CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
Study guide for exam 2
In addition to your class notes and this guide, read the assigned chapters, review the information
provided on the textbook website www.mhhe.com/theaterexprience , and take the practice quizzes.
While I will not test you on the plays or playwrights in the chapter, you are expected to use the
vocabulary and apply the knowledge gained in these chapters to actual productions as well as to plays
you will read later in the semester. Information provided in those sections may assist you in
understanding and applying this information – I encourage you to read ALL of the chapter assignment.
Story vs. Plot
Story – what happens, the events of the story related in chronological order
Plot – structural elements of the play, includes selective arrangement of scenes taken from the story for
presentation on stage
Cause and effect relationships of events define the action of the plot. These include:
 story movement - how it moves from one moment to another
 conflict development - how conflicts are structured - dynamic and enabling events
 resolution /denouement - how the experience finally comes to an end
Structural conventions of plays - similar to those in games
Limited time
Limited space
Strongly opposed forces - Balanced forces
Incentive/motivation (why?)
Beginning: opening scene
Middle: obstacles & complications
End: crisis, climax, & denouement
Conflict – drama MUST have conflicts or tension
crucible – test of human worth and endurance
Types of conflict found in drama: emotional, physical, intellectual
People and characters, as imitations of people, are often defined and judged by how they respond or react to
challenges/crisis: emotional, physical, intellectual
Subject, focus & emphasis
People and human concerns
How to interpret characters – emphasis a particular trait or condition
Order of events may be altered to suit artistic purposes
A. FUNCTION OF THE PLAYWRIGHT
1. develop subject of play
2. determine focus and emphasis
3. establish purpose
4. establish point of view
5. develop dramatic structure
6. create dramatic characters
7. playwright then dramatizes the story - transforming it into action and dialogue
Susan Brown-Strauss
Page 1
2/17/2016
CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
B. SUBJECT - specific aspect of human beings and/or their concerns to be addresses
1. historical incident or event
2. biography
3. some aspect of author's personal life
4. imaginary story
C. FOCUS AND EMPHASIS
1. who and what to focus on
2. how to interpret characters or story
Purpose & point of view
While we resist people telling us how to look at things in politics and advertising, art is important because
it shows us a way to view our world that may be from a different vantage point than our own. It allows us
to see ourselves, and our world in a different way.
A. PURPOSE
1. Entertainment
2. Personal experiences, wishes, dreams
3. Vehicle for a message or ideology
a. expose truths about social injustice
b. political statements about people, economies and political systems
c. raise moral and philosophical questions
B. VIEWPOINT
1. What is Point of View? The way we look at things. It tells us how to interpret words and actions of
characters on stage; provides key to understanding the play.
a. subjective or objective
b. optimistic or pessimistic
2. The Dramatist's point of View - selective & subjective
a. relative seriousness - grave, heroic, or humorous
b. object of pity or of ridicule
3. Society's Point of View
4. Viewpoint and Genre - group of plays that share a particular point of view
a. Viewpoint as a collaborative effort
b. A cautionary word about genre – use these only as guidelines
TRAGEDY AND OTHER SERIOUS DRAMA
TRAGEDY is one of the first of the great dramatic forms in Western drama. It deals with the subject of human
fallibility and asks the most basic questions about human existence.
People are at the same time vulnerable, but invincible, capable of abject defeat, and transcendent greatness.
" Tragic heroes, in an exercise of free will, pit themselves against forces represented by other characters,
by their own inner drives, or by their physical environment. We witness their suffering, their inevitable
defeat, and, sometimes, their personal triumph in the face of defeat. The trials of the hero give meaning
to the pain and paradox of our humanity."
Susan Brown-Strauss
Page 2
2/17/2016
CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
A. CLASSICAL TRAGEDY- Traditional Classical Greek Drama
typical subjects Deals with the subject of human fallibility and asks the most basic questions about human
existence: Why do men and women suffer? Why is there violence and injustice? Why are
people sometimes so cruel to one another? Why do bad things happen to good people?
