Crash Course Theater: Episode 1

Introduction

• Host: Mike Rugnetta
• Series Theme: Exploration of theater's history, significant plays, and performances.
• Theatrical Terms: Tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, and more.
• Introduction to Dionysus: Greek god of theater and wine.

Definition of Theater

• Theater (Building): A place where plays are performed. Derived from Greek meaning "the seeing place."
• Theater (Performance): Involves plays, literature, and documentation.
• **Types of Theater: **
  • Closet dramas
  • Improvised plays
  • Non-verbal performances like some of Samuel Beckett's shorts.
• Expansive Definition: Theater as a concept can be seen in various forms, sometimes even involving robots or non-human actors.

What Constitutes Theater?

• Standard Definition: At least one actor and one audience member.
• Debate: What exactly counts as an actor or an audience member?
• John Cage's Perspective: Theater occurs all the time, art helps to see it.
• Current Definition: Deliberate performance by live actors for a live audience, typically using scripted language.

Spelling: Theatre vs Theater

• Both spellings are correct:
  • RE is common outside the US.
  • ER is used for consistency at Crash Course.

Theater's Origins

• Ritual as Predecessor:
  • Rituals mediate between human and supernatural events.
  • Mircea Eliade’s theory on ritual re-presenting old stories.
  • Ritual often sacred; theater usually secular.

Theories of Theater's Origins

1. Ritualism Theory:

   • James Frazer & Cambridge Ritualists:
     • Viewed theater as an evolution of religious ritual.
     • Examined "primitive" societies; often Euro-centric.
     • Art seen as a civilized substitute for magic.
   • Criticism:
     • Based heavily on Greek drama.
     • Lacks scientific rigor and understanding of non-Western cultures.

2. Functionalism Theory:

   • Bronislaw Malinowski: Myths rationalize the world.
   • Myths serve to explain societal norms and events.
   • Example: Greek dramas explaining legal systems or natural phenomena.

3. Other Theories:

   • Clown Origin: Secular equivalent of shaman's role in societies.
   • Ludic Impulse: The playful instinct.
   • Mimetic Impulse (Aristotle): Humans innate desire to imitate and pretend leads to theater.

Importance of Theater

• Historical Impact: Theater as a tool for teaching and understanding human emotions and society.
• Quote from Percy Bysshe Shelley: Drama aims to teach the human heart understanding through its sympathies and antipathies.

Conclusion: Theater, in its many forms, has a rich history and serves as a medium for storytelling, cultural expression, and societal reflection.