DRAM 1300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Ancient Greek Comedy, Medieval Theatre, Satyr Play

• School: University of Windsor
• Department: Dramatic Art
• Course: DRAM 1300
• Professor: Simon Du Toit

Document Summary

Words and concepts to know/discuss: satyr play: performed after tragedy by a chorus of satyrs (mythological creature, half goat half man), parodied. Greek myths; vulgar, made fun of greek institutions and gods. Old comedy: made fun of society, politics and culture with fantastical plots; unique aspects in structure were the agon and parabasis. New comedy: focused on smaller, domestic life situations and bourgeois life in the city; chorus only used for singing and dancing between acts; more realistic. Menander* phallus: an exaggerated fake penis used in old comedy bawdy comedy: comic takes on bodily functions, from sex to peeing parabasis: unique to old comedy, involved chorus/actors going directly up to audience members, poking fun at them. Greek theatre as drag: theatre/acting was perceived as an improper profession for women, female characters played by men subversive comedy: a comedy undermining/making fun of a particular institution. * see notes greek theatre part 1 for playwrights.