Greek Drama: Tragedy and Comedy

by Peter Meineck Narrated by Peter Meineck

Overview

The plays of one ancient city 2,500 years ago by just four playwrights have had a profound effect on the development of all subsequent Western drama, not only on the theatrical stage, but on opera, film, television, stand-up comedy, and dance-in fact, most, if not all, of the live arts owe a debt to the theatre of ancient Greece and the city of Athens. This course will examine the social, historical, and political context of ancient Greek drama and equip listeners with a set of critical analytical tools for developing their own appreciation of this vitally important genre. The course will focus on the four extant playwrights, aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes, and examine each of their plays closely.

Editorial Reviews

AUG/SEP 06 - AudioFile

A scholar and theater director examines the history and characteristics of the ancient tragedy and comedy of Athens. A caveat: This reviewer’s love of the subject may have resulted in bias. Still, Professor Meineck isn’t perfect. His frequent lip-smacking annoys; his extended readings from the plays are lackluster. On the other hand, he communicates his enthusiasm for, as well as his thorough knowledge of, his subject. Admirably, he considers the plays as living theater meant for performance, not, as many classicists do, merely as literary texts. His manner is warm and informal, his interpretations credible, and his language always clear. Implicitly, he impresses upon the listener the importance of these marvelous plays to the development of the best in our modern culture. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172659126
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	03/06/2009
Edition description:	Unabridged

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