How Ancient Greek Theater Influenced Modern Media

By: Gabrielle Frazier

In today’s media world, you can turn on the TV and watch Jennifer Coolidge waltz around on vacation in The White Lotus, laugh at shows like Abbot Elementary or Veep as their characters mimic the lives of our teachers and politicians, and connect to emotional stories like Succession and Parasite as they illustrate tragic morals playing out to epic proportions We may think that these media tropes, ideas, and characters are products of today’s culture or maybe one that was born in the last 100 years of media, however, our TV shows and movies have been impacted by a force in storytelling that dates back to around 700 BC Much like our political system and architecture, our media is highly influenced by the ancient Greeks. Greek theater is not only responsible for iconic plays like The Odyssey or theater language, but also the very tropes and genres that we interact with today. Greek theater history gave birth to many storytelling movements and has continued to influence our media. In fact, there are some incredibly surprising places Greek theater has influenced, with many of them being some of our favorite shows and movies By looking at where our favorite media intersects with ancient Greek theater tropes, we not only can build a new interest in Greek history (one that you can totally use in your next trivia night) but also build a newfound appreciation for your favorite media

Before we can look at the different ways Greek theater has influenced our media we need to first learn the history behind the art form Drama and theater were introduced to the Greek civilization in around 700 BC in the city-state of Athens This took place before what we understand as the classical period of ancient Greece Theater’s popularity was spread through annual festivals held to honor the god Dionysus in order to promote peace and community for the neighboring areas Dionysus was the Olympian god of wine, vegetation, pleasure, festivity and madness. This god represented happiness, goodwill and an enjoyment of life for the Greeks. At first, these festivals just featured poets acting out their work, but this concept started to grow as audiences grew and longer scripts were written. Fastforward, and these shows had directors, actors, and writers along with individuals pioneering new ideas in the era One notable figure is Thespis, who became known as “The Father of Tragedy '' , is one of the biggest pioneers in the drama He is also responsible for the idea of calling talented actors “Thespians'' Another notable figure is the ever famous Homer Homer, who many recognize from their high school English classes, had his work performed at these annual festivals and the tropes within them are still revered today

Theater created a new culture in ancient Greece as there was now a new form of entertainment, and they built new structures to enjoy it, including the amphitheater, which we still see today in movie theaters, theaters and sports stadiums.

Out of the boom in Greek theater, three main genres of theater were born: tragedy, comedy and satire. These genres are not only still around today, but they serve as the backbone to much of the way we approach storytelling today The tragedy was born out of the desire from the audience to see tragic morals depicted in the endings of plays, with Aristotle's writing hinting to dithyrambs (choral hymns) being a large influence

Rituals surrounding different gods were also a large part of the tragedy, leading to larger than life performances by actors as they delivered the “voices of gods'' Comedies were born out of a desire to represent daily life in ancient Greece and the different ways absurd scenarios could enter their lives. Aristophanes is known to be responsible for writing Greek comedies. His characters were designed purely for the audience to laugh at with their mistakes and upsets not meant to cause pain to the audience. Silly costumes and actions were common in ancient Greek theater, with sometimes sexual and phallic references being a common trope. Satire was born out of the combination of comedy and tragedy, with laughter being paired with shame Social commentary also played a huge role in the formation of satire as the inclusion of social commentary made for a blend in the comedy drama format that inserted reality

The ancient Greeks were highly skilled at putting the arts at the center of culture, and we have a plethora of media as proof of their skills. Satire is one of the most popular genres of media in the 20th century. It is arguably the most important contribution to modern media the ancient Greeks made. Satire is found in TV sitcoms like “Parks and Recreation” and “Abbott Elementary” as well as movies like “Get Out”, “American Psycho” and “Don’t Look Up”. Just like the Greeks’ design, these TV shows and movies combine the comedic or ironic with social commentary and tragedy

Characters like Janine, Patrick Bateman and Ron Swanson are meant to represent a person in reality, that is then exaggerated for comedic effect or to display tragedy.

