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Playwriting and Genre

Published on Nov 19, 2015

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1.

Playwriting and Genre

Theatre 2100: Spring 2015, Wk 2, Lecture 2
Photo by mharrsch
2.

A playwright creates a play using only dialogue and action

In the video linked below, Tony-award winning playwright Nilo Cruz (pictured here) talks about what inspired him to become a playwright.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B_HY0EixrE
3.

Process of the Playwright

  • Theatres hire or commission a playwright
  • Playwrights collaborate with director/actors
  • New plays are often given Staged Readings
  • Many playwrights write on their own
  • Some collaborate with other theatre artists  
4.

Untitled Slide

In the video linked below, playwright Charles Mee discusses how he makes plays in the style of devising, or collaborative creation, with a theatre group called Siti Company. Mee often refers to his plays as a collage, as he pieces together many different stories and inspirations to create a single theatre piece…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPoNJ6V4fBw

Siti Company's Website:
http://siti.org/
5.

Untitled Slide

In the video linked below, playwright Ann Washburn discusses the process by which she and the theatre group called The Civilians created Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR01Ez6kFZw

Website for The Civilians
http://www.thecivilians.org/
6.

Genre: Classical Tragedy and Comedy

A genre is a category for literature, music, or art
Photo by BenRogersWPG
7.

Elements of Tragedy

  • Hubris: Excessive Pride
  • Hamartia: Error in Judgment
  • Tragic Hero whose mistake causes suffering
  • Catharsis: Aristotle believed this was aim of tragedy
  • Catharsis means purging of fear and pity for hero
8.

After you read Bacchae, who is the tragic hero? What is his error?

9.

Elements of Comedy

  • Celebrates youth, marriage, fertility
  • Plots include cross-dressing, mistaken identities
  • Classical comedies often feature a "scapegoat"
  • Scapegoats are often "cast out" at end of play
  • Sometimes, they are forgiven and included
10.

Do we see elements of classical comedy/tragedy in our culture today?

11.

As you read Bacchae, think about how genre works in this classical
play...

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