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the literary technique used to describe a higher power coming in suddenly at the end to set all the plot lines straight

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a crane like device used to fly in Gods on in Greek performances

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theatre was illegal for 18 years during Puritan rule

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closed roof

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rebirth

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Commedia dell'Arte

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from 1660 to 1710

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during the restoration period

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comedies

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knights, kings, jesters

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Queen Elizabeth and James ll were patrons to Shakespeare

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Shakespeare

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Women were able to act

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dances for harvest, death and celebrations

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thespis

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Written on tablets

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Only men were able to act

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Chorus

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No monologue

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egyptian

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Named after Elizabeth the first

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Art based with stock characters

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Commedia dell'Arte was first established in Italy in 16th century; directly translating to "comedy of craft". Having the characteristics of street performances, performances were held outside on temporary stages. This enabled the troupes to have the flexibility of traveling. They were funded by donations of common people because the nobility did not approve. This mainly is due to the fact the sketches almost always makes fun of the wealthy and the boastfully intelligent. Commedia dell'Arte was made by the people and for the people, so the performances were free to the public. Italian theater historians believe that this art form developed from political and economic crisis. If so, this form is backed up by not only Aristotle, in that comedy comes naturally from improvisation, and comic theory, the people use comedy as an escape from reality.

There is a specific characteristics of Commedia dell'Arte that made it stand out from the rest of the street performances. These are the first performances that stock characters were used. Stock characters are characters that are developed and known by everyone. A modern example of stock characters would be Mickey Mouse and his crew of friends. It is common knowledge in the American culture to know the personalities of the Minnie, Donald Duck, Pluto etc. Today we had developed television episodes in which these characters get into different shenanigans, work through the conflicts and having their personalities never changing more than just a moral learned. Then in the next episode it is as if the first never happened. This is what a stock character is.

Commedia dell'Arte developed three types of stock characters: the servant, the master, and the inamorati. Each was easily distinguishable by their distinctive clothing and masks. As noted earlier, the nobility did not approve of these performances. The chosen genre of the stock characters might elude you as to why. Commedia dell'Arte was developed to make a social and political commentary on the relationships between the servants and their masters. Exaggerated stereotypes of people were used to represent an entire group of individuals. For example, the masters included a subcategory, Pantalone, Dottore, and Capitano. Each of the characters represented a different part of society.

The characters established during Commedia dell'Arte are still used to this day. Each of them have distinctive comedic aspects that inspire modern comedy. The next few posts will introduces these characters. I encourage you to think about characters you know that resemble these universal archetypes.

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Commedia dell'Arte: Introduction of Stock Characters

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Commedia dell'Arte was first established in Italy in 16th century; directly translating to "comedy of craft". Having the characteristics of street performances, performances were held outside on temporary stages. This enabled the troupes to have the flexibility of traveling. They were funded by donations of common people because the nobility did not approve.

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Prehistoric/Paleolithic time: singing and dancing

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mansions