Dramaturgy: Theory, Production Practice, Drametrics, and Authorship

All flashcards

What is dramaturgy?

Dramaturgy is the study of dramatic composition and stage representation. More broadly, it involves adapting a story into an actable form and giving a performance a foundation and structure.

What does a dramaturg contribute to a production?

A dramaturg helps the director and playwright interpret a play by drawing on its text, the playwright’s perspective, the work’s original context, and the context of the new production.

Why is Lessing important to modern dramaturgy?

At the Hamburg National Theatre, Lessing held a role now known as dramaturg and published *Hamburg Dramaturgy* from 1767 to 1770. His critical essays helped establish dramaturgy as a practice and a field of reflection.

What are bhāva and rasa?

In the *Nāṭya Śāstra*, bhāvas are emotions expressed by actors, while rasa is the emotional experience those expressions are intended to evoke in the audience.

How does Brecht’s Epic theatre shape audience response?

Brecht’s Epic theatre uses approaches such as the estrangement effect and gestus to encourage critical reflection on theatrical events.

Quiz questions

1. In theatre production, which activity is an example of production dramaturgy?Answer: Preparing study guides and program notes that connect a play with its context.
2. What does drametrics apply to the study of dramatic texts?Answer: Mathematical and computational methods, including network analysis.
3. When computational analysis identifies a pattern in a play, what is still needed to explain its artistic or cultural significance?Answer: Human interpretation of what the pattern means.
4. In 1998, what did the Second Circuit affirm in the dispute involving *Rent* dramaturg Lynn Thomson?Answer: The ruling that she was not entitled to co-author credit or royalties.
5. What does Freytag’s Pyramid describe?Answer: An arc of dramatic tension and resolution.