Performing History - Research Paper Example

PERFORMING ARTS Renowned art critic, theorist and performing arts specialist of contemporary times Prof. Dr. Jane Blocker views: “We need a history that does not save in any sense of the word; rather, we need a history that performs.” Her remarkable statement contains philosophic profundity in it and highlights the significance of the performing arts as the superior source of the preservation of history, ideas, philosophy and mythology. History is an imperative discipline that looks into the past incidents and events with special reference to the political movements, wars, battles, confrontations and political conspiracies. “Since written history reveals only few aspects of society, where the political authorities are given due importance, an imperative fraction of various aspects of the culture, norms, values and traditions remain silent to a great extent.” (Zaidi, 2001: p 31) On the contrary, performing art is the technique through which intellectuals, philosophers, writers, poets, artists and performers have the bright prospects of drawing out religious beliefs, cultural traits, social norms, ethical values, prevailing laws and superb ideas and philosophies directly related to human society on the one hand, and the performers seek an opportunity to display their talent before the public on the other. In addition, performing art is one of the finest methods of conveying the message to the masses at large through personal talents and faculties. Before embarking upon the statement above-mentioned, it would be appropriate to define performing arts. Performing art refers to the presentation of artistic works performed by the artists through their physical appearance, body gestures, words and expressions. “The art in which the medium is the artists own body and the artwork takes the form of actions performed by the artist. Performance art has origins in Futurism and Dada, but became a major phenomenon in the 1960s and 1970s and can be seen as a branch of Conceptual art. In Germany and Austria it was known as Actionism.” (tate.org.uk) The most popular performing arts include drama, music and dance, among which drama is considered to be the most inspiring art that upholds other forms of performing arts too in its fold, including poetry, music, dance and dialogue, while being performed at stage or theatre. “Drama is”, Hussain submits, “a literary composition designed for the theatre in which the representation is by actors who impersonate the characters and perform the action and dialogue.” (2008: p 112) Drama is one of the most beautiful and sublime forms of performing arts, which seeks its roots in ancient times of Greek and Roman civilizations. It is therefore drama is called the oldest form of literature. Artists, performers, poets and writers had always got the support of drama in order to express their abilities and communicate their feelings, emotions and opinions. Though some critics view drama as the criticism of life, which maintains some moral and ethical purpose in it, others observe drama as a source of pleasure seeking and enjoyment. Both the literary circles mentioned above are justified in presenting their definitions as drama not only provides amusement and recreation but also discusses plot, conflict and critical aspects of life. Looking into the history of drama at large, it becomes evident that drama encompasses complete socioeconomic as well as geo-political and religious aspects of its era. It is therefore the most brilliant artists laid stress upon staging of drama for their purpose. Renowned Greek poet and intellectual Sophocles produced his wonderful “Oedipus Rex” by 432 BCE, which was first performed in 429 BCE and not only captured the attention of the people at massive scale, but also served as the guiding star for the psychologists, theorists and playwrights for the future centuries to come. The famous theory of Oedipus complex articulated by the twentieth century psychologist Sigmund Freud also sought inspiration for this wonderful piece of performing art. The main theme of the play “Oedipus the King” is this that man cannot overcome his fate by plans and tricks. This theme not only applied to Oedipus and his father King Laius, but also to all humans at large. Since the former King Laius and Queen Jocasta had abandoned themselves of their own son to escape the hazard regarding their fate as well as that of their son. But they cannot evade their misfortune. By this they are not only deprived of their one and the only son, but also find no heir to the throne. And Oedipus could only lament in the aftermath of his tragedy: “O Zeus, what hast thou willed to do with me!” (Lines 1909-1911) Hence, Sophocles successfully portrayed the norms prevailing in his culture through his magnificent drama. Not only Sophocles, but also other playwrights including Aeschylus, Euripides, Aristophanes and others also created magnificent plays, and managed their works to be staged in order to expose human psychology on the one hand and cultural values of their times on the other, which was impossible for the historians to portray and perpetuate for the coming generations. The Greek playwrights had command over this marvellous piece of performing art and all credit goes to them for inventing various genres and forms of this pageant form of performing art i.e. drama. “The Greeks invented two kinds of drama e.g. tragedy and comedy. Tragedy is the older and more famous of the two types: it is said to be the invention of Thespis in 534 BCE, while comedy is generally dated some half century later, around 486 BC. But both genres were important to Athenians of the fifth and fourth centuries, and both were performed several times during the year as part of religious and agricultural festivals.” (english.emory.edu) Aristotle (384 B.C.