Menander in Performance

Read this brief article by Richard Williams, ""Masks for Menander: Imaging and Imagining Greek Comedy"":http://didaskalia.open.ac.uk/issues/vol5no1/williams.html and view the video clips of Chris Vervain demonstrating the use of a reconstructed ancient mask.

Also have a look at Marianne McDonald's review of a production of Menander's Woman of Samos at the J.Paul Getty Museum in 1994.

What do these two different kinds of article, and the multimedia elements, contribute to your knowledge and understanding of ancient drama and/or places of performance?

The video clips of the masks, from the generalities of how it was made, the genre of performance it was used for, and just having a look at the mask in relation to a real human being was very useful. It gave a definite image of what it would be like to actually handle a mask like that, it's weight, dimensions, colour, texture. Previously we'd been looking at vase paintings and frescos, and while that's all well and good for historical research, nothing beats having the actual mask in your hands.

What was particularly effective was the video description of how even a slight tilting of the mask can convey different 'personalities' or emotions.

When Chris put on the mask, and basically did a very simple mime of gestures that were not put into any context, it was effective and powerful, because the actor managed to convey the emotive context without the use of words or facial expression. Through concentrating their energy on the smallest of gestures, a clenched fist, a tilt of the head, the direction of the gaze – different gradients of emotion could be conveyed.

The articles themselves are rather lengthy, and as I am not familiar with the plays, the characters and plot were alien to me. However, they did give an idea as to the types of characters that were prominent in Old and New Comedy, suggesting the types and variations of masks that were used in production.

: 12 Nov 2004 12:04 |  Tags: PDP |  Comments (15) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

THEATRON

i.The 4th century B.C.E. Phlyakes vases from the south of Italy show temporary wooden stages which we believe are similar or identical to those that would have been used for comic performance in the 5th century B.C.E. How adequate or appropriate would such a stage have been for the performance of tragedy in the 5th century B.C.E., in particular the Eumenides?*

This stage is obviously not adequate for performing tragedy.
The small raised platform and close proximity to the audience indicates an intimate setting, something that The Eumenides was certainly not. The sheer size of the Chorus alone would have rendered this

ii. Where could Klytemnestra, Apollo and Orestes have performed in the opening scene of the play?

Unlike our modern concept that centre/upstage is the most dominant position, the main characters would probably have been slightly more downstage. Although I fight against the instinct to visualise this as weaker, the round performance arena, akin to either both sporting event and religious ritual would have made downstage a more apt position for leading characters. In particular, due to the sheer amount of lines being recited to an audience of 17 000 or so, this would probably have been better for acoustics. However, Clytemnestra might have entered from the doors (of the skene), showing how unusual it is for a woman of a respectable family to leave her domestic domain outdoors, and potentially risk the ridicule of the public. She might have loomed nearer to the doors, eventually arriving at downstage.

iii. Where could the chorus have performed?

The centre of the circle seems to be a versatile location to move both up and downstage, I visualise them occupying either the centre, or the sides of the stage, depending on where the lead characters were.

3. In Theatron, explore the model of the Theatre of Dionysos, which represents the theatre as it may have been during the Lycurgan period (338 - 326 B.C.E.). Compare and contrast its stone skene with the wooden Phlyakes stage.

(I am cursed with the non-Theatron-viewing disease. Alas)

: 29 Oct 2004 03:25 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Urgent! Catering master and chef supreme available… (Booking 14568)

Currently unemployed, highly skilled worker seeks for vacanies. Previous experience in cooking exotic yet palattable dishes for fellow tenants in boarding school vicinity. Specialities in spicy, non-british food.

Portfolio of work includes:

Although, western dishes and desserts are also within the general area of expertise:

Approximate Start Date 19 October 2004
Closing Date for Applications 02 December 2004

: 19 Oct 2004 17:15 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The Mundane!

Someone just shoot me.
The public services in this country are crap.
I can't even go to a dentist; they're off work til Monday (I've NEVER heard of dentists taking 1-week breaks in my country and closing their surgery)
I'm a real bitch when I'm in pain….... and I'm in PAIN!!!!

Whine whine whine….... my mouth hurts. Boo.

: 19 Oct 2004 16:46 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

SST 1 Evaluation????

What makes a good Evaluation of a website....

• Encompassing the various elements of the website – ease of accessibility, incorporation of text, images, video and audio files, degree of accuracy and detail, interesting layout… etc
• Good evaluations drew on the unique points of each website, and cross-referenced this with other websites. Thus, this makes for ease of research into a particular aspect of Greek theatre.
• Limitations of the website, if any, were highlighted and brought to our attention. Links that don't work, pages that take too long to upload or inaccurate information should be pointed out.

: 15 Oct 2004 10:24 |  Tags: Sst1 |  Comments (5) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Maiden voyage

Wow, who knew. I have succumbed to the blog madness of the internet.

Inevitable, really, considering the number of hours I spend in front of this machine. Oh, I'm a bore, I go to class, come back, cook, eat, read, sleep, wake up, read, read, read… ad infinitum. Suits me.

: 14 Oct 2004 20:15 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem