Jeslyn Mei Modern Mythology Period 1
Ms. Peterson November 21, 2019
Blog #28
Aim: What are the attributes of Greek Drama?
Lesson Notes:
Today in class, we discussed in our groups our decisions for four scenarios and whether that decision was based on emotions or reasoning. The first scenario was "A leader for whom you have the utmost respect is making a terrible decision. Telling him/her would cast you out of his/her graces; not telling him/her would lead to the failure and destruction of this leader." Our group discussed that we would tell the leader because the leader holds great responsibility for his/her people. Thus, not telling the leader of his/her mistake would affect the people negatively rather than simply just the leader. Furthermore, if the leader is a good person and has good intentions for his/her people, I would tell the leader of the bad decision they are making. My decision is based on reasoning because affecting the welfare and greater good of the people would have a more drastic effect than affecting my relationship with the leader. The second scenario was "You are a great leader, but your people are suffering through a plague. You can save your people, but it would cost you the reputation of your husband/wife and children; they would not be banished, but forced to walk with shame for the remainder of their lives." This scenario was similar to the first scenario because as my teammates and I discussed, we would rather save the lives of our people because as a leader, it is your duty to ensure that your people's needs are satisfied and to respond quickly during emergencies. The third scenario was "Someone has murdered your parent. To learn who would be at an even greater shock and devastation than what you are facing, but you have the power to learn that truth." My group and I came to the conclusion that we would want to know who that person is to have closure. However, since our decisions are based on emotions rather than reasoning for this scenario, other groups mentioned that they wouldn't want to know because they would want to get revenge. The fourth scenario was "Previously imperceptible, you recently learning that your spouse of many years, with whom you've had children, is a direct kin relation. Your spouse is oblivious to this fact." My classmates mentioned how they would tell the spouse and allow the future to unfold itself. I agreed with this response because morally, I believe the spouse has the right to know about this important detail. We discussed these scenarios because it relates to how people went to watch Greek Dramas to empathize with the characters and cry out at the dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is irony that is inherent in a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play. An important aspect of Greek Dramas is the fact that the audience must empathize with the characters such as the protagonist. This process is necessary for the audience to experience catharsis, the purging of emotions.
Today in class, we discussed in our groups our decisions for four scenarios and whether that decision was based on emotions or reasoning. The first scenario was "A leader for whom you have the utmost respect is making a terrible decision. Telling him/her would cast you out of his/her graces; not telling him/her would lead to the failure and destruction of this leader." Our group discussed that we would tell the leader because the leader holds great responsibility for his/her people. Thus, not telling the leader of his/her mistake would affect the people negatively rather than simply just the leader. Furthermore, if the leader is a good person and has good intentions for his/her people, I would tell the leader of the bad decision they are making. My decision is based on reasoning because affecting the welfare and greater good of the people would have a more drastic effect than affecting my relationship with the leader. The second scenario was "You are a great leader, but your people are suffering through a plague. You can save your people, but it would cost you the reputation of your husband/wife and children; they would not be banished, but forced to walk with shame for the remainder of their lives." This scenario was similar to the first scenario because as my teammates and I discussed, we would rather save the lives of our people because as a leader, it is your duty to ensure that your people's needs are satisfied and to respond quickly during emergencies. The third scenario was "Someone has murdered your parent. To learn who would be at an even greater shock and devastation than what you are facing, but you have the power to learn that truth." My group and I came to the conclusion that we would want to know who that person is to have closure. However, since our decisions are based on emotions rather than reasoning for this scenario, other groups mentioned that they wouldn't want to know because they would want to get revenge. The fourth scenario was "Previously imperceptible, you recently learning that your spouse of many years, with whom you've had children, is a direct kin relation. Your spouse is oblivious to this fact." My classmates mentioned how they would tell the spouse and allow the future to unfold itself. I agreed with this response because morally, I believe the spouse has the right to know about this important detail. We discussed these scenarios because it relates to how people went to watch Greek Dramas to empathize with the characters and cry out at the dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is irony that is inherent in a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play. An important aspect of Greek Dramas is the fact that the audience must empathize with the characters such as the protagonist. This process is necessary for the audience to experience catharsis, the purging of emotions.
Before learning about the background of Oedipus Rex, we solved the riddle: "What has four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?" The answer was a person because metaphorically, babies in the morning or childhood go about on all four legs. In the afternoon or during adulthood, humans will walk with two legs until the evening or old age when humans will require a cane to support himself. This explains why people will have three legs in the evening and introduces a riddle that Oedipus encounters when he visits the Sphinx. We were then introduced to Oedipus Rex and that it was written in 459 BC, "Rex" means "King," and the setting of the play begins where Oedipus is already the King of Thebes. It goes into detail on how Oedipus comes to his throne and eventually falls.
We then learned about the essential characteristics of Greek Drama, according to Aristotle in Poetics. These characteristics are:
- It is mimetic (imitation, in particular. Representation or imitation of the real world in art and literature.)
