1/22/13- Paradigm Shifts

In 1800, there was a great big paradigm shift.
Neoclassicism (France)        Romanticism (Germany)
Right= Rules

• based on Aristotle's Unities of Time, Place & Action

Also- the difference between Artisan & Artist.

                                         craft      creative

                                    ex. skill       conceptual

But what is a paradigm?

Paradigm- the prevailing way of doing something; conventions

Now for some videos!

This first one, Big Bang Boom, helps to show the literal change in conventions:

And now for Oktapodi, nominated for the 2009 Academy Award for 

Best Animated Short:

And finally, a video you'll have to view more than once-

the Philips Carousel Commercial:

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Then came Enlightenment, or- the Age of Reason.

It was an idealistic age- where plays should present the way that life should be.

(Justice, Vice)

Remember, if Realism presented life as it is, Idealism presented life as it should be.

Then came Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who wrote "Faust". With this play, Romanticism becomes Melodrama.

Goethe

Three Questions of Theatre:

1. What did you set out to do?
2. Did you achieve it?
3. Was it worth it?

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Today we continued the shift between Neoclassicism and Romanticism. Remember, Neoclassicism was based solely on Aristotle and his Unities of Time, Place, and Action. Idealism came about during the Age of Reason, or the Enlightenment Period. Idealistic plays presented life the way that it should be, as opposed to Realistic plays, which produced life as it is. With Goethe’s “Faust”, Romanticism then becomes Melodrama, which we will discuss in the following lesson. One final thought on today’s lesson: Dave’s Critical Questions (for a production).... What did you set out to do? Did you achieve it? (and) Was it worth it?.... These three questions are important for us thespians currently, both as practicing members of theatre society and in examining theatre’s history as history students.