Old comedy Flashcards
why is a phallus appropriate for comedy
Dionysus was the god of fertility and life, which a phallus represented.
where did comedy emerge from
the worship of Dionysus
when was the first comedy performed at the City Dionysia
486BC
who is the main comedic writer in the 5th century
Aristophanes
features of old comedy
- highly political
- chorus had a bigger part
When was Aristophanes alive
450-386BC
How many plays did he write and how many survived
he wrote 40 and 11 survived
how many leading actors were there allowed to be on stage in comedy
4
how large was the chorus in comedy compared to one in tragedy
24 in comedy compared to 15 in tragedy
how were choruses sometimes used
they might be divided into two half’s each taking opposing sides of an argument
what is the Parabasis
where the chorus directly address the audience
features of comic costumes (4)
- lots of padding
- short tunic
- tights
- large leather phallus
features of comic masks (2)
- ridiculously large mouths
- exaggerated mouths
Aristophanes great ideas
old comedy depends not on a complicated plot of intrigue or a subtle interaction between characters, but on the working out od a great idea, the more bizarre the better
who/what did Aristophanes often mock in his comedies
public figures or contemporary issues
