THTR 1020 Lecture : 1020 Spring Lecture Outline Four
Document Summary
Genre is a term referring to the classification of dramatic texts and performances. A cultural bias is inherent in any system of categorization. We may encounter types of plays and performance that are unfamiliar when we step outside our own culture or era, just as our own divisions might seem puzzling to those outside our tradition. (86) Within european theatre history, the genres of comedy and tragedy play a large role. The european theatrical tradition has been shaped by evolving ideas of comedy and tragedy that have been defined in plays and practice, and also in the legacy of criticism begun by aristotle"s strict distinction between comic and tragic forms. European genres, such as comedy and tragedy, are useful for making sense of a written play"s emotional impact and point of view, and imply the kind of attitude spectators should bring to the experience. (86)
