Discuss the role of the Greeks and what we notice of their influence in drama of today?

Question

Discuss the role of the Greeks and what we notice of their influence in drama of today? 

Answer 1

The Greeks played a foundational role in shaping drama as an art form, and their influence is profoundly evident in the drama of today. Ancient Greek drama, with its themes, structures, and innovations, set the stage for the evolution of theater and storytelling in subsequent cultures and continues to resonate in contemporary dramatic works.

The Greeks established the essential elements of drama, many of which remain central to theater and storytelling today:

1. Theatrical Forms: Tragedy, Comedy, Structure and Character Archetypes.

Greek drama was deeply reflective of universal human experiences, which are still explored in contemporary theater, film, and television:

1. Fate vs. Free Will:
2. The tension between destiny and personal agency, a central theme in Greek tragedies like Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, is revisited in works like Macbeth by Shakespeare or Breaking Bad, where characters grapple with their choices and their consequences.
3. Ethical Dilemmas:
4. Questions of justice, morality, and the greater good, seen in Antigone or The Oresteia, are mirrored in contemporary dramas like To Kill a Mockingbird or legal thrillers such as A Few Good Men.
5. The Human Condition:
6. Greek dramas often examined love, power, family conflict, and hubris, themes that persist in modern dramas such as Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman or August: Osage County by Tracy Letts.
7. Catharsis:
8. Aristotle’s concept of catharsis—emotional cleansing through pity and fear—remains a cornerstone of dramatic storytelling. Films like Schindler’s List and plays like A Streetcar Named Desire aim to evoke powerful emotional responses that lead to introspection.
9. Satire and Political Commentary:
10. Aristophanes’ sharp critique of Athenian society paved the way for modern satirical dramas and comedies that address current events, politics, and societal norms, such as the works of playwrights like Tom Stoppard or filmmakers like Jordan Peele.

Greek drama’s principles extend beyond the stage and influence a wide array of modern storytelling mediums:

1. Cinema:
2. Greek dramatic structures inform the narrative arcs of films. Tragic heroes like Michael Corleone in The Godfather or Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are direct descendants of figures like Oedipus or Prometheus.
3. Television:
4. The serialized nature of Greek tragedies, with recurring themes and interconnected stories, finds a modern counterpart in episodic TV series like Game of Thrones, which also draws heavily on themes of power, fate, and familial conflict.
5. Literature:
6. Greek drama's emphasis on dialogue, conflict, and moral questions influenced the development of Western literature and continues to shape novels, poetry, and plays.
7. Classical Adaptations:
8. Greek dramas are regularly adapted for modern audiences, such as reimagined productions of Antigone addressing contemporary political issues or Euripides’ Medea exploring modern perspectives on gender and motherhood.

Answer 2

One of the biggest influences in Greek theatre is the use of a chorus to carry the storyline. We see this in today's theatre often, especially in productions such as Legally Blonde, when the chorus members narrate the story between the action segments, much like in Greek theatre.