Art in Theatre Arts
• Definition of Art
The rearrangement of nature
by man designed to evoke a
specific response.
Dual Purpose of Art
• To Entertain
–To Arouse Emotions
• To Instruct
–To Stimulate Thought
Elements of Drama
• PLOT
–Story versus Plot
–Dramatic Action
–Types
• Linear
• Episodic
• Circular
Elements of Drama
• PLOT ELEMENTS
Major Climax
2nd
Climax
1st Climax
Exposition
Inciting
Incident
Resolution
3rd Complication
2nd Complication
1st Complication
Elements of Drama
• CHARACTER
– Complexity
• One-Dimensional
• Multi-Dimensional
– Aspects
• Development
• Appearance
• Verbal
• Actions
Elements of Drama
• THOUGHT (THEME)
–Main idea / Message
–Social / Psychological
–Symbolism
• Title
• Character
• Allegory
Elements of Drama
• LANGUAGE (DICTION)
–Integrated w/Character
–Imagery / Vividness
–Purposeful
• Provides exposition
• Plot advancement
• Character development
Elements of Drama
• SPECTACLE
–Everything Visual
• Scenery
• Costumes
• Make-up
–Special Effects
Elements of Drama
• MUSIC
–Background
–Source
• SOUND
–Environmental
–Special Effects
Theatre Arts & The Audience
• Television
– Many choices / Interruptions / Aspect Ratio
• Film
– Spectacle / Technical Achievements
• Theatre
– Live / Imagination / Physical Relationship
Believability
• Verisimilitude - the appearance of
being life-like
• Photo-realism - an absolute
duplication of “real” life
• Fantasy - fabricated from the mind
of the artist
• Willing suspension of disbelief
Theatrical Conventions
• Action
– Physical
– Psychological
• Place
– Realistic
– Suggested
• Time
– Setting
– Manipulation
• Condensed
• Expanded
Theatrical Conventions
• Language
– Stylization
•
•
•
•
•
Structure
Mode
Vocabulary
Period
Character
– Purposeful
• Provides exposition
• Advances plot
• Develops character
Cinematic Conventions
• Cinematography
• Composition/Framing/Shots
• Lighting
• Placement
• Movement
• Editing
• Continuity
• Parallel
• Cuts
• Effects
Criticism
• Exposition – What is it?
• Capsule summary
• Production background
• Source material
• Artists
• Appreciation/Condemnation – Was
it worth doing?
• Relevance
• Social
• Psychological
• Thematic Aspects
• Evaluation – Was it well done?
Narrative Form
• Storytelling
– Beginning (set up)
– Middle (conflict)
– End (resolution)
• Basic components
– Character
– Dramatic Action
– Conflict
Genre Concept
• Genre - a category of artistic, musical,
or literary composition characterized by
a particular style, form, or content.
• Webster’s English Dictionary
• Introduction to Film Genres-Filmsite.0rg
Genre Concept
• Determinates
– Hierarchy of Elements of Drama
– Use of elements to set tone,
style, mood
– Type of Dramatic Action/Conflict
– Degree of Verisimilitude
– Degree of Comedy/Drama
Genre Concept
• Conflict Analysis
–What is Conflict?
–What Creates Conflict?
–Is Conflict
Physical/Psychological?
–What Primary Dramatic
Question?
Genre Concept
• Plot driven genres - Romantic in notion
– Melodrama – good v. evil---good wins every time
• Action
• Romantic
– Sentimentalism – the family sticks together
– Situation comedy – a serious situation treated in a
trivial manner
– Romantic comedy – boy meets girl, boy loses girl,
boy gets girl back
• Character/Theme driven genres
– Psychological realism
– Abstract realism
– Black/Dark comedy
Genre Concept
• Melodrama
–Plot
–Spectacle
–Music/Sound
–Character
–Diction
–Thought
Genre Concept
• Sentimentalism
–Plot
–Diction
–Character
–Music/Sound
–Spectacle
–Thought
Genre Concept
• Situation Comedy
–Plot
–Spectacle
–Diction
–Character
–Music/Sound
–Thought
Genre Concept
• Romantic Comedy
–Plot
–Character
–Diction
–Thought
–Music/Sound
–Spectacle
Genre Concept
• Psychological Realism
–Character
–Thought
–Diction
–Plot
–Spectacle
–Music/Sound
Genre Concept
• Abstract Realism
–Thought
–Character
–Spectacle
–Diction
–Music/Sound
–Plot
Genre Concept
• Dark Comedy
–Thought
–Diction
–Plot
–Character
–Spectacle
–Music/Sound
Major Dramatic Questions
• What happens next?
• Consistent with
entertaining/Appealing to the
senses/Soliciting an emotional
response
• What does this mean?
• Consistent with
instructing/Stimulating
thought/Educating