Satire isn't the only way that Greek theater has influenced modern media as the tragedy is still a huge part of our current media landscape. Nowadays, the tragedy breaks into subgenres, like dark comedies, dramedies and psychological thrillers. However, the epic proportions and dramatic stories are still a mainstay In shows like “Succession” or “Breaking Bad”, stories of tragedy are told through an ironic lens, often examining how wealth’s importance in our society can ruin relationships Likewise, tragedy is a large part of our modern day media with shows like “The Last of Us” and movies like “Marriage Story” displaying how combining elements of horror, science fiction, or just plain life can illustrate the very principle that Greek theater built in their depiction of tragedies.

Though hundreds of years ago we are certainly still connected to Greek culture, festivals celebrating Olypians and the history of Greek theater. Our modern day media serves as our best example and connection to Greek theater, proving that art and culture have been and will always be an important part of our lives and storytelling will continue to be a valuable role in our society

PointingFingersatMichelangelo'sCreationofAdam: A Look into the Masterpieces' Artistic Techniques and Historical Context

By: Kellsey Savage

The Sistine Chapel is by far one of the most famous buildings on earth, with references to its spectacular design and decorum found everywhere, from ET to Ariana Grande Perhaps one of the greatest examples of the Sistine Chapel’s influence is the 2018 Met Gala, aptly named "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination." The biggest stars on the planet dawned and looked embedded with renaissance imagery.

For years, the Sistine Chapel has stood as a staple in art and architecture and is famous for its symbolism, significance and impact, but what is its real story? What are the deeper meanings behind the art? While the Sistine Chapel is rightfully known for its dramatic depictions, its creation-including its history, implications and controversies is just as dramatic

Commissioned in 1490 by the colorful “warrior pope” Pope Julius II, the Sistine Chapel could be considered the crown jewel of the Renaissance, an art and philosophy movement that spanned from roughly 1390 to 1530. During this time, creatives drew aesthetic inspiration from classical Greece and Rome namely, humanism and linear perspective.

At the center of the Renaissance was the concept of heavenly beauty, and much of the artwork reflects the relationship between man and the divine The Renaissance is an era best defined by its artistic exploration, including the work of groundbreaking artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Filippo Bruneleschi, and everyone’s favorite diva Michelangelo.

Add a little bit of body text While Michelangelo is best known for his work inside the Sistine Chapel, he was originally against the project. Before the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo was mainly a sculptor, not a painter. He felt that his talents would be wasted painting a ceiling. However, Michelangelo eventually agreed to take on the project only after demanding full artistic control The piece was originally supposed to be simple portraits of the twelve apostles Still, either out of ambition or spite, Michelangelo expanded the project to include an elaborate retelling of the book of Genesis that covered almost every inch of the walls and ceiling

While the retelling includes everything, such as the creation of the world, the creation of humanity, the fall from grace and of course insurmountable suffering, the most iconic section is The Creation of Adam.

In the painting, God and Adam have their arms outstretched toward each other, with their index fingers pointing at each other However, it is important to note that there is a gap between their hands Although interpretations tend to differ, this is believed to depict the moment right after God created Adam Another thing of note is the shape behind God. One of the most popular and divisive interpretations is that this represents a human brain. God is positioned at the prefrontal cortex, the section of the brain responsible for the creative thinking process. This fits interestingly with the idea of humanism, which was popular at the time.

Humanism was an intellectual movement that focused less on religion and more on what it meant to be human The placement of God inside the brain could be Michelangelo’s way of saying that he considers art and creativity to be divine, much like how God implemented those concepts to create Adam

Regardless of the true meaning behind the Creation of Adam, one thing is for certain: it is and will continue to be one of the most iconic works of art. It is a classic staple that demonstrates movement, aesthetics, depth, and detail in an exaggerated yet natural way. In a way, it’s almost poetic how a painting representing the birth of humanity serves as a reminder of just how far we’ve come and how much farther we can go.