Melodrama (19th Century Europe 2)

Melodrama is, "a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions"(Oxford Reference). It was popular in Europe in the early 19th century. This genre of theatre had vocal, physical, and musical underscoring the emotion of each piece. Melodrama is intense and violent. The entire stage is used in this style of acting and the actors sit and interact on the set instead of acting around it. Also the costumes are authentic. An example of this would be Dibdin Pitt's "Sweeney Todd".


References: in-class notes, Youtube, and Oxford Reference

Victor Hugo (19th Century Europe 1)

Victor Hugo

"While the upper half of his face appeared pure and chaste, his lips and mouth were cruelly sensual. And the old demigod was an insatiable satyr, making love relentlessly day after day to thousands of actresses, society ladies, and chamber maids"(Course Documents, 207). These two sentences describe Victor Hugo and would make Hugh Hefner proud. These same two sentences are what made me decide to blog about him. Victor Hugo was a French Romanticist writer. He is best known for the novel, and what would later become my favorite musical, "Les Miserables". He was also well-known for his essay, "Preface to Cromwell" which went against neo-classical rules. Romantics believe that art alone will save the world.

Reference: Oxford Reference, Course Document, and in-class notes

The Cloud With Silver Lining (America 2)

James Hewlett at the African Grove
Slavery, Black-Face, and Minstrel troupes are only a handful of negative outcomes of racism during America in the 19th Century. At this time African Americans were not given a voice but were spoken for by ignorant and racist white men, such as Thomas D Rice (creator of Jim Crow) and Stephen Foster (composer of Minstrel and Black-Face music) who commercialized racially demeaning stereotypes.
Through all of the hardships that African Americans faced however, came the beginning of change. "In 1821 the first known company of African American actors in the United States was assembled in New York by William Henry Brown, who presented occasional theatrical performances at the African Grove, an outdoor tea garden, and later at an indoor theatre"(Brockett, 311). I consider this to be an important beginning to a turning point in America's history because for the first time African Americans were able to speak through their art. They formed a cultural movement which would soon lead to slavery becoming abolished on December 18, 1865 when the 13th Amendment was created.

Reference: PBS, Brockett, History.com

The Inevitable Riot at Astor Place (North America 1)

The horror of Macbeth!

The 1849 Astor Place Riot, was it simply caused by Edwin Forrest's raging hatred for William Macready, or was it perhaps caused by bad juju? I believe it was due to witchery, for you see the Astor Place Riot occurred during a showing of "Macbeth". How else would you explain such a tragedy as this? Obviously they were cursed. Because of Macbeth's Astor Place Riot, 22 people were killed, about 36 more were injured, and William Macready strangely quote-un-quote "retired" two years later after being as Brockett said "marred". As for Edwin Forrest, nothing to my knowledge happened to him when he performed "Macbeth" on the same night at the Bowery theatre, but my guess is that Forrest removed the curse from his play. Forrest was sly, and my guess was that he ran out of the theatre, spun around three times, spit on the ground, and shouted out the most fowl word he knew, thus lifting the weight from his shoulders.


The Link Below is a video of the history behind "The Scottish Play"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LKMktAN4hc

Reference: Youtube, The Science Channel, Brockett, and Oxford Reference.

Commedia Dell'Arte (Italy Blog 2)

Commedia dell’arte was Italian comical improvisation where the actors wore masks. This performance was mainly presented in the streets. They were filled with crude sexual humor. The Troupes consisted of 12 to 15 members. Commedia dell’arte was a great way to show an actor’s talent. The performance was public viewed.
A Video that portrays what Commedia Dell'Arte might have looked like.

Reference: "The Concise Oxford Reference to The Theatre", Brockett, and You Tube.

Niccolò Machiavelli (Italy Blog 1)

Niccolo Machiavelli is best known for being a political philosopher but was also a playwright. He wrote pieces, such as, “The Prince”, which was written in 1513 and published in 1532. Machiavelli wrote “The Prince” to teach the importance of history and the political behavior of the Greeks and Romans. He also clearly added, “that rulers could maintain their power only by resorting to immoral tactics and strategies” (Magstadt, 109).

Reference: You Tube and Magstadt

This video captures an intriguing insight from the time of Machiavelli and how his time has effected modern America.

The Price of War (France Blog 2)

With France having had eight civil wars, one can ask themselves how France had the time to partake in the Neo-Classical arts. Mortifyingly enough, the arts perhaps is what was being fought about, and rightfully so. The wars had mainly to do with the Monarchy versus the Church; the Protestants versus the Catholics and who would rule. It probably didn’t help either that both the Monarchy and the church were spending the country’s money on miraculous art (ie: lavish castles, churches, visual art, performing art, clothing, etc) instead of using the money to aid the people. To the left is Versailles, which is filled with breath-taking art, chandeliers, and a space where several theatrical performances were held.

References: The Oxford Companion to Western Art

Où Sont Les Femmes De France? (France Blog 1)

Where were the French women during the Neo-Classical period? Women have been performing, since 100 C.E. in India, and in China since the eighth century. So why did it take so long for women in France to make a name for themselves? Possibly because France is a newer country compared to others. After all China was a unified nation before France and eventually did not allow women to perform in Beijing during the 1770s. So we can see how countries that originated as pro-feminism, later conformed to average ideals. Having said this, Italy was progressing faster than it’s neighboring country, France. However there were women in France who influenced the arts, but they were born in Italy. Marie de’ Medici had great power when her son, Louis XIII became king at age nine and Queen Catherine dé Medici of France (1560-1574) who greatly enjoyed the festivals. So how did French women originally break through the Neo-Classical period? French women, such as Comtesse de La Fayette (1634-1693), expressed themselves during the Neo-Classical period through writing.

Reference: The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History

Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Lope de Vega Carpio was a play writer that the people adored. He wrote about 1,500 3-act plays. He was a Modern.

O NAVIS

by: Lope de Vega (1562-1635)

OOR bark of Life, upon the billows hoarse

Assailed by storms of envy and deceit,

Across what cruel seas in passage fleet

My and sword alone direct thy course!

My pen is dull; my sword of little force;

Thy side lies open to the wild waves' beat

As out from Favor's harbors we retreat,

Pursued by hopes deceived and vain remorse.

Let heaven by star to guide thee! here below

How vain the joys that foolish hearts desire!

Here friendship dies and enmity keeps true;

Here happy days have left thee long ago!

But seek not port, brave thou the tempest's ire;

Until the end thy fated course pursue!

Don Quixote (Early Modern Germany & Spain #1)

http://www.google.com/archivesearch?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=Don+Quixote&um=1&ie=UTF-8&scoring=t&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&resnum=11&ct=image

Don Quixote is about a man who becomes obsessed with books about adventure and finding a little bit of his own. Everyone believes him to be crazy because he throws himself into a fantasy world and effects those around him. It is said to be one of the greatest novels of its time.

Theatrical Chaos! (Early Modern England #2)

Putting a play together is no easy task. the men involved seem to face every element imaginable and yet they still are able to produce entertainment for the masses. With the rise of the plague, many performances were canceled. For the performances that did continue, were constantly changing and being re-written. Many of the actors were given vague scripts. On top of everything, the performances were filtered out to prevent disagreement with the Queen.

To Have, Or Not To Have Women In The Theatre, That Is The Question (Early Modern England #1)

As a man, in early modern England, it may seem foolish to allow one's wife to visit the theatre unattended. However, as the owner of such an establishment, it would be absurd not to. It is utterly impossible to prevent women from these social events, for they are the source that brings in the money.

Women Bring Money To the Theatre By:

1. seeing their friends - bringing other women
Samuel Rowlands' idea of a perfect wife is one that does not partake in, "- gadding gossip up and down, to hear and carry tales amongst the rest" (History II Documents, 3). If the women found another location to socialize then the theatres would lose many of their audience.

2. seeking romance - bringing the men
When pertaining to the crudeness of allowing women to attend the theatre, Stephen Gosson writes, "- our theatres and playhouses in London are as full of secret adultery" (History II Documents, 4). It takes at least two people to commit adultery and if the women did not arrive at these social events, than neither would the men.

3. enjoying the play - then they will come back
While discribing her sisters' habits, Margaret Cavendish observed that, "- they did seldom make visits, nor never went abroad with strangers in their company" (History II Documents, 5). This clearly shows that some women truly only went to the theatre to enjoy the entertainment.