How much can you endure? In the midst of cruelty and despair, what are the possibilities of
human achievement? To what heights of courage, strength, generosity, and integrity can
human beings rise? How far can they sink? What is the meaning of our lives?
character types Tragic heroes and heroines
 Kings, Queens, individuals in a position of power
 serve as prototypes who set examples for the rest of us
Limited supporting cast
 chorus, nurse, messenger, etc.
language
Verse dialogue - monologue format
stage
Male actors wearing tragic masks
conventions
Exaggerated voices and gestures
Daylight performances
characteristics




1.
2.
3.
4.
viewpoint
Tragic circumstances – the universe/nature traps the hero or heroine
Tragic irretrievability – there is no honorable means of escape - they must go
forward to meet their fate
Acceptance -- the tragic hero always accepts the consequences of his or her actions,
he or she is willing to die for their beliefs, to die to maintain personal dignity or honor
Tragic realization/recognition
world order and external laws exist and people can learn from suffering. The world is
a dangerous and hostile place.
sometimes the innocent appear to suffer and evil prevails
human acts and suffering in an indifferent, capricious, or mechanical universe are
futile, but at the same time the hero's protests against the nature of existence are to be
celebrated.
People are capable of great evil. People are also capable of greatness, in spite of
overwhelming odds and risk of tremendous personal suffering,
Serious; simultaneously both optimistic and pessimistic;
Audiences are stirred by legendary themes, heroic characters, and head-on confrontations
B. MODERN TRAGEDY
typical subjects Asks essentially the same questions as traditional tragedy. It often looks at the individual as a
victim of society, and the dehumanization of industrialization, technology, computers etc.
character types Ordinary men and women
language
stage
conventions
characteristics
viewpoint
Susan Brown-Strauss
Prose rather than poetry
subtext and non-verbal elements used to enhance meaning of tragedy
cumulative effect of events stressed
Serious; simultaneously both optimistic and pessimistic
Page 3
2/17/2016
CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
C. HEROIC DRAMA - Serious drama featuring heroic or noble characters that includes other characteristics of
traditional tragedy. The major difference is the resolution.
typical subjects
character types
Heroic or noble men and women
Language
Verse
stage conventions
characteristics
Extreme situations
Ending
 happy ending
 optomistic world view even when ending is sad and hero or heroine dies –
o the hero “dies happy” having achieved his goal or dream
Serious overall, but there may be humorous scenes interspersed to beak the tension
viewpoint
D. BOURGEOIS OR DOMESTIC DRAMA - Deals with people of the middle class or lower class in domestic
situations - home and family rather than affairs of state
typical subjects
Problems of society, struggles in a family, dashed hopes, and
renewed determination are frequent subjects of domestic drama.
character types
Ordinary men and women
“Hero” may be an entire group rather than an individual
Language
Prose rather than poetry
stage conventions
characteristics
Serious overall, but there may be humorous scenes interspersed to beak the tension
viewpoint
E. MELODRAMA - Literally "music drama" or "song drama". Exaggerated actions and characters. Strives for
fright or horror - speaks to the paranoia in all of us: fear of someone pursuing us, disaster is eminent;
someone is ganging up on us.
typical subjects horror, suspense, detective stories, science fiction, westerns, soap operas, sometimes the
playwright presents a political or moral issue
character types clearly recognizable as good or bad
language
prose rather than poetry
stage
music frequently underscores moments of danger or emotion
conventions
emphasis is on effects, results rather than reality or logic
characteristics
audience is drawn into the action
issues are clear-cut - there is a strong delineation of right and wrong
action is exaggerated - main characters always on the edge of danger
strong emphasis on suspense, danger, close encounters with disaster, and excitement
Ending
 bad guys win – victims are maimed, murdered
 good guys win – or are rescued, but only after series of dangerous, life threatening
adventurers
Susan Brown-Strauss
Page 4
2/17/2016
CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
Clear cut – good versus evil
viewpoint
COMEDY AND TRAGICOMEDY represent two other approaches to dramatic material - aside from the
basically serious point of view. Comedy looks at the world with a smile, a deep laugh, or an arched eyebrow,
while tragicomedy represents a mixed point of view - a synthesis of equal measures of the comic and serious.
