Old Comedy and Aristophanes

AristophanesAir-is-STOF-uh-knees. So, who was this guy?

Well. He was a lot like these guys:

“NO WAY!”

•Most famous Greek comedian•Born in the 440s b.c. •Lived through Peloponnesian War (431 to 404)•Many of his plays comment on the long war•Produced his first play in 427. •By the time he died (380s) he had written 44 comedies (11 remain)

Old ComedyHis plays were Old Comedies, or “farce: that is, his plays involve action more often than character, fantasy more often than realism, ridicule and slapstick more often than irony. But they differ from later farce in a crucial way: they contain, as an essential and integral feature of their style, serious themes, serious characters and serious language, all of which are combined with hilarity and slapstick in a manner characteristic of no other writer” (The Theatre of Aristophanes, Taplinger: 1980. p. 14).

Come now. You know what “farce” is.

What?

A light dramatic work in which highly improbable plot situations,

exaggerated characters, and often slapstick elements are used for

humorous effect.

FARCE

Oh yes. Farce.

LIKE SPONGEBOB!

Old ComedyHis plays were Old Comedy, or “farce: that is, his plays involve action more often than character, fantasy more often than realism, ridicule and slapstick more often than irony. But they differ from later farce in a crucial way: they contain, as an essential and integral feature of their style, serious themes, serious characters and serious language, all of which are combined with hilarity and slapstick in a manner characteristic of no other writer” (The Theatre of Aristophanes, Taplinger: 1980. p. 14).

So it’s not just funny. It has a deeper meaning. A

purpose.In the movie, Anchorman 2, Will Farrell’s antics as Ron Burgundy are not just about the ridiculous, slapstick consequences of being a famous news anchor. More importantly, it is about an arrogant man’s fall and restoration as a husband and father whose focus is no longer on himself.That’s FARCE with a purpose.

Six Parts of a Comedy

Prologue, Parode, Agon, Parabasis, Episode, Exode

Prologue A monologue or dialogue

preceding the entry of the chorus, which presents the comedy's topic.

Sometimes called, “The Happy Idea”

This “Happy Idea” is usually extravagantly imaginative or absurdly impractical

But, the main character thinks it will fix the problem.

ParodeParode (Entrance Ode): The entry chant of the chorus. Generally, they remain on stage throughout the remainder of the play. Although they wear masks, their dancing is expressive, as conveyed by the hands, arms and body.

Aristophanes used 24 instead of 12 chorus members.

AgonTwo speakers debate the issue, and the first speaker loses.

Debate in which “happy idea” is opposed, or defended.

Opposition to “happy idea” is always defeated.

ParabasisThe chorus members remove their masks and step out of character to address the audience. They express the poet’s thoughts; state the play’s theme; discuss the implications of play.

This is the idea in theater of “Breaking the Fourth Wall”

Episode• Happy idea put into practice

• Consequences; happy idea affects people

• Not usually sequential or connected

• Episodes tend to rise to emotional climax

ExodeAn exit song. A mood of celebration and possibly with a riotous revel, joyous marriage, or both.

So what are these comedies about?

CURRENT EVENTS: PoliticsEducation Long war with Sparta

[Valuable source of information about the daily life and politics of classical Athens.]

ALSO:

Critique of literature, particularly tragedy: Parodies Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

[Aristophanes add enormously to our knowledge of plays and playwrights we’ve no other record of.]

Much like The Daily Show

John doesn’t REALLY want to create a Wipeout course for illegal aliens, but border control IS a legitimate issue of concern that requires some kind of answer.

So let’s review:Aristophanes was the most famous writer of Old Comedy.

Old Comedy was made up of six parts: Prologue, Parode, Agon, Parabisis, Episodes, and Exode.

Old Comedy was a silly way to say something important.