The study of the evolution of theater and performance from ancient times to present day.
Greek Theater: The theater of Ancient Greece, which flourished in Athens from the 6th century BC. It is the earliest form of Western drama and the oldest extant form of drama in the world.
Roman Theater: The theater of Ancient Rome, which began around 240 BC. It was heavily influenced by Greek theater but also included elements of farce and satire.
Medieval Theater: The theater of the Middle Ages, which includes liturgical dramas, mystery plays, and morality plays. These plays were often performed by church groups and were used to teach morals and biblical stories to the illiterate masses.
Renaissance Theater: The theater of the Renaissance, which began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe. It was characterized by a focus on humanism, individualism, and the revival of the classics.
Elizabethan Theater: The theater of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, which includes the works of William Shakespeare and other famous playwrights such as Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson.
Commedia dell'arte: A form of improvisational theater that originated in Italy in the 16th century. It was characterized by stock characters, such as the Harlequin and the Pantalone, and involved physical comedy and acrobatics.
18th Century Theater: The theater of the 18th century, which was marked by the rise of the middle class and a shift away from neoclassicism. It also saw the emergence of sentimental comedy and the rise of the celebrity actor.
19th Century Theater: The theater of the 19th century, which was marked by the emergence of realism and naturalism. It also saw the rise of melodrama and the influence of new technologies such as gas lighting and machinery.
20th Century Theater: The theater of the 20th century, which includes a wide range of movements such as expressionism, surrealism, and the theater of the absurd. It was characterized by experimentation and a rejection of traditional forms.
Musical Theater: A form of theater that combines music, dance, and drama. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has become a popular form of entertainment around the world.
Performance Theory: A field of study that examines the ways in which performance functions as a cultural and social practice. It includes theories of identity, performativity, and spectatorship.
Performance Art: A genre of contemporary art that combines performance with visual and/or sound elements. It often involves the use of the artist's own body as a medium.