Post first response: before class 2/6
Post discussion posts before class 2/8

This post requires two responses. First, respond to the four questions below. Replies to the post are moderated. I will read and release them for group discussion on 2/6, which is the deadline for submitting your response to the four questions below. Once released, respond to a post written by one of your classmates (see below). Responses and discussions are due on 2/8. Write your name and section number on the top of your written reply. 

FIRST RESPONSE (2/6): As you learned from the reading and videos from the last two weeks, Ancient Greek theatre has roots in the religious rituals of that society. The questions below are about the relationship between religious ritual and theatre. Answer all of the questions. 

1. Locate the quote by Mircea Eliade in the “Crash Course, Intro to Theatre” video (week 1). In your own words, describe Eliade’s definition of ritual. 
2. According to Weinstein (week one reading), how does amphitheater architecture contribute to the sense of ritual time (the past being made present)?  
3. Watch the taped stage production of “Antigone” in Digital Theatre +. What is the previous time that the character Antigone is trying to make “present” in the play “Antigone”? In other words, what action does she want to take and who will be made “present” for the other characters in the play?
4. As you can see from the BBC production of “Antigone”, it is not staged on an outdoor amphitheater, but rather in a proscenium style, indoor theatre. The size of the audience for the BBC production was surely smaller than the Ancient Greek performance in an amphitheater and in a proscenium arrangement there would be less awareness of other audience members. While watching the play, think about how the staging would need to change in an outdoor space in front of 4,000 spectators. Choose one scene that you believe would have greater impact if staged in an outdoor amphitheater, specifically in terms of helping the audience feel that the events of Antigone are “made present” (that the audience is watching the original mythological event — think about what Weinstein wrote about the effect of performances in the amphitheater). When citing the scene, add the hour/minute mark on the video so that it can easily be referenced. 

DISCUSSION RESPONSE (2/8): Respond to one of your classmate’s responses that you do not agree with. Argue that the scene they chose might work better on a modern, proscenium type stage than in an amphitheater. Explain why.

stageandtech

Dear students,

Please use the opportunity in this class to practice your formal writing skills on email. Unlike Twitter and texting, emails to professionals, colleagues, and teachers require formal writing. See the example below:

“Re” Line: clearly state topic of the email, as well as your course and section number

SALUTATION: Dear [name],

BODY:

• Write in complete sentences.
• Start your email by stating the purpose of the message [for instance, “I am writing to request a time to meet you in your office to discuss my work in the class.”
• If you are asking for something, please write “please.”
• Do not write “thank you in advance” since this implies that your request will be automatically fulfilled. 
• Include all pertinent information so the reader doesn’t have to do additional work — such as last names, section numbers, times, dates, etc.

SIGN OFF:

Thank you, [if you have asked for something]

Sincerely [or] Best regards, [if you are not asking for something]

With your partner, choose a production playing in one of the following theaters:

APPROVED THEATERS (CLICK)

Reply to this post, writing both group member names, the theater you selected to research, and the production you will attend. 

Purchase tickets, attend the production, and complete Acts I and II according to the schedule. 

Please set up a shared Google Drive or Dropbox folder dedicated to this class. Make sure you put your first and last name in the title of the folder (see below). Within the course folder, create three subfolders: drawings, class notes, and research project. Please make sure that all these folders are shareable and can be viewed by all. I should not have to ask for permission to view the documents or folders. 

FOLDER: Theatre History 2280ID, Section ___, Christopher Swift
   SUBFOLDER: Drawings
   SUBFOLDER: Class notes
   SUBFOLDER: Research project

Once you have set up the folders, simply post a link to your master folder (Theatre History 2280ID, Section ___, First Name Last Name) by replying to this post. Going forward, all you need to do is upload your drawings, class notes, and research project assignments into the appropriate folders. You should not post links to the files themselves. Post only a single link to your master folder by replying below. Nothing more. I will be going into your folders throughout the semester to check on your progress. 

Thank you for setting up your folders in this manner and posting links to folders only (not to individual documents). Please make sure that your folders can be “viewed by anyone with this link” when you share.