Overview
This lecture introduces Crash Course Theater by defining theater, exploring theories about its origins, and discussing its societal significance.
Defining Theater
- Theater refers both to the performance space and to the art form itself.
- The word "theater" comes from Greek, meaning "the seeing place."
- Theater can occur in traditional venues or unconventional spaces like parks, sidewalks, or homes.
- Some plays (closet dramas) are intended to be read, not performed.
- Theater often involves live actors performing for a live audience, typically with a script.
What Counts as Theater?
- Theater usually has at least one actor and one audience member.
- Actors can be humans, puppets, robots, or even animals (usually with human guidance).
- John Cage suggested that theater is present wherever attention is focused, but the course uses a narrower definition: deliberate performance by live actors for a live audience.
- The spelling "theater" (er) or "theatre" (re) is generally a matter of preference or regional usage.
Theories on the Origins of Theater
- No single agreed-upon origin for theater exists; several theories attempt to explain its beginnings.
- Ritual theory (supported by scholars like James Frazer and the Cambridge Ritualists) views theater as evolving from religious ritual.
- Ritual involves acts that mediate between humans and the supernatural and re-present significant events.
- Ritual is typically sacred with participant audiences, while theater is usually secular with observing audiences.
- The ritual theory is criticized for being Eurocentric and assuming all societies evolve similarly (positivism).
- Functionalist theory (Bronislaw Malinowski) sees myths as explanations for societal customs; theater then originates from myth as explanation.
- Other theories attribute theater's origins to clowning, games (ludic impulse), and humans' desire to imitate (mimetic impulse, per Aristotle).
Why Theater Matters
- Theater helps society reflect on itself and teaches empathy and understanding through dramatic storytelling.
- Percy Bysshe Shelley argues drama's purpose is to teach the human heart self-knowledge via sympathy and antipathy.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Theater — a place or art form involving live performance before a live audience.
- Closet Drama — a play intended for reading, not performance.
- Ritual — a ceremonial act mediating between the human and the supernatural.
- Positivism — a belief that societies evolve toward increased sophistication.
- Functionalism — theory that myths explain and justify societal institutions.
- Ludic Impulse — the instinct to play or engage in games.
- Mimetic Impulse — the human drive to imitate or act.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key differences between ritual and theater.
- Prepare for next episode’s discussion on Greek drama and satyr plays.