COMEDY = PAIN
Comedy looks at society and it’s rules, and sees the humor and incongruity of people and situations. It suspends
natural laws, reveals the follies and excesses of human behavior, and revels in a sense of the ridiculousness of
life.
COMEDY IS PAIN
A. Characteristics of Comedy
1. suspension of natural laws
2. contrast between the social
order and the individual
3. comic premise that turns the
accepted notion of things
upside down
B. Techniques of Comedy
1. verbal humor
 malapropism, pun, epigram,
 irony, satire
2. physical humor
 slapstick, horseplay, pratfall,
 mock violence
3. comedy of character
4. plot complications
C. Forms of Comedy
1. farce
2. burlesque
3. satire
4. domestic comedy
5. comedy of manners
6. comedy of ideas
7. comedy of character
8. comedy of situation
A. FARCE
typical subjects
Character types
Language
stage conventions
characteristics
Viewpoint
Purpose
Marriage, sex , medicine , law, business, religion etc.
Outrageous stereotypical characters,
Exaggeration
Extreme plot complications & ridiculous situations
Broad physical humor
 mock violence
 pratfalls
 horseplay
Verbal wit plays a lesser role than in more intellectual forms of comedy such as satire
What does farce say about the playwright’s view of society?
Aims to entertain, to make you laugh
Review your class notes and the assigned readings. Establish a checklist or chart similar to the one on
farce above to assist in your study of the various forms of comedy.
B. BURLESQUE
C. SATIRE
D. DOMESTIC COMEDY
Susan Brown-Strauss
F. COMEDY OF MANNERS
G. COMEDY OF IDEAS
H. COMEDY OF CHARACTER
Page 5
2/17/2016
CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
E. SITUATION COMEDY
II.
I. ROMANTIC COMEDY
TRAGICOMEDY
A. What is tragicomedy?
B. What makes it different from tragedy and comedy?
The text describes two basic comic situations: an eccentric person in a normal society, or a normal person in a
ridiculous society. Does either category seem to be prevalent in contemporary comedies? What does this say
about our society?
M USICAL
M
THEATRE
OPERA
OPERETTA
MUSICAL COMEDY
MUSICAL/MUSICAL THEATRE
MUSICAL REVUE
CONCEPT/THEMATIC MUSICAL
NEW TRENDS IN THEATER
Diversity & PERFORMANCE ART
Susan Brown-Strauss
Page 6
2/17/2016
CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
Additional student prepared study guides for this unit: My notes are in blue.
BURLESQUE – similar to farce but tends to be lower humor – more physical-more vulgar
typical
subjects
Character
types
Language
stage
conventions
characteristics
Viewpoint
Purpose
Historically – imitated & made fun of other plays or genres
In US also a variety show with low comedy skits & beautiful women
Outrageous stereotypical characters,
Colorful sometimes vulgar language
Gross Exaggerations
Ludicrous, ridiculous imitations
Extreme plot complications & ridiculous situations
Broad physical humor
 mock violence
 pratfalls
 horseplay
Physical humor much more important than verbal wit
Aims to entertain, to make you laugh
SATIRE – intellectual
Darius, Nick, Carlton
typical subjects
Character types
Language
stage conventions
characteristics
Viewpoint
Purpose
Government, high ranking figures, religious, political, and social systems etc.
