Theatre Arts 234GT - Greek Tragedy and Film

This course examines the evolution of tragedy in classical Athens from choral performance to sophisticated drama through the contributions of the three most important tragedians: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Attention is given both to the political context in which the plays were performed and to the dramatic effects employed by the playwrights that made the stage an influential medium of powerful artistry. Students will also study the influence of ancient tragedy on film by examining dramatic strategies modern directors employ and the allusions to Greek tragedy found in some innovative films by Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, Jules Dassin, Michael Cacoyannis, and others.