THTR1170 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Chariot Racing, Roman Empire
Document Summary
Roman theatre greatly differed from that of its preceder, greek theatre, in the way that. Roman theatre relied on a form of paratheatrical activity unlike the greeks. Romans tended to enjoy a wider variety of (blood thirsty) entertainment, such as chariot racing or wild animal fights, while the greeks preferred the more satyr or tragical approach. Greeks enjoyed tragedies and viewed theatre as a method to portray moral values and significant issues within society. The romans enjoyed comedies and categorized theatre as pure/popular entertainment meant only for a source of amusement. However, roman theatre is reflected in some forms of dance entertainment such as stomping or even ballet, where there is no official storyline or formal dialogue and everything must be interpreted through body language.