Outrageous
Intellectual, witty language
Exaggeration
 wit
 irony, satire
Sees society as being wrong or corrupt
Expose evil and foolishness through humor –educate or inform
COMEDY OF MANNERS – intellectual
Adam, Matt, Charlie
typical subjects
Character types
Language
stage conventions
characteristics
Viewpoint
Purpose
Susan Brown-Strauss
Established institutions, upper classes – pompous people in sophisticated social settings
Cultured, pretentious, charming people
Intellectual, witty language
Exaggeration
 wit
 irony, satire, puns, malaprops, epigrams
Sees upper classes of society and some of society’s rules as pretentious or ridiculous
Laughter, makes fun of higher institutions, society, and people in power
Page 7
2/17/2016
CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
COMEDY OF IDEAS – intellectual
Jessica G, Joey
typical subjects
Marriage, sex , medicine, law, business, religion, politics, war, death, life etc
The individual, societies, and government
Character types
Real people, non-fictional and fictional, animals as people
Language
Intellectual, witty language
stage conventions Exaggeration
characteristics
 sarcasm
 criticism
 irony
 satire
Viewpoint
Uses comic techniques to provide platform for controversial moral or social issues
Entertain, educate or inform
Purpose
COMEDY OF CHARACTER – commonly seen as a part of other forms of comedy rather than as
separate (commedia dell’arte heavily relies on comedy of characters)
Jessica H, Kristy,
typical subjects
People who need to change their identity: Con artists, criminals, run-aways, and
impersonators.
Characters who see themselves, or pretend to be, something other than they are
Character types
Sneaky, smart, witty, believable
Stock characters, stereotypical characters, characters with dominant traits
Language
Intellectual, witty language, can also be colorful depending on circumstances
stage conventions Exaggeration
characteristics
 irony
 satire
 some physical humor may also be present
 characters take extreme positions
 characters contradict themselves
 characters make fools of themselves
 individual is blind to how ridiculous her/she appears until the end
Often subjective
Viewpoint
Entertain and make us take another look at how people behave
Purpose
–how we may look to others
Susan Brown-Strauss
Page 8
2/17/2016
CMTA 104 LECTURE NOTES
Subject, Focus, Purpose, Point of View, Genre: Serious forms of drama, Humorous forms, Musical Theatre
DOMESTIC COMEDY - comic equivalent of domestic or bourgeois drama
Patrick, Kyle, Elysa, Joe B
typical subjects
Character types
Language
stage conventions
characteristics
Viewpoint
Purpose
Home and family, situations and relationships
Real, ordinary people, family members, friends, or neighbors
Situation comedy – members of a family or neighborhood caught in series of
complicated/amusing situations
 Relates to real life- school, family, friends
 Situations - kids/teens vs parents
Optimistic, reinforces ideas of continuance of society, family and social structure endure
- no matter what happens
Entertain, make you laugh
SITUATION COMEDY - strongly related to domestic comedy
Tyler, Christina
typical subjects
Everyday situations that occur in day-to-day life: home, family, work etc.
Character types
Normal, ordinary people
Language
stage conventions Realism
characteristics
 Light
 Humorous
 Happy ending
Shows that nobody’s life is perfect
Viewpoint
Optimistic, reinforces ideas of continuance of society, family and social structure endure
- no matter what happens
Entertain, make you laugh
Purpose
ROMANTIC COMEDY - similar to domestic comedy, a form of situation comedy focused specifically on
situations dealing with romance
Julie, Jennifer Lance
typical subjects
Character types
Language
stage conventions
characteristics
Viewpoint
Purpose
Susan Brown-Strauss
Break-ups, marriage, dating, engagements, etc
Frequently ordinary people: couples, lovers, families, outsiders
Ordinary or everyday language, may be colorful or family oriented
Awkward or embarrassing situations and different locations
Situations are easy for audience to follow and relate to
 Couples
 Love scenes
 Laughter
Optimistic, reinforces ideas of continuance of family and social structure - no matter
what happens
Entertain, make you laugh
Page 9
2/17/2016