OVERVIEW

Through the direct reading of sources, literary and otherwise, one can attempt to reconstruct the history of theatre in the ancient world, how a performance was organised, what role the chorus played, how the actors acted, what equipment was used for staging, and in general the practical aspects behind the performance of Greek and Latin dramatic works in their original performative dimension.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims at providing knowledge and skills for a reading of Greek and Latin dramatic texts aware of their original performative dimension, their performance contexts and the history of their tradition.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The learning aims are in detail:

• knowledge of the diachronic evolution of the theatrical phenomenon in the ancient world from its origins to the imperial age: buildings, performance contexts, organisation of performances, chorus, actors, masks, props and theatrical machinery, scenography, choreography, music and in general the practical aspects of staging;
• ability to apply this knowledge to the reading of Greek and Latin dramatic texts by understanding their structures and dramaturgical economy, and with awareness of the performative aspects in the context of ancient staging;
• awareness of the history of the tradition of ancient dramatic texts and its specificities with respect to texts belonging to other genres.

At the end of the class, the student will know the history of theatre in the ancient world; he/she will be able to read texts with full awareness of the dramaturgical structures and performance aspects; he/she will have understood the specificities of the textual tradition and the ancient reception of Greek and Latin plays.

PREREQUISITES

Students are supposed to be familiar with the dramatic production of the main authors of Greek and Latin theatre and with the literary aspects of it.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons will be held in presence only. Attendance, although not compulsory, is recommended.

Some lessons concerning the history of theatre and the textual tradition of dramatic texts will be face-to-face lessons, mostly based on the analysis of literary and documentary sources. The monographic part will be conducted as a workshop reading of the Pollux passage in a critical edition with direct involvement of the students.

Students will be asked to give a short presentation in the classroom with an analysis of a source as an in itinere test. This test is not subject to assessment and does not count towards the exam grade.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Contexts and organisational aspects of theatrical performances from classical Athens to Rome: buildings and occasions, actors, chorus, audience, masks and costumes, theatrical machines and props, music and dance. Greek and Latin dramatic texts, with a focus on dramaturgical economy and performance aspects, as well as the history of their tradition.

Workshop reading of Pollux, Onomasticon 4.99-154.

Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the teacher for further bibliography (serena.perrone@unige.it).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• E. Csapo, W.J. Slater, The Context of Ancient Drama, Ann Arbor 2002 

Or both

• Storia del teatro greco, a cura di M. Di Marco, Roma 2020 (escluso cap. 17) 

and

• Storia del teatro latino, a cura di G. Petrone, Roma 2020 (escluso cap. 13). 

For the monographic part:

Pollucis Onomasticon. Fasc. prior: lib. I-IV continens, ed. E. Bethe, Lipsiae 1900 (downloadable at archive.org).

Other materials will be made available via Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SERENA PERRONE (President)

LARA PAGANI

ALICE BONANDINI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

15 February 2023

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral interview to assess the knowledge about the history of ancient theatre and the textual tradition of Greek and Latin dramatic texts, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge to the direct reading of the sources.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam consists of an interview during which, in addition to general questions, the student is offered the texts of some sources to be analysed and framed in the context of the history of ancient theatre and the textual tradition of Greek and Latin dramatic texts.

As a basic threshold, the student is required to know the history of Greek and Latin theatre and the main specificities of the textual tradition of dramatic texts, and to be able to translate and analyse the text that is the subject of the monographic part. To reach a threshold of excellence, the skill to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of sources is required, demonstrating the ability to frame them correctly and grasp their contribution to our knowledge of theatre in the ancient world. Clarity and propriety of language will also influence the assessment.

Exam schedule