ARTS EXAM QUARTER 4

• Greek Theater


  • Began around 700 B.C. with festivals honoring their many gods
  • One god, Dionysus, with a religious festival called, "The Cult of Dionysus, to honor Dionysus (Di-on-i-sus), the god of wine and fertility
  • The city-state of Athens was the center of a significant cultural, political, and military power during this period, where the festivals and competitions were usually performed
  • The three well-known Greek tragedy playwrights are Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus
• Greek theater


  • The actors, directors, and dramatists were all the same person
  • After some time, only three actors were allowed to perform in each play
  • Due to limited number of actors allowed on-stage, the chorus played into a very active part of Greek theatre
  • Music was often played during the chorus
  • Men performed songs to welcome Dionysus and women were not allowed to perform
  • Competitions in song, dance, music, scenic representation and bodily exercises were done during the festivals
  • To promote a common identity, Athenians spread these festivals to their numerous allies
• Orchestra


  A large circular or rectangular area at the center part of the theatre, where the play, dance, religious rites, and acting took place
• Roman Theater


  • Started in the 3rd century BC
  • Had varied and interesting art forms, like festival performances of street theatre, acrobatics, the staging of comedies of Plautus, and the high-verbally elaborate tragedies of Seneca
  • The Hellenization (historical spread of ancient Greek culture) of Roman culture in the 3rd century BC had an intense and energizing effect on Roman theatre and encouraged the development of Latin literature
  • Etruscan actors were the first experienced theater in the 4th century BC
  • Roman drama began with the plays of Livius Andronicus in 240 BC and remained popular throughout late Antiquity
  • By the mid-4th century AD, 102 out of 176 ludi publici being dedicated to theatre, besides a considerably lower number of gladiator and chariot racing events
  • Greek theaters had a great influence on the Roman's theater, too
  • The Triumvir Pompey built one of the first permanent (non-wooden) theaters in Rome, whose structure was somewhat similar to the theatron of Athens
• Renaissance Theater


  • Characterized by a return of Classical Greek and Roman arts and culture
  • During Middle Ages, mystery plays formed a part of religious festivals in England and other parts of Europe
  • Morality plays and the University drama were formed to recreate Athenian tragedy
  • Public theatres were developed like, the Commedia dell'arte and the elaborate masques
  • Queen Elizabeth I was a prominent supporter of the theater
  • Companies of players (companies of actors) were organized by the aristocrats and performed seasonally in many places
• William Shakespeare


  • An English poet, playwright and actor regarded as the greatest writer and dramatist in the whole world
  • Often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"
  • His works consist of about 38 plays, including well-loved Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Midsummer Night's Dream, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Much Ado about Nothing
  • The four tragedies considered to be Shakespeare's greatest works were Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth
• Other contemporary playwrights

  • Christopher Marlowe (tragedies such as Dr. Faustus and The Jew of Malta)
  • Thomas Kyd (The Spanish Tragedy)
• Comedies


  Dealt with life in London after the fashion of Roman New Comedy, such as "The Shoemaker's Holiday" by Thomas Dekker and "A Chaste Maid in Cheapside" by Thomas Middleton
• Ballet


  • A formalized form of dance which originated from the Italian Renaissance courts
  • Developed and flourished from Italy to France with the help of Catherine de' Medici
  • An early example is "Le Paradis d' Amour", presented at her daughter's wedding
  • The first formal "court ballet" ever recognized was "Ballet des Polonais" in 1573, commissioned by Catherine de' Medici to honor the Polish Ambassadors
• Innovations of the Renaissance stage


  • Proscenium was developed, the area of a theater surrounding the stage opening
  • Backdrops for scenery were popularized by the art of painting clothes
  • Commedia dell'arte or "Comedy of the Profession" was developed, a quick-witted performance of the characters/players
• Baroque Theater


  Marked by the use of technology in current Broadways or commercial plays, the theater crew uses machines for special effects and scene changes which may be changed instantaneously
• Ballet des Polonais


  The first formal court ballet ever recognized, commissioned by Catherine de' Medici in 1573 to honor Polish Ambassadors
• Backdrops


  • Scenery popularized by the art of painting clothes
• Neoclassical playwrights


  • Pierre Cornielle
  • Jean Baptiste Poquelin (Molière)
  • Jean Racine
• Victor Hugo


  One of the greatest and best known French writers, a poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement, known for works like Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
• Georges Bizet


  French composer, pianist, and best known for his operas, especially Carmen
• Romantic period composers


  • Franz Liszt
  • Richard Wagner
  • Frederic Chopin
  • Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Franz Schubert
  • Felix Mendelsshon
  • Hector Berlioz