The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theatre (Cambridge Companions to Literature)
Cambridge University Press, 5/31/2007
EAN 9780521834568, ISBN10: 0521834562
Hardcover, 386 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm
Language: English
This series of essays by prominent academics and practitioners investigates in detail the history of performance in the classical Greek and Roman world. Beginning with the earliest examples of 'dramatic' presentation in the epic cycles and reaching through to the latter days of the Roman Empire and beyond, this 2007 Companion covers many aspects of these broad presentational societies. Dramatic performances that are text-based form only one part of cultures where presentation is a major element of all social and political life. Individual chapters range across a two thousand year timescale, and include specific chapters on acting traditions, masks, properties, playing places, festivals, religion and drama, comedy and society, and commodity, concluding with the dramatic legacy of myth and the modern media. The book addresses the needs of students of drama and classics, as well as anyone with an interest in the theatre's history and practice.
Introduction Marianne McDonald and J. Michael Walton
Part I. Text in context
1. 'Telling the tale'
a performing tradition from Homer to pantomime Mark Griffith
2. Ancient theatre and performance culture Richard P. Martin
3. Religion and drama Fritz Graf
4. The socio-political dimension of ancient tragedy Jon Hesk
5. Aristotle's Poetics and ancient dramatic theory David Wiles
6. Politics and Aristophanes
watchword 'caution!' Gonda Van Steen
7. Comedy and society from Menander to Terence Sander Goldberg
8. Lost theatre and performance traditions in Greece and Italy Hugh Denard
Part II. The nature of performance
9. Art and theatre in the ancient world Richard Green
10. Festivals and audiences in Athens and Rome Rush Rehm
11. Playing places
the temporary and the permanent Richard Beacham
12. Chorus and dance in the ancient world Yana Zarifi
13. Masks in Greek and Roman theatre Greg McCart
14. A material world
costume, properties and scenic effects Graham Ley
15. Commodity
asking the wrong questions J. Michael Walton
16. The dramatic legacy of myth
Oedipus in opera, television and film Marianne McDonald.