Introduction to Theater and Performance Art

Flashcards covering introductory theater concepts, genres of art, performance classifications, and facts about The Public Theater from the lecture transcript.

How long was theater the only form of dramatic art in existence in Europe, Asia, and later The Americas?

For more than two thousand years.

How is dramatic art defined in Chapter 1?

A story that is being shared with an audience.

What are the two core basic elements of theater?

A performer and an audience.

What are the two distinct meanings of the word "theater"?

It refers to both the actual physical place and the live dramatic art/performance.

What is one major difference between theater and film?

Theater is primarily performed live and cannot be prerecorded or edited.

What is literary art?

Art that you read, such as poetry and novels.

What is visual art?

Art that you experience first with your eyes, such as painting and sculpture.

What is aural art?

Art that is meant to be listened to first, such as music or slam poetry.

What is performance art?

Live art that requires an audience, where the audience's reactions actively affect the live performance.

What are personal performances?

Everyday choices and social presentations made in daily life, such as clothing choices or changing speech when talking to friends versus a professor.

What are community performances?

Performances made to benefit a whole group with common beliefs.

What is the difference between sacred and secular community performances?

Sacred performances relate to religion (e.g., an Easter service), while secular performances are community-based without a religious focus (e.g., a football game).

What are two examples of personal sacred performances mentioned in the lecture?

Communion and confession.

What is a ritual in the context of performance?

A repeated performance that follows a specific, standardized sequence or ceremony to reinforce a story or routine.

What is mimesis?

The act of imitating a character or an action, such as playing pretend or mimicking social cues to fit in.

What is "fluff" in theater?

A genre of theater created purely for entertainment that is not meant to teach or provoke deep thought.

How were plays used as a tool for uprising during the French Revolution?

Peasants put on plays making fun of the aristocracy and directly pointing out political leaders they disagreed with.

What famous Broadway musical ran at The Public Theater during its development phase?

Hamilton.

Who founded The Public Theater, and when?

Joe Papp in the 1960s.

Why did Joe Papp establish The Public Theater in Central Park?

He felt Broadway was elitist and expensive, so he created a theater representative of real New Yorkers and allowed the public to attend for free.

Who is interviewed regarding The Public Theater's mission in the mentioned video clip?

Oscar Eutis.