Oedipus Dramaturgy

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Oedipus Video Source

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpqVmviDEvk&feature=&p=422B4AD5E82BE89A&index=0&playnext=1

This video source provides a complete movie of Oedipus the King that aired on TV starring Michael Pennington, Claire Bloom, and John Shrapnel.

The movie is very well done in that it provides a look into how Greece might have looked at the time of Oedipus. The costumes represent the style of the time and the art work and architecture are typical of Ancient Greek. Also, the actors portraying the characters really capture the essence of Greek society. This video clip gives a lot of ideas and concepts that would be interesting to think about when planning a production of Oedipus.

"YouTube - Oedipus The King -- Part 2/12." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 30 Oct. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpqVmviDEvk&feature=&p=422B4AD5E82BE89A&index=0&playnext=1>.

Greek Society

To better understand the characters in Oedipus, you need to be familiar with the society of Ancient Greece during the time that Sophocles wrote Oedipus. This will also help actors and directors to better understand the actions of the play. Where modern day American society might think an action would be cruel, for example, in Greek society it might be considered normal.

Women in Greece:

Vase painting of Greek women and men socializing

Women had their own guardian, such as a father, brother, or husband. They could own jewelery, clothing, slaves, etc., but they could not buy anything. Although able to partake in religious ceremonies, they were not allowed to vote. Girls were married shortly after puberty in arranged marriages that were meant for financial reasons and to produce heirs. Emotions had no part in marriages in Greece. Woman's role in society was to run the chores of the house and care for the children. They were expected to remain in their homes and not roam the streets. There is some evidence suggesting some women could read and write, but it was not common among the public.

Men in Greece:

All property was owned by men in Ancient Greece. This land would in turn pass down to the oldest son when a father passed and so on. Although men were married off in arranged marriages like the women, they were often married at an older age to much younger girls. They participated in social discussions and men could vote. Even as young boys, males held power over women of any age in Greek Society.

"Women in Ancient Greece." Ancient Greece. Web. 30 Oct. 2010. <http://www.ancient-greece.us/women.html>.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Oedipus Background info

Most of the action of the Oedipus play takes place before the play begins. This information though is very important if you are to fully understand the happenings of the play. Without knowledge of the background, Sophocles message would be completely missed.

Background information:

Jocasta and Laius were the King and Queen or Thebes.
Jocasta and Laius were told by Tiresias, the blind prophet, that they would have a son that would murder his father, Laius.
Jocasta and Laius ordered their son to be left on the hillside outside the city to die in order to prevent the prophecy from happening.
Laius left Thebes and was never seen again, believed to have been murdered by robbers.
A shepherd from Corinth was given a baby that he brought to the King and Queen of Corinth who raised the child as their own. They named him Oedipus.
When Oedipus was a young man he was told by a prophet that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Frightened by this, he leaves Corinth to spare his family and to avoid this horrible fate.
On the road between Thebes and Corinth, Oedipus meets a group of traveling men that he fights and kills.
Creon, Laius' brother announced that anyone who could solve the Sphinx's riddle would be crowned King of Thebes.
Oedipus was the only man who could solve the riddle and was thus named King and married Jocasta.
Oedipus was regarded as Thebes' savior and was a truly honored King and had four children with Jocasta. Two boys and two girls, one of which was Antigone.
After some years as ruler of Thebes, the country began to go down hill. Plague was taking over Thebes and no crops were growing. The people of Thebes look to Oedipus to be their savor once again at the beginning of the play.

Burgess, Anthony. Sophocles, Oedipus The King. London: Oxford UP, 1972. Print.

Learning from Greek Vase

This Greek vase shows a representation of one of the many Greek Plays but not an actual painting of what the scene would have looked like. This is because of the appearance of women, which would have been portrayed by men on the stage. Also the serpents most likely would not have been in the actual production. However, we can gather some other elements about Greek theatre from this vase painting. Clearly this scene is portraying a sort of ritual and perhaps even a dance that might have been apart of the productions.

"Ancient Greek Pottery 2/2." Hellenica, Information about Greece and Cyprus, Michael Lahanas. Web. 30 Oct. 2010. <http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Pottery2.htm>.

Greek Theatre Sets

Theatre of Halicarnassus

According to the Costumes of the Greeks and Romans there is evidence of a few set pieces that might have been used during Greek performances. Couches covered with skins or drapery, large arm chairs with foot stools, thrones, portable chairs without arms and legs commonly made from elephant's tusks. Greek theatres also had a skene, "a three dimensional structure which formed part of the stage or set" (ORO, skene). The skene would typically be decorated to match the plays theme that was being performed and could serve as the backdrop for the performance.

Gill, By N.s. "Greek Theater - The Physical Layout of the Ancient Greek Theater." Ancient / Classical History - Ancient Greece & Rome & Classics Research Guide. Web. 30 Oct. 2010. <http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/greektheater/ss/120109GreekTheater_6.htm>.

CWU Brooks Library - Login from Off Campus. Web. 30 Oct. 2010. <http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezp.lib.cwu.edu/views/SEARCH_RESULTS.html?y=0&q=skene&x=0&ssid=752974827&scope=global&time=0.00867944483871952>.

Hope, Thomas. Costumes of the Greeks and Romans. New York: Dover Publications, 1962. Print.

General History Facts of Greek Theatre

The Chorus originally consisted of 12 members, however Sophocles added 3 more for a total of 15 members. The chorus was considered the mouth piece of the society and typically suffered along with the heroes of the play.
Tragedies were being presented to honor the God Dionysus.
All roles were performed by men.
Masks were commonly worn to distinguish characters and emotions.

Not a lot is known about Ancient Greek Theatre so a lot of information is just perceived. This makes it difficult to create a completely accurate recreation of a Greek theatre performance. The information that we do have is mainly found on vases from the time period that show scenes from various plays.