Fascