Quiz 1

Question 1

Why take a theater class?

Answer 1

• Performance and Oratory: public speaking and story telling
• History: better to understand a civilization through knowledge of their entertainment
• Technical trade skills: Electronics, textiles, carpentry, sound engine, plumbing, etc.
• Socialization and Community building: not a passive art; multi-functional and multicultural

Question 2

Why continue a theater when there is TV and cinema?

Answer 2

• Tradition: practicing forms of theater for 3000+ years
• Not exclusive: participants and viewers (viewers can become the participants)
• Not safe: no screen to separate you from the action
• Connection to the audience: you care more during a live performance

Question 3

What does theater rely on?

Answer 3

Empathy

Question 4

Theater is entertainment, but also…

Answer 4

• Used to demonstrate: social issues, injustices, taboo, who we are (good and bad)
• Used to inform us (Tragedy): Tragos-Oide
• Used to propel and inspire us
• Used to escape

Question 5

Tragos Oide

Answer 5

Goat Song - sacrificial stories so that people can become better

Question 6

How to succeed in theater

Answer 6

• Lower your defenses
• Be present
• Have an open mind
• Always challenge yourself to go beyond what is asked

Question 7

The core of theatrical analysis

Answer 7

• What did you like?
• What did you dislike?
• Why? (justification)

Question 8

Justification

Answer 8

The reason behind thought and action

Question 9

Objectivity

Answer 9

Observations made based on empirical data (facts)

Question 10

Subjectivity

Answer 10

Observation based on personal experience, emotion, and opinion

Question 11

What is the criteria for your analysis?

Answer 11

• Bias
• Theater experience (first time?)
• Perspective (audience, actor, writer, director, technician, etc.)
• Expectations

Question 12

Who was Aristotle?

Answer 12

Author, philosopher, and biologist

Question 13

When was Poetics written?

Answer 13

330 B.C.

Question 14

Why did he write Poetics?

Answer 14

To outline the structure of a story

Question 15

Aristotle’s ancient analysis

Answer 15

1. Plot
2. Character
3. Thought
4. Diction
5. Song
6. Spectacle

Question 16

Maxim

Answer 16

True general thought

Question 17

Aristotle’s analysis for 161

Answer 17

1. Character
2. Plot
3. Language (thought and diction)
4. Music
5. Spectacle

Question 18

What are characters driven by?

Answer 18

Their wants and needs

Question 19

What will propel them to action (plot)?

Answer 19

Their desires