- It is serious
- It tells a full story of an appropriate length
- It contains rhythm and harmony
- Rhythm and harmony occur in different combinations in different parts of the tragedy
- It is performed rather than narrated
- It arouses feelings of pity and fear and then pursues these feelings through catharsis
We discussed how a tragedy consists of six different parts which are (in the order of most important to least important): plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. We elaborated on the attributes of Greek Drama by learning about how Catharsis is purification of emotions. The term was used by Aristotle to describe the effect on the audience of a tragedy acted out on a theater stage which relates back to the purpose we learned about people attending Greek Dramas in theaters. By watching these Dramas, audience members can release their tension and disturbing emotions as a result of (1) resolving to avoid conflicts of the main character or (2) transferring their own pity and fear to the main character. As a result, the audience members are able to release these negative emotions. We also learned that the overall effect of watching Greek Dramas is the feeling of tranquility and as an improved person intellectually, morally, or socially. I learned the definition of catharsis and how the term might apply to Greek Dramas because it relates back to why Greek Dramas were relevant and popular over 2,500 years ago. People were able to purge themselves of negative emotions whether that experience was real or imagined. This was a common belief shared by most people of the century and connected people of different backgrounds because they came together for a common purpose which was to become a better person socially, morally, and intellectually. The idea of catharsis is one example of an attribute in Greek Dramas and the role they play is the bringing of radical change in a person. People were able to discover more about themselves and release the negative aspects they did not favor about themselves through quality and dramatic Greek Dramas.
Reflection:
I learned about the distinct characteristics in Greek Dramas because I'm now able to recognize an example in works of literature such as books. Furthermore, Greek Dramas have contributed to the definition and importance of Dramatic Plays. Similar to dramatic plays we watch today, both Greek Dramas and current dramatic plays consist of performers that engage with the audience through the narration of their lines. I also learned from today's lesson that Greeks made the distinction between Greek Dramas and comedies because one characteristic of Greek Dramas was that they do not have comedic lines and are rather serious. However, today, we see the merging of dramas and comedies in shows and movies which represents a departure in the interests of people in regards to theater shows. I will use what I learned today by making connections between dramas I watch in the theater to Greek Dramas because Greek Dramas was one of the earliest forms of dramas we watch today. The characteristics of modern-day dramas derive from Greeks because most, if not all, dramatic plays have a sequential and coherent storyline. Another detail I learned today was the significance of taking notes and writing down the important facts because I'm able to refer back to the notes in the future and make better sense of the text by going over what I wrote down. I will use what I learned by being an active student and taking notes of the daily lessons so that I can pay attention to detail I may have missed while discussing the new information in class. In the future, I'm able to organize and prioritize the new information by deciding on what are the key ideas I'm reading and what are not necessary to note down in my notebook.
I learned about the distinct characteristics in Greek Dramas because I'm now able to recognize an example in works of literature such as books. Furthermore, Greek Dramas have contributed to the definition and importance of Dramatic Plays. Similar to dramatic plays we watch today, both Greek Dramas and current dramatic plays consist of performers that engage with the audience through the narration of their lines. I also learned from today's lesson that Greeks made the distinction between Greek Dramas and comedies because one characteristic of Greek Dramas was that they do not have comedic lines and are rather serious. However, today, we see the merging of dramas and comedies in shows and movies which represents a departure in the interests of people in regards to theater shows. I will use what I learned today by making connections between dramas I watch in the theater to Greek Dramas because Greek Dramas was one of the earliest forms of dramas we watch today. The characteristics of modern-day dramas derive from Greeks because most, if not all, dramatic plays have a sequential and coherent storyline. Another detail I learned today was the significance of taking notes and writing down the important facts because I'm able to refer back to the notes in the future and make better sense of the text by going over what I wrote down. I will use what I learned by being an active student and taking notes of the daily lessons so that I can pay attention to detail I may have missed while discussing the new information in class. In the future, I'm able to organize and prioritize the new information by deciding on what are the key ideas I'm reading and what are not necessary to note down in my notebook.
Overall, as a student in a Modern Mythology class, it is important to make the connection between modern drama and Greek Dramas. Some movies today continue to follow the format of these Greek Dramas such as a protagonist being defeated due to hamartia, a fatal flaw as discussed in previous lessons. By the end of the lesson, I was able to recognize the importance of Greek Dramas to today and to Greek citizens. Stories like Oedipus, such as one described in the novel Mythology by Edith Hamilton, provide insights into human nature and our desire to release disturbing emotions such as fear and pity by watching greek dramas being acted out on a theater stage.
This illustration is an amphitheater where Greek Dramas were performed and is one attribute of Greek dramas.
Greek tragedies often wore masks to express the emotions they wanted to portray and evoke specific emotions in their audiences such as feelings of pity and fear.
Additional information about Greek dramas and its defining characteristics: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/thtr/hd_thtr.htm
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