CLAS 312 - Athenian Drama In/Out of Context

Who was there (Athens, Greece) in the first audience (Theater of Dionysos, 429 BCE) to watch Oedipus slowly realize his most grievous error? What did that look like? What did it sound like? In what social and political climate did Lysistrata organize her neighbors for a war-ending sex strike? Who performed the central role? Who danced and sang in the chorus? What did these performances mean to the community? This seminar considers the social context of the Great (or City) Dionysia, the festival during which Athenian tragedy and comedy were originally performed. As such we will combine a close reading of ancient scripts with the interpretation of archaeological, ritual, and historical evidence. We will also consider the phenomenon of modern adaptations of these plays. What do these texts and performances preserve? What is lost and gained as these ancient texts move further out of context?

Credit(s): 3
Course Attribute(s):

This course fulfills the Intercultural Interconnecting Perspectives of the Dialogues.
This is a writing-enhanced course.