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Spectacle & Performance(Focus & Emotion): 

Spectacle & Performance (Focus & Emotion) ~ Week 4 ~ Experiential Studies MMR 2043

Lecture Overview: 

Lecture Overview What is Spectacle? What is Performance? A Short History and Background How they relate to Experience Screenings & discussion

What is Spectacle ?: 

What is Spectacle ?

Spectacle: 

Spectacle spectacle refers to an event that is memorable for the appearance it creates. Also been a term of art in theatre dating from the 17th century in English drama. Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show; a pageant; a gazingstock. Spectacle" operates in two contexts simultaneously. On the one hand, it refers to high culture (drama, movies) performances where the draw for an audience is the impressive visual accomplishment. On the other hand, it refers to low cultural shows operating in a folk environment. These can range from the freak shows to folk drama to tablieau etc.

Low and High Culture: 

Low and High Culture 17th century in England, popular spectacles of the playhouse would be adapted into spectacles for the fair. 18th century fair shows and pantomimes would be adapted to the playhouse stage. 19th century, theaters moved farther from folk cultural spectacles and began to develop stand-alone seasonal plays that were centered on a spectacular piece. 20th century, with the invention of movie theaters, folk festivals and the theaters were soon unable to replicate the spectaculars of films.

The Masque and Spectacle: 

The Masque and Spectacle Court masques and masques of the nobility were most popular in the Jacobean and Caroline eras. Such masques, as their name implies, relied heavily upon a non-verbal theater. The character lists for masques would be quite small, in keeping with the ability of a small family of patrons to act, but the costumes and theatrical effects would be extensive and very lavish.

The Hollywood Spectacular: 

The Hollywood Spectacular When the zoetrope and nickelodeon technology first appeared, the earliest films were spectacles. Thomas Edison advertised his productions as things that people had never seen before. The actual Eiffel Tower, actual American Indians in a simulated attack, and even beauty queens were subjects and reasons for film. Louis Lumiere's film of a train pulling into a station in 1895 was a sensation because it gave an object of spectacle that audiences would never have experienced otherwise (for the camera was in front of the train, and the train appeared to be coming directly at the viewer).

The Other Arts: 

The Other Arts They can be grouped into performance arts such as theatre, TV, film, dance, etc. We don’t have time to look at all these, so we will focus on the major performance arts, which are—at least in North America most probably the art form that has the largest audience.

What is Performance ?: 

What is Performance ? performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which one group of people (the performer or performers) behave in a particular way for another group of people (the audience). Sometimes the dividing line between performer and the audience may become blurred, as in the example of "participatory theatre" where audience members might get involved in the production.

Performance genre: 

Performance genre musical genres: concert, opera, operetta theatrical genres Plays, opera, operetta, ballet and other types of dance, musical theater other genres: circus acts performance art Busking

Classical Theatre: 

Classical Theatre A profound part of the social and cultural fabric of ancient society Enhanced social cohesiveness A time for partying Dionysian Considered cathartic

Dionysian Party Time: 

Dionysian Party Time

Classical Theatre: 

Classical Theatre Evolved rapidly in terms of focus & function The Big Three and their themes Aeschylus: religious Sophocles: moral Euripides: psychological Sophocles

Medieval Theatre: 

Medieval Theatre Morality plays Example: Everyman Theatre as medium for delivery of moral message Miracle plays Example: The Passion Theatre as medium for delivery of religious tradition

Elizabethan Theatre: 

Elizabethan Theatre Theatre becomes popular mixture of the… Didactic Humorous Secular Something for everyone! The illiterate The literate The sophisticated.

Elizabethan Theatre: 

Elizabethan Theatre The grand mystery of Shakespeare Profound psychological insight. Arousal theory and counterpoint of humour with serious content. Example of both entertainment and serious content.

Modern Theatre: 

Modern Theatre Broadway Art as entertainment. Art as reassurance. Art as spectacle. Art for the well-to-do! Off-Broadway Drama as serious business. Drama as political. E.g., Brecht and his theory of alienation Drama as social commentary. E.g., Hair Drama as a disturbing psychological probing. E.g., Pinter, Albee

Film: Beginnings: 

Film: Beginnings Original nature of film Novelty item New art medium Original response to movies Superficial amusement Confusion of reality with film As in children As simulated in Imax productions

Film: Similarities/Dissimilarities: 

Film: Similarities/Dissimilarities How like and unlike… The novel The concert Live theatre Reasons for popularity? Open question! Again the schism Hollywood extension of Broadway ‘Art’ films an extension of Off-Broadway

Broadcast Media: Radio: 

Broadcast Media: Radio History Broadcast Radio began in the 20’s. The Golden Age was from 1935 to 1950 2 of 3 homes had radio Radio was the "central medium" of… Depression America Wartime America Played the same role TV came to play Dramas News Concerts Situation comedies Etc. But in 1950 TV invades!

Aesthetic Experience: 

Aesthetic Experience War of The Worlds The original 1938 Radio Broadcast ….when listeners took radio seriously!

Broadcast Media: Radio: 

Broadcast Media: Radio Current role: Background, ambience, mood alteration. Informational. Occasionally full-attention artistic medium, But rarely same role TV now plays. Aesthetic effects of exclusion of visual sense: Increased involvement of imagination. Has great unused potential as mass media literary venue.

Broadcast Media: TV: 

Broadcast Media: TV Current role: Background, ambience, mood alteration. Informational. Couch potato pacifier. Changing drastically with cable and satellite. Effects of engagement of visual and auditory senses: Increased passivity? Still has great unused potential as a mass media and relatively inexpensive artistic venue.

Dance: 

Dance Definition: The transformation of ordinary functional and expressive movement into Extraordinary movement.

Dance: Functions: 

Dance: Functions Expression of emotion Communication (symbolic) Catharsis Altering consciousness Courting (even in other species) Social unification

Dance: Major Event Types: 

Dance: Major Event Types Some major formal types Ritual and religious Ballet Modern Some major social forms Special events (weddings, etc.) Social (clubs, etc.)

The End: 

The End