture of Greek Theaters
Parodos
Bema of Phaidros
The Central Section
Marble Throne of the Priest of Dionysus Eleutherios and Other Priests' Seats
Skene
The Stoa on the South Side of Skene
From the Paper
"The parodos of the Theater of Dionysus was a gangway leading into the orchestra over which chorus and actors made their entrances. There are two parodoi, one on each side of the orchestra. Parodos was also the name of the song chanted by the chorus as they entered the orchestra at the beginning of the play. This is another indication of the fusion of the role of ritual, the role of the chorus, and the role of architecture in early Greek theater."
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Chorus in Ancient Greek Drama, 2005.
The paper describes the role of the chorus in ancient Greek theater. It talks about the origin of the chorus and theater and how the chorus worked in the Euripides's "Hippolytus". The paper also focuses on the effect Greek theater had on modern theater.
1,824 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 58.95
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Abstract
This paper tells what the chorus brought to Greek theater and how theater was shaped because of it. The paper discusses this topic while examining one of the most famous Greek play, "Hippolytus," by Euripides. The chorus was a crucial part of theater during that time and was used to narrate the story, give their opinion of the plot, and keep a rhythm for the play. The chorus did this in various ways, such as through costumes, stage presence, music, and singing. The Greek chorus was a precursor to operas and musicals as we know them today, and the paper discusses this evolution of the chorus.
From the Paper
"The chorus is essential to ancient Greek drama, and the plays at that time were greatly dependent on song and dance which the chorus performed (Ley 28). It accompanied the actors with sounds, gestures, postures, costumes, masks etc, and these flowing actions and stage elements brought the play to life. The various roles of the chorus are to narrate, give their opinions and keep the rhythm of the play. They do this through singing, movement, and stage presence. The ancient Greek theater is also important because it was the precursor to operas and musicals as we know them today. This paper will discuss the importance of the chorus' roles on the Greek stage by examining Euripides' Hippolytus and also how it influenced modern theater. To fully understand the reason for the chorus it is necessary to know the history."
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Greek Culture, 2006.
A study of Greek culture and how it's been influenced by the Orthodox church and ancient Greek history.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 5 sources, $ 71.95
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Abstract
This paper researches the correlation between the Ancient Greek past, the Orthodox Church and Greek culture. It focuses on the areas of the evolution of the Greek Orthodox Church and its practices, art, theatre, music and dance. This paper discusses how each of these areas has roots in Ancient Greece, and the research attempts to demonstrate how these foundations were associated with one another throughout Greek culture.
From the Paper
" Theatrical performances began with the use of music by choirs that were praising the gods and pleading for a bountiful harvest. This practice among the ancients also involved the earliest forms of folk dance. These three art forms were later also incorporated into the Orthodox religion through festivals and the practice of a liturgy that remains of cultural significance today.Greek culture has evolved from ancient times with many of the original traditions still being honored today. Elements of ancient Greek culture exist in modern society because the Greeks provided a foundation of many of the world's forms of art. Theatre, for example, began in Greece as a musical choir form of devotion to the gods to ensure a good harvest. Greek art was considered an intricate craftsmanship that demonstrated the precision and advanced technique of an innovative culture."
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Aristophanes and the Development of Greek Comedy, 2002.
This paper seeks to understand the impact of Aristophanes' work on the culture of the time. The writer explores what comedy meant in the context of the other aspects of Greek theatre.
4,732 words (approx. 18.9 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 121.95
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Abstract
The paper looks briefly at the history of Greek theater and the introduction of comedy. With the coming of Aristophanes the nature and purpose of the comedies began to change. The writer asserts that despite his personal difficulties, Aristophanes managed to convey very definite attitudes and values in his work.
From the Paper
"His humor was extremely topical, and he provided a way for people to laugh at the trends of the day. Life in Athens during this period was generally serious; public life revolved around major issues and concepts that were being discussed and explored. In the midst of this, Aristophenes served as a moral alarm that would go off when the philosophers or the politicians became so full of themselves and their own importance that they lost a sense of perspective."
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Japanese Noh Theater and the Traditional Western Theater, 2000.
A comparison of the evolution and development of two distinctive forms of theater.
1,965 words (approx. 7.9 pages), 6 sources, $ 62.95
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Abstract
The Noh Theater of Japan is an extremely ritualized tradition, and traces of the Noh Theater are found in Western theater. This paper explores many of the distinctive elements of the Noh Theater, such as the use of masks, the themes presented within plays, and the evolution from the old Noh Theater to a more modern presentation of Noh techniques. While the focus of this paper is on the Noh Theater, comparisons are drawn between the Noh Theater and traditional Western theater. There is also a discussion of the more dialogue-driven kyogen style of Japanese theater in respect to the more ritualized Noh Theater.
From the Paper
"The impact on the Noh Theater on the Western theater can be seen to have occurred in a very diverse way. It appears that the Western theaters managed to assimilate various components from the Noh Theater, such as the use of the hitamen in performances to convey a blank countenance. However, the greatest aspect of the Noh Theater on the West is found within the development of more exacting performance techniques, where rather than a single production being subject to incongruities and shoddy acting, the standards of acting were promoted to a higher level overall."
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Greek Mythology: Women in Greek Life, 2002.
Examining the way in which women were depicted in classic Greek mythology.
1,025 words (approx. 4.1 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 36.95
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Abstract
This paper introduces, discuss and analyzes the topic of Greek mythology. Specifically, it contains an analysis of the role of women in Greek life as depicted in literature. It discusses how women underwent a tremendous change between the time of Homer and that of Aristophanes four hundred years later, as five different plays clearly illustrate. Early Greek women were one-dimensional and needy, while four hundred years later they were feminists complaining about their sex lives.
