Ancient Theatre’s Cultural Mirror: Drama, Society, and Human Experience
Oedipus the King: Democracy and Accountability
Summary: Sophocles’ Oedipus the King
Oedipus, King of Thebes, seeks the cause of a plague and learns he killed King Laius—his father—and married his mother. The play explores truth, fate versus free will, and public accountability. The Chorus voices the people. Oedipus’s downfall is public, demonstrating democratic ideals.
Thesis: Greek Theatre and Athenian Democracy
Greek theatre reflected Athenian democracy by making leaders accountable (as seen
Read MoreShakespeare’s World: Globe Theatre, Elizabethan Life & King of Shadows
The Elizabethan Era (1564-1616)
The Globe Theatre: Structure and Features
The Globe Theatre was a pivotal venue for Shakespearean performances. Key parts included:
- Stage: The main performance area where actors performed.
- Pit (Yard): An area where commoners, known as “groundlings,” stood to watch the plays.
- Balcony: Seated areas for wealthier audience members.
- Tiring House: Located behind the stage, this was where actors would change costumes and rest.
- Heavens: A painted canopy above the stage that symbolized
Valle-Inclán y el Esperpento: Deformación de la Realidad en Luces de Bohemia
El Esperpento: Una Visión Deformada de la Realidad
La palabra esperpento se utilizó para referirse a una persona o cosa extravagante y fea. En este sentido, se puede encontrar en varios textos, incluso refiriéndose a una obra de teatro, en el sentido de drama teatral. Esta “obra del mal” se define por la incapacidad de los personajes de estar a la altura de su propia tragedia, lo que los lleva a situaciones tan ridículas que caen en lo grotesco. Esto expresa la visión del autor como un demiurgo
Read MoreScreenwriting Essentials: Crafting Compelling Stories & Characters
Week 1: Story Fundamentals
Designing Principle
The designing principle for a story is the story process + original execution. Good stories both hide and reveal information.
Story Movement
Basic patterns of story movement.
Premise & Logline
A story stated in one sentence, often called a logline, includes: character + plot + action event. It defines the main character, the protagonist’s goal, and the situation or obstacle.
Logline: More Than Just a Premise
A logline is a lot more than just the premise.
Read MoreLiterary Insights: Anand, Gardiner, Bacon’s Wisdom
The Parrot in the Cage: Plot & Symbolism
“The Parrot in the Cage” is a short story by Mulk Raj Anand, one of India’s most prominent writers in English. Known for his humanistic themes, Anand often explores injustice, suffering, and social realities in his works. This story is a symbolic and emotional monologue of a parrot, trapped in a cage and voicing its sorrow and longing for freedom. The story is a strong allegory for human suffering, particularly the suffering of women and those oppressed
Mercè Rodoreda and Post-War Catalan Literature
Mercè Rodoreda and the Psychological Novel
Yes, I agree, Mercè Rodoreda’s work is very representative of the psychological novel type. This tendency was the dominant narrative in the forties and fifties. It is based on the description of the intimacy of one or more characters and their reactions. The narrator tends not to speak and is supplanted by the reactions and attitudes of the characters.
The first-person narrative culminates with the technique of interior monologue, characteristic of much
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