Research program
Ancient Greek theatre: text, staging, reception
University Co-ordinator
Università degli Studi di PADOVA -
SCIENZE DELL'ANTICHITA' - PADOVA(PD)
Research Unit Leader
Giuseppe SERRA
Description
The research group aims to study the theatrical re-shaping of mythical tradition from differt points of view. The main thread concerns the way each dramastist approaches mythical material and reformulates it within the frame of a single drama, drawing the skecth and the profile of a tragic hero in a specific context and in relation to a particular social background. Then, the research proposes to underline the differencies between the main tragic poets, the way each of them elaborates his own treatment of ancient tradition, his own poetics or metapoetics of myth. First of all, the research will elaborate a study concerning some dramas that may be considered a significant esample of mythical re-use. Then, the research will compare the different treatment of the same mythical saga in classical tragic production. We aim to outline a development from a 'strong' and serious use of tradition to an ironical reshaping of myth. We want to concentrate on particolar deconstruction of myth adopted by Euripides in last period of his poetic career, focusing on metatheatrical and metapoetic effetcs araised by a dramaturgy that stress the fitctitious nature of spectacle, the irreality of events being dramatized, in order to challenge the meaning and value of myths that founded civic ideology. The relation between myth and tragic dramaturgy will be developed also in connection with the presence and the use of objects that contribute to define and to substantiate characters' role; objects that aim to print theatrical memory of a situation in audience's mind. Objects as essential elements of mythical and tragic identity, of meaningful naunces, of visual effects. Objects as means of unexpected recognitions. Reflections upon dramaturgy of myth and dramaturgy of character aim also to analyse modern production of ancient theatre, in order to determine direction's trends, adaptation's styles, reshaping of texts and translations (with also intertextual plays). The research tasks will be divided in the following ways: Serra'll examine dramaturgical variations of Oedipus'myth in Aeschylus (Seven against Thebes), Sophocles (Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone), Euripides (Phoenissae), as significant example of myth-making and poetics. Susanetti'll concentrate on deconstruction of myth in Euripides' theatre, paying attention to the caracters of Hecuba, Ion, Iphigenia and Bacchae in particular. Barone'll analyse different uses of objects in relation to structure and definition of mythical characters and situations on tragic stage in Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. Barone e Susanetti'll examine some examples of modern reception and rewriting of ancient dramas also in relation to contemporary theatrical production.
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