—322 B.C.) has also discussed the kinds and nature of literature in his wonderful “Poetics” which was written in 350 B.C. According to him, there are two main varieties of literary pieces i.e. the Fine one and the Mean one. He has placed epic and tragedy in the fine variety, and the satire and comedy in the mean variety. Thus the great philosopher considers tragedy and epic as the refined form of expressing one’s views and ideas. It also shows that tragedy has been declared a sophisticated piece of art. The future playwright produced drama in the same lines described by Aristotle. Greek, Roman, Persian and English drama has been the pioneer for the imitation to the writers and poets all over the globe, because it contains both poetry and prose in it in a magnificent way. And it is tragic poetry, prose, music and dance that enjoy the status of the most valuable material produced. Though comedy has also been a popular way of the expression of one’s feelings and emotions, yet it is lagging far behind in comparison with the applause won by the tragedy. The works produced by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Virgil, Homer, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Ibsen, Beckett and others represent the best and the most stupendous plays. There is no doubt in it that when Shakespearean tragedies including Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and others are staged, the spectators recall to their minds the magnificent era of kings and queens, princes and knights, warriors and soldiers, courtiers and clowns and much more. Consequently, history appears to be in its best preserved form that left its long lasting impact on the hearts and minds of people. Though drama had already won great applause from all corners of the globe, and successfully completed its journey towards unabated triumph, it got significant boost during medieval era, when Elizabethan tragedy and comedy found its new heights under Marlowe and Shakespeare. Christopher Marlowe’s “Jew of Malta” discusses religious conflicts between Christians and Jews and narrates the very reality that economies of the big cities and states had been under the control of Jews. Thus, performing art proved that it not only elaborated culture of the medieval era in a more vivid way, but also preserved different aspects of everyday life comprehensively. The brilliant playwright successfully unveils the real picture of the bourgeoisie, which remained in constant conflict with the proletariat and other working classes. Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice also portrays almost the same situation elaborated by Marlowe. Mostly drama contained tragedy in it. The reason behind the dignified applause the tragic works have won might be the influence of these works on the mind of the reader(s) that are surely long-lasting and ever-green. A reader acquires the unique pearls from the deep and restless ocean of this form of performing art that enclose such price which is more than enough to lull his impatient soul and the goblet of his colourful heart full of love and passion. Audience, readers and spectators contain most important place in presentation of drama. “Dr. Samuel Johnson, the virtual literary dictator of the Neo-Classical Age”, Mandra & Agarwal quote, “has established the importance of the audience to the producers and the playwrights quite aptly while saying ‘The drama’s laws the drama’s patrons give, and we who live to please must please to live’”. (2002: p 386) Nineteenth and twentieth centuries witnessed great changes in the creation and presentation of this magnificent form of performing art. The Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen made drama as the representative of common people. Before him, only royal families were the central figures of drama, though performers, artists and writers always belonged to middle and lower stratum of society. Ibsen’s Wild Duck and others determined new lines of action for the modern drama. Absurd type of drama also got its way. Absurd drama, Esslin views, is the form of drama where the number of characters is limited from three to five persons; the drama does not hold any plot, nor does it have any feminine character. Nothing takes place in it, yet it stouches the height of applause and approval. Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”, “Happy Days” and others are the true examples of absurd drama. In addition, different cultures are successfully launching their plays through various TV channels and other platforms preserving, projecting and promoting their history, culture and civilization. African playwright of contemporary time Wole Soyinka also awoke his countrymen with the help of drama. His prominent plays including Lion and the Jewel, Dance of the Forests, The Interpreters, Trials of Brother Jero, The Road, Swamp Dwellers, Strong Breed and others. urged the Africans rise up against the age old laggard and sluggish patterns of life and work hard to make rapid progress to combat with the dominancy of the invaders and outsiders. The backwardness and lethargy of the Nigerians could be traced out by the words delivered by one of the main characters i.e. the dead woman in Soyinka’s “Dance of the Forests” that simply means that the country did not make any progress for the last many generations and had been undergoing the same problems faced by several previous generations. “A hundred generations have made no difference. I was fool to come.” (1960: p 25) Soyinka’s lament reveals his broad vision and vast observation of his soil, and proves him as one of the greatest nationalist writers of the entire continent. The rapid technological advancement has brought revolutionary changes in its aftermath in all fields of human life. It has also affected modern drama and performing arts to a great extent. Now latest instruments and background music is applied while a drama is being performed. Dance and music are also the imperative parts of modern drama. Dance is the poetry of body and poetry is the dance of words. The fluctuation and rhythm of the sound and style of words in drama is far more enjoyable in watching and reading than it was in past. REFERENCES: Greek Plays and Playwrights. (Retrieved from http://www.english.emory.edu/DRAMA/GreekPlays.html) Shakespeare, Sir William. () Hamlet Sophocles. (1991) Oedipus the King Translated by George Young Edition: 2 Dover Publications ISBN 0486268772 p 13 Works from a country in progress; Nigerian literature. (Quoted in http://emeagwali.com/nigeria/literature/nigerian-literature-jan93.html) Zaidi, M. H. (2001) History, Art and Literature: A Comparative Analysis. Moosa Publications Urdu Bazaar Lahore Pakistan Hussain, Dr. Shahid. (2008) The Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford Publishers New Delhi p 112 Definition of Performing Art (Quoted in http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=218) Read More