From the Paper
"Women in Greek life are portrayed in a wide variety of ways, and they did indeed change between Homer's type and Aristophanes' time. Homer often portrays women as scheming to keep men from performing their duty, such as how Calypso holds Ulysses on her island in "The Odyssey," attempting to keep her with him rather than allow him to return to his home and family. "This daughter of Atlas has got hold of poor unhappy Ulysses, and keeps trying by every kind of blandishment to make him forget his home, so that he is tired of life, and thinks of nothing but how he may once more see the smoke of his own chimneys" (Odyssey, Book I). In the Iliad, Homer continues to portray women as one-dimensional beings without feelings when he has Chryseis, the daughter of Chryses given as a war prize to Agamemnon as his share of the looting and subsequently ransomed by her father."
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The Evolution of the Roman Theater, 2005.
The history and development of the architecture of the Roman theater building. An in-depth look at how the ancient Romans borrowed heavily from the Greek example, but improved upon it to create a building that was uniquely Roman.
2,698 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 80.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses in great detail the evolution of the Roman theater, beginning from the Greek wooden origins to the stone monuments that became iconic with Roman architecture during the Republic and the Empire. A brief history of theater is discussed in the beginning of the paper, with special attention given to the religious implications of how theaters were originally set up. The importance of the orchestra and "skene" are given historical background, dating back to early Dionysian worship. The layout of the early Greek theaters are discussed, with a complete layout included that describes the circular performance area, the seating arrangements, background adjustments and a rudimentary stage. The rest of the paper deals with how the Romans, eager to take the art of theater from being a religious practice to more of an entertainment value for the masses, incorporated their own unique designs to the Greek theater layout to create a more efficient and clearly Roman design. Heavy attention is give to Vitruvius and his work " De Architectura" which provides a step-by-step process in which Roman theaters were built. Improvements are discussed from eliminating the completely circular stage to a half-circle, as well as creating an official stage that persists in modern theatrical performances. The paper takes each part of the theater and discusses the area extensively in terms of what the Romans did to improve upon or change from the early Greek models.
From the Paper
"Ancient Rome's concept of art and architecture was heavily influenced by the cultures that the Romans had conquered, but were in no way identical copies of the art that existed in those subjugated areas. The Romans excelled at taking artistic ideas from other civilizations and molding them into a form that could undoubtedly be identified as uniquely Roman. This technique can easily be seen in practice when one examines the Roman theater building. Roman theaters can be found throughout the area that used to be the Roman Empire, with remnants of theaters all over Europe and the Mediterranean. These theaters have details and building techniques that are exclusive to Roman designs, but when they are viewed in comparison with ancient Greek theaters, one can clearly see where the Romans received their inspiration."
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The Roman Theater, 2005.
This paper discusses the Roman theater using Terence's "The Brothers" as an example.
1,490 words (approx. 6.0 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 49.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the Roman theater differs in many ways from the Greek theater. It explains that while Greek comedy is political and tries to tackle large issues, Roman comedy is of a more circumstantial, of everyday nature and may be versed with a lot of ethical ideas but it does not blatantly criticize the government or the Republic; nevertheless, the ethical valor of Roman comedy should not be overlooked. The author points out that Terence's "The Brothers", first performed at the funeral games for Lucius Aemilius Paulus in 160 B.C., is the only documented instance of dramatic performances at games outside the regular calendar of public festivals although theater historians believe that there may well have been others. The paper relates that Terence introduced the mixed-metre recitative for some passages instead of the single-metre as in Menander and Plautus; Terence's spoken scenes are all in iambic senarii, which is a six-foot line similar to the English blank verse but with an extra foot and is closer to ordinary speech.
From the Paper
"The facade in Roman comedy invariably consisted of three doors, which were the doors to three neighboring houses. In front of them, where the stage action took place, was a road. The stage also had one door on each side. These side entrances had a fixed conventional significance. The right hand entrance (from the audience's point of view) led to the city center and the left hand entrance led to the country. When characters entered through these entrances, they were announced by characters on stage prior to their actual entry. If two characters entered together, they usually did so in mid-conversation. When a single character entered, he/she usually uttered a monologue before being accosted by the people on stage. In both cases, the bystanders on stage made asides, commenting on the newcomers' conversation or monologue, before letting the newcomers be aware of their presence. "
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The Elizabethan and Jacobean Theater.
This paper is an extensive discusses of the history of Elizabethan theater, which existed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Jacobean theater, which followed Elizabethan theater in the reign of James I.
6,960 words (approx. 27.8 pages), 18 sources, MLA, $ 156.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the most expressive period in the history of the English theatre was the period of Queen Elizabeth I, the second half of the 16th century in which William Shakespeare was the most significant dramatist of the period. The author points out that Philip Henslowe, a well-known theater manager of the time, left a diary, which recorded the organization of theater companies, the props, the plays, the dramatists, and even the building of the theater itself. The paper relates that, in the Jacobean theater, which is considered to be a continuation of the Elizabethan period, the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries were written more to cater to the tastes of the affluent society; the closest modern corollary to these plays is popular cinema, with its films of adventure, violence, horror, or sentimental romance.
From the Paper
"Thus by the period that Shakespeare was writing his plays, there were more playhouses in London than in any other European city. The plays were enacted in the courtyard of inns, or sometimes in the houses of noblemen, before this period. But a noble had to be watchful as to which play should be permitted to perform in his house. Anything that was contentious or political was prone to get him in problem with the crown. Not much is known about the Elizabethan indoor theatres as they were smaller in size and were roofed. Companies did their shows in winter when it was too cold to be outside, signifying that the performance was almost certainly alike. Actors had attained an adequate level of monetary and social strength, by the time of Shakespeare."
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