Forms+and+Conventions+Table

﻿Forms and Conventions Table

(e.g. Epic Theatre) ||= Brecht || * Threepenny Opera || * Brecht || * Narration. (Melodrama, Restoration Comedy, Stand up, etc) || * Charlie Chaplin __**A Word on Genre﻿ **__ **Definition: a large class or group that consists of individual works of literature that share common attributes. ** Therefore, Black Comedy is a type of comedy which shares common attributes with other works. In this case we can call them conventions. However, Black Comedy is NOT a performance style or dramatic form becasue a black comedy can be performed in a variety of styles and forms. What links these plays together are the themes and the use of comedic techniques. So yes, the following are conventions of Black Comedy:
 * = **Dramatic Form/ Performance Style/ Genre** ||= **Practitioner** || ** Play ** || ** Playwright ** || ** Conventions ** ||< ** Techniques ** ||
 * = __Contemporary Australian Theatre__ ||=  || * //Ruby Moon// || * Matt Cameron || * Borrows conventions from other forms. ||<   ||
 * = __Absurdism__ ||=  || * Waiting For Godot
 * The Rhinoceros || * Samuel Beckett
 * Eugene Ionesco || * Existentialist themes
 * Vaudeville Banter
 * Silence
 * Physical Routines ||< * Banter
 * Silence
 * Physical Routines ||
 * = Realism ||= Stanislavski || * //The Seagull// || * Chekhov || * 4th wall
 * Realistic Costume, Set, Props, Lighting, Sound
 * Box set ||< * Belief/Conviction
 * Muscle Memory
 * Emotional Recall
 * Fund.Quest.
 * Circles of Attention
 * Representational Acting
 * Concentration ||
 * = Expressionism ||= Laban || * //Murderer, The Hope of Women// || * Oscar Kokoschka
 * Georg Kaiser || * Spiritual awakening & suffering. (more of an effect than a convention) ||< * Effort Actions ||
 * = Theatre of the Grotesque ||= Meyerhold ||  ||   || * Symbolism
 * Biomechanics || * Symbolism
 * Physical Theatre
 * Abstract Movement ||
 * = Brechtian
 * = Brechtian
 * Alienation
 * Demonstration of role. ||< * Narration
 * Multiple Characterisation
 * Placards and Signs
 * Reported Speech
 * Actors Swapping Roles
 * Gest ||
 * = Non-Realistic Theatre (In General) ||||||= Everything from the above three forms as well as: || * Symbolism
 * Non-Linear Scene Structure
 * Multiple Time Frames
 * Abstract Movement, Gesture & Sound || * Slow Motion/ Fast Forward
 * Transformational Objects
 * Onstage Costume Changes
 * Use of projection
 * Break 4th Wall
 * Freeze Frames ||
 * = __Indigenous Theatre__ ||  || * Stolen
 * Rainbow's End
 * Box the Pony || * Jane Harrison
 * Leah Purcell || * Traditional Language
 * Indigenous Actors
 * Indigenous Themes || * Narration
 * Storytelling
 * Dance
 * Song
 * Stand-up comedy ||
 * = Ancient Greek Theatre ||  || * The Frogs
 * Antigone
 * Hippolytus || * Aristophanes
 * Sophocles
 * Euripides || * Chorus
 * 3 Man lead cast (after Sophocles)
 * Mask
 * No violence onstage || * Chorus
 * Mask
 * Exaggerated Gesture
 * Dance, Song & Chanting ||
 * = Commedia dell'Arte ||  ||   ||   || * Improvisation
 * Stock Characters
 * Masks
 * Portable Stage || * Masks
 * Lazzi
 * Grummelot
 * Burle
 * Concetti
 * Battute ||
 * = __Comedy__
 * = __Comedy__
 * = __Comedy__
 * 3 Stooges ||  ||   || * audience laughs || * Banter
 * Wit
 * Irony
 * Pun
 * Parody/Satire
 * Sight gags
 * Slapstick
 * Exaggeration
 * Non-sequitur
 * Stock Character ||
 * Catharsis
 * Themes of: pain, loss, taboo, controversial.
 * Use of comedic techniques to explore the above themes.

**__Dramatic Forms Vs Performance Style__** Conventions can be drawn from many things such as production elements, techniques, audience reactions, themes/issues/topics, etc. For example, conventions of Realism are: o the illusion of the 4th Wall o Characters are dressed in realistic costume o the audience experiences catharsis o the themes and storyline of the play are real life issues o The actor “becomes” the character using Stanislavskian techniques such as Muscle Memory, emotional recall, fundamental questions etc.
 * Conventions are anything that defines a Dramatic Form.**

When a performance does not use all of the conventions it is a Performance Style rather than a dramatic form.
 * A performance is considered a Dramatic Form when it adheres strictly to all of its conventions.**

Chorus Chanting and moving in unison Large gestures A different actor for each character Performed on a thrust stage Amplified sound and lighting effects used. || Masks are worn Chorus Chanting and moving in unison Large gestures Only 3 main actors play all the characters No female actors Performed in an amphitheatre Stage consists of Proscenium, skene and orkestra Performed during the day ||
 * Consider these two performances of Sophocles’ //Antigone//**
 * Performance A || Performance B ||
 * No masks worn

Performance A does not adhere to the conventions of Ancient Greek Theatre. However, the //Performance Style// is Ancient Greek Theatre.

**__ Dramatic Forms and Techniques __** For example, techniques used by Stanislavski in the creation of the character are: o Emotional recall o Muscle memory o The Magic If  o Circles of Attention o Relaxation
 * A dramatic/theatrical/acting technique is anything that an actor does or uses on stage or in the development of a performance.**

role & character, situation, tension, time & place, movement, language, moment, symbol, atmosphere, dramatic meaning, audience engagement.
 * Elements of Drama**

Sound, lighting, costume, set, props
 * Elements of Production**