28951 - History of Performing Arts in the Ancient World (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to know the Greek and Roman theatre as a whole (places of performance, festivals and dramatic competitions, poets and preserved works; directors, chorus, players; relationship with public and institutions; the different dramatic genres and their history) and to develop a critical attitude towards the main issues concerning the Greek and Roman theatre. Furthermore, they are expected to know the examined pieces thoroughly.

Course contents

1. Dramatic performances in the ancient world, with a special regard to Athenian tragedy and its importance for the modern theatre.

2. Euripides, Alcestis; analysis of a selection of passages (vv. 1-76, 244-434, 606-860, 935-961, 1008-1163). For the exam, students in Classical Philology are required to read the whole tragedy.

Lectures: Monday 9-11, Tuesday 9-11 (Aula Serra Zanetti, via Zamboni 32) Thursday 9-11 (Aula Seminari, via Zamboni 32).

Beginning of the lectures: November 12th, 2018, 9 a.M.

Readings/Bibliography

1. As for the general part, the reading of one of the following books is required: U. Albini, Nel nome di Dioniso. Vita teatrale nell'Atene classica, Milano, Garzanti, 1991; G. Chiarini - F. Mosetti Casaretto, Introduzione al teatro latino, Milano, Mondadori, 2004; V. Di Benedetto - E. Medda, La tragedia sulla scena. La tragedia greca in quanto spettacolo teatrale, Torino, Einaudi, 1997; M. Di Marco, La tragedia greca. Forma, gioco scenico, tecniche drammatiche, Roma, Carocci, 2000; G. Mastromarco - P. Totaro, Storia del teatro greco, Firenze, Le Monnier Università, 2008; A. Pickard-Cambridge, Le feste drammatiche di Atene, trad. it., Firenze, La Nuova Italia, 1996; B. Zimmermann, La Commedia greca, Roma, Carrocci, 2010.

The texts read during the lessons will be available among the online teaching materials.

2. Euripides, Alcestis: Lectures notes. The following translations are suggested: Euripide, Alcesti. Eraclidi, trad. di N. Russello, intr. di G. Zanetto, Milano (Oscar Mondadori) 1995; Euripide, Alcesti, a cura di D. Susanetti, Venezia (Marsilio) 2001; Euripide, Alcesti, a cura di G. Paduano, Milano (BUR) 1993.

Further bibliography on specific subjects/texts will be recommended during the course.

Students who cannot attend the course are invited to talk with the teacher in order to define an alternative bibliography.

Teaching methods

Lectures in class.

Assessment methods

The oral examination will be an interview in which the teacher, through a series of questions, will test the theoretical knowledge as explained during the lectures. In particular, the student will be invited to read one of the passages of Euripides's Alcestis analyzed in class, to give a translation and to comment it. Students in Classical Philology will be also required to read, translate and comment a passage not included among those read during the lectures. The evaluation ranges from 18 to 30 cum laude depending on how sure, well-founded, precise and rigorous will be the answers of the candidate.

Teaching tools

PC, projector, photocopies.

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Floridi