Theatre History Exam II

Why are genre distinctions like theatre, dance, and ritual not useful for Indian traditions?

Indian performances are known by specific names in their local language, each with its own history, rather than broad categories.

What is the common religious and philosophical assumption shared by Hindu performances?

Life is characterized by maya (illusion) and is part of an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

What is the Natyasastra?

A comprehensive text attributed to Bharata, covering aspects of Indian performance such as rituals, theatre spaces, and acting.

What are the four aspects of performance listed in Chapter VIII of the Natyasastra?

The body, the voice, spectacle, and sentiment.

What does the Natyasastra say about body positions?

It lists specific body positions and movements that correspond to specific emotions.

How many gestures of single and double hands are detailed in the Natyasastra?

Twenty-four gestures.

What are the components of facial expressions according to the Natyasastra?

Movements of the eyes, brows, nose, lips, cheeks, and chin that correspond to specific emotions.

What types of meter does the Natyasastra detail?

Patterns ranging from six to twenty-six syllable meters, including uneven and semi-even meters.

What dialects are mentioned in the Natyasastra for different characters?

Sanskrit for gods, heroes, sages, and Brahmins; Prakrit for women and commoners.

What are the four elements of spectacle in performance according to the Natyasastra?

Stage properties, accessories, makeup, and creatures.

What are the eight basic sentiments (rasa) identified in the Natyasastra?

Erotic, comic, pathetic, furious, heroic, terrible, odious, and marvelous.

What is the role of bhava in relation to rasa?

Bhava is the emotion expressed by the performer to stimulate rasa in the audience.

What is the significance of Śanta Rasa in Sanskrit aesthetics?

It represents tranquility and is central to the experience of liberation in Natya.

Who was Abhinavagupta and what is his contribution to the concept of Śanta Rasa?

A philosopher who developed the idea of Śanta Rasa as a central principle in Sanskrit aesthetics.

What was Tertullian's view on performances?

He condemned theatre and performances as sinful and distracting from spiritual growth.

What did Tertullian argue about the wearing of masks?

He questioned if it aligns with God's will, as it creates false representations.

Who was Plotinus and what was his philosophical stance?

A Neoplatonist whose ideas influenced Christian thought, particularly his tripartite division of the Divine.

What are the three manifestations of Divinity according to Plotinus?

The One, the Mind, and the Soul.

What does 'The One' represent in Plotinus' philosophy?

The original source of creation and ultimate Unity encompassing the universe.

How does Plotinus describe the Mind or Intellectual Principle?

As the Divine intellect that brings the universe into existence through contemplation of Divine Ideas.

What was a central concern of Early Christian Apologists?

The relationship between the physical and spiritual realms of being.

How did Orthodox Christians view the physical world compared to Gnostic Christians?

Orthodox Christians believed it mirrored spiritual perfection, while Gnostic Christians viewed it as inherently corrupt.

What is the significance of the concept of maya in Hindu performance?

It represents the illusion of life and the need for liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

What is the ultimate goal of Natya as described in the text?

To achieve total tranquility and liberation of the self through the experience of Śanta Rasa.

What does the Natyasastra say about the audience's experience during a performance?

The audience should feel appropriate rasas at different moments, with one sentiment dominating the overall experience.

What is the relationship between bhava and the eight emotions expressed by the actor?

Each bhava corresponds to an emotion that the actor conveys to evoke a rasa in the audience.

What is the soul in the context of the universe?

The activating spirit that animates the universe; individual access to Soul allows access to Mind and a vision of The One.

How is matter defined in relation to the Divine?

Matter is the Divine made physical; each object is a materialization of a Divine Idea.

What is the relationship between an imitation and its model?

An imitation springs from the same Divine Idea as its model, meaning both point to the same Divine source.

What were Tertullian's views on imitation?

Tertullian believed imitations are false copies that separate us from Divine Truth.

How did Plotinus view imitation?

Plotinus argued that imitations and models share the same sources that connect us to Divine Truth.

What role did the Church play in the revival of theatre after the fall of Rome?

The Church was seen as the institution that revived theatre, despite its opposition to it.

What is the Quem Quaeritis trope?

A trope sung during Easter mass, depicting the three women at Jesus' tomb discovering the body is gone.

What transformation did the Quem Quaeritis trope undergo in the Regularis Concordia?

It was moved from Easter Mass to Easter Nocturns and became known as Visitatio Sepulchri.

What is the significance of the Visitatio Sepulchri in theatre history?

It is considered a rebirth of theatre as it involved imitation of character and action.

What was the role of liturgical drama in the eleventh century?

Liturgical performances increased in frequency, moving from monasteries to cathedrals and giving access to the laity.

Who was Hrotsvitha von Gandersheim?

A canoness who wrote six plays focusing on the martyrdom of virgins and the redemption of fallen women.

What was the purpose of Hrotsvitha's plays?

They served as teaching tools, offering examples of good Latin and conduct for Christian women.

What does the term 'Corpus Christi' refer to?

A festival dedicated to the Body of Christ, established formally in 1311 but celebrated earlier.

What was the Fourth Lateran Council's doctrine regarding mass?

It issued the Doctrine of Transubstantiation, stating that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.

What are Late Medieval Mystery or Cycle Plays?

Plays that staged biblical events from creation to the last judgment, reflecting the fall of humanity and salvation.

What was the role of guilds in the production of cycle plays?

Guilds paid expenses, provided playing space, costumes, and actors, while Church leaders maintained doctrinal approval.

What staging methods were used in cycle plays?

Fixed stages were common, with long platforms and small stages, and scenery was changed between performances.

What is the Wakefield Cycle: The Second Shepherd's Play about?

It blends different times and spaces, embodying the incarnation of Christ, valid in all places and periods.

What was the significance of the Platea in liturgical drama?

The Platea served as the general acting area, with Mansions representing different locations within the church.

How did the Church's architecture influence liturgical drama?

Church architecture was used to represent different locales, such as the altar as a tomb and the choir loft for heaven.

What was the role of clergy and choirboys in liturgical performances?

They were the performers, using religious outfits as costumes.

What was the purpose of the Corpus Christi festival?

To celebrate the Body of Christ, both in the sacramental sense and as a term for the Christian community.

What is the relationship between the biblical cycle plays and the community of the faithful?

The plays were produced by the body of the Christian faithful, reflecting their collective identity.

What was the impact of the Church's opposition to theatre?

Despite opposition, the Church played a crucial role in the revival and transformation of theatre during the Medieval era.

What is the significance of the term 'imitation' in the context of Medieval theatre?

Imitation was seen as a way to connect with the Divine Idea, not merely as copying actions.

How did the concept of theatre evolve from the early Medieval period to the late Medieval era?

Practices became more familiar to modern concepts of theatre, raising questions about their mimetic nature.

What were the common themes in Hrotsvitha's plays?

Themes included the martyrdom of virgins and the redemption of fallen women, emphasizing moral conduct.

What was the role of the Town Council in cycle plays?

The Town Council announced the plays, assigned guilds, and held script copies for performances.