Brief Summary
This episode of Crash Course Theater introduces the definition of theater, its origins, and its significance. It explores various theories about the emergence of theater, including ritualism, functionalism, the role of the clown figure, the ludic impulse, and the mimetic impulse. The episode also touches on the debate over the spelling of "theater" and "theatre" and concludes by emphasizing the importance of theater as a means of self-knowledge.
- Theater is defined as a deliberate performance by live actors for a live audience, typically using scripted language.
- Theories on the origin of theater include ritualism (theater evolving from religious rituals), functionalism (theater explaining the world through myths), the clown figure, the ludic impulse (playful instincts), and the mimetic impulse (imitation).
- Theater matters because it teaches the human heart about itself through sympathies and antipathies.
Defining Theater
Theater is defined as a place where plays are performed, originating from the Greek word meaning "the seeing place." It encompasses various forms, from large venues to unconventional spaces like parks or homes. Theater includes the performance of plays, related literature, and even closet dramas not intended for performance. A basic definition requires at least one actor and one audience member, though actors can be human, robots, animals or puppets. While a broad definition suggests theater is everywhere, a more specific definition is a deliberate performance by live actors for a live audience, typically using scripted language. Both "theater" and "theatre" are acceptable spellings, with "re" being more common outside the US.
Theories on the Origin of Theater
There isn't a single agreed-upon origin story for theater, but several theories exist. One theory suggests that theater evolved from religious rituals, which mediate between the human and supernatural realms by re-enacting significant events. While ritual shares similarities with theater, it is typically sacred, while theater is usually secular. In the late 19th century, scholars saw theater as a direct evolution of religious ritual, with rituals generating myths that eventually transform into theater.
Ritualism and the Cambridge Ritualists
James Frazer and the Cambridge Ritualists believed theater emerged as a refined version of ritual. They studied societies in Africa and Asia, suggesting worship distilled into rituals attracts gods or guarantees fortune. These rituals then generate myths, which transmute into theater. Herodotus's account of an Egyptian ceremony illustrates this idea, where a ritualistic fight re-enacts a story of Ares. The ritualism theory aligns with Greek drama but faces challenges when applied to other dramatic traditions due to the Eurocentric biases of early scholars.
Functionalism and the Purpose of Myths
Functionalism suggests that myths are created to explain and rationalize the world, serving an etiological function by explaining how things came to be. Myths justify the existing order and differ across societies. While functionalist theorists didn't focus on theater, their followers linked early Greek dramas to etiological myths. For example, the "Oresteia" explains the legal system, and "Prometheus Bound" explains the origin of fire and technology. Theater, based on myth, becomes a way of explaining the world to ourselves, though this view has drawbacks, as some early plays like Aeschylus’s “The Persians” were based on historical events, not myth.
Alternative Theories: Clowning, Games, and Imitation
Besides ritualism and functionalism, other theories exist. One suggests theater derives from the clown figure, a secular equivalent of the shaman who mocks authority. This influence is seen in satyr plays. Another theory links theater to games and the ludic impulse, the playful instincts of humankind. Aristotle proposed that humans have a mimetic impulse, an in-built desire to imitate and pretend, which refines into theater.
The Significance of Theater
Theater matters because it allows us to understand ourselves. Throughout the series, the importance and impact of theater will be explored. Percy Bysshe Shelley suggested that the highest moral purpose of drama is to teach the human heart about itself through sympathies and antipathies.
