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SummaryQuestionsNotes
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I. Plays, Texts
1. Three Sisters
When the play was written?
2. Doll House
How do you understand the meaning of this title?
3. Dream Play
Why there is no list of characters in this Strindberg's play?
II. Theory, Styles
Give YOUR definitions of --1. Naturalism
2. Symbolism
3. Realism
III. Critical Reading
1. Stanislavsky: Why was a new Method in acting neccessary for Chekhov's type of drama?2. Freud: What is his contribution to analysis of drama?
3. Nietzsche: What is the difference between Apollo and Dionysis?
IV. Comparative Analysis
Compare the theme of family in Chekhov and Ibsen.V. Methodology
What is Semiotics?VI. Historicity
What are the (historical) reasons for emergence of symbolism?VII. Elements of Drama
Composition: Why does exposition in modern drama require more time?
Email your answers to ffaga@uaf.edu or type and bring to class on wed. Oct. 27.
Test 2, Sample
I. Plays, Texts 1. How do you understand the title "Angels in America"?
The angels - those nubile asexual beings who come to herald the comming of a new era- this is what the aids crisis is producing. It is saying that the gay man- with aids is the ultimate bringer of truth and has become our new dramatic hero.
2. Name the characters in Endgame
Nagg, Nell, Hamm, Clov - do the stuffed dog and biscuits count? (he he he -)
3. How many acts in Homecoming?
Two, no more, no less.
4. Who dies in Buried Child?
The original buried child, and Dodge.
II. Theory, Styles
1. Define the style of Kushner
post-modern political theater with a symbolistic undertone.
2. Biomechanics -- what is it?
THe "opposite" of method acting. Meyerhold developed it it focuses on the physicalization of gesture and character to bring the actor to the acting point. Often considered more suitied to comedy it involves the aim, the action and the reaction as its basic components.
3. What is poor theatre?
What we do at UAF. he he he But really, theater for art- that is to say, little concern is given to the tech budgets- as there is no money for tech- you have actors, you have script, hopefully you have audience. It is one of the hardest challenges for an actor, and you have no- or minimal tech to help you on stage. Very suited to blackbox performance spaces, and method acting.
4. Define subtext
The subliminal text of a line- what is not written, but meant. Not contra-text- which is oppisite of line- ex- I understand you masha = you make no sense. subtext is you have come from moscow= areyou daddy? the hidden text that the character thrives in. finding the subtext is why actors have journals.
III. Critical Reading
1. What is pastiche?
post-modern tenique- style of writing that is comedy with out laughter. word means collage and it is much like a montage of burlesqe and farce, but with out the inherent melodramatic humor in both.
2. How does Freud define hero?
As a weaker entity pitted against God or some divine goop, audience likes hero as we- audience- take pleasure from watching someone so great (along the theroy that hero is main character and is of some importance on earth or wherever) be so insignificant and futile.3. "Myth speaks to everything at once" -- how do you understand this statement by Shepard?
Myth is something we have as a common ground as people. By alinging us as a communioty with a common myth, we can understand the reaction of the characters and bond as a cohesive bunch of 'spect-actors' Myth is not just the stories we are told as children, but the inherent associations they produce. A sense of random association and mystery whithin ourselves as a people. This leads to the random associations as an audience. We need this "myth" this mystery to believe in the lives that a character has before and after a play. With out that the willing suspension of disbeliefe would not be possible.
4. Who did introduce the concept of Theatre of Cruelty?
Artaud
IV. History
1. When was written Hamletmachine?
19782. When was Epic Theatre developed and by whom?
Brecht, Germany post-war- 1930's- he wrote something in '38...like 15 years post war.
3. When was the Method Acting born?
Method was born as soon as Stanislaviski that was in 1863- it just didn't break out of him until chekhov wrote things like 3 sister- so right about a hundred years ago - like 1901 ish. (he he he ).
4. Date the era of Naturalism late nineteenth century. sorry you get no more of a specific date - ended around 1910 ish- still a few hangers-on; Zola died in like 1902 or 1903...
