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Wilson suggests that a play from the past can be best understood by present-day audiences if the audience has some knowledge of the culture of the past. Explain this concept in more detail, using specific examples. Is there ever a situation when this may not be the case? |
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Different types of theatre (i.e., Broadway, regional, university) produce different expectations for the audience. Describe some of the different types of theatre and their audience expectations, and give some explanations as to why they might differ. For example, why does a Broadway audience expect something different than a university theatre audience? |
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Many theatres are devoted to the experiences and interests of specific groups of people. Discuss why such theatres might be valuable to members of those groups. What might be the effect on people if the stories and images they encountered in the theatre did not include the people and experiences that were familiar to them? If the representation of these experiences is separated from the experiences of other groups, does this weaken the connections among groups of people? If you are not a member of a particular group, would you be inclined to go to such a theatre? Why or why not? |
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Because they are often in the vanguard, artists are sometimes described as being antisocial, subversive, enemies of the state, or of common morality. Can you think of any contemporary artists that are sometimes described in these pejorative terms? Discuss contemporary examples of such artists. What do people object to in their art? Do the stories we tell and the images we share affect the people who see them? In a negative or positive way? Should our society be concerned about the stories and images that are being produced? To what extent is the control of artistic production in our society's best interests? |
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Women's roles in theatre have changed throughout history. Discuss how women were involved in theatre in ancient Greece and during the Elizabethan period in England. Compare that experience with women's roles in theatre today. |
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Imagine that you are a critic judging a theatre or television production. Explain in detail the critical criteria you would use to make your assessment. Use specific examples to explain each criterion. |
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What is an audience member's relationship to a reviewer or critic? Just because a critic dislikes a performance, is the audience supposed to automatically dislike it too? Explain using specific examples. Using your Flixster smartphone app, do you make a distinction between critic reviews and Flixster user reviews? |
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Go to the Flixster app on your smartphone or go online to Flixster – Rotten Tomatoes. Choose a film now playing in theatres that you want to see. What might be some of the advantages and disadvantages of reading reviews and criticisms before going to a performance? How might it affect the way you experience the performance? Is there any reason to read criticism after a performance? |
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