Ancient Greece is a country that is
heavily studied. Whether for its
architecture, art, government, mythology or science, it is a civilization that
continues to influence the contemporary world.
I would argue, however, that no such aspect of this society has had a
stronger impact than its philosophy. The
famous Greek philosophers were on a constant quest for reason and inquiry. Their ideas stood as great pillars in society
and have also penetrated our culture (learn more).
Sophocles once stated, “Wisdom outweighs any wealth.” With that being said, it’s fitting that the recent performance
of Electra was focused less on visual
appeal and more on Sophocles’ script. In
the world of theater production today, it seems that the motto is, the more extravagant,
the better. Performances are strewn with
elaborate, constantly changing sets, striking visual effects, entertaining
musical numbers (accompanied by world class musicians, singers, and
performers), and costumes that often transform the actors into the creatures
from fictional tales. These are the
visual aspects that our society demands of the entertainment business.
I think that one result of the simplicity of Greek drama was that the writers had to be a lot better than modern ones. They couldn't rely on impressive props in order to catch the attention of the audience, so they had to have more engaging plots and dialog.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that this was a simple show that didn't have very many extravagant. But could it have been because they were not capable of making it more flashy, or exciting?.. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteEven though this play is largely about revenge and violence, I felt like it was more of a chick flick than an action film. It is about a girl who has an emotional breakdown and goes a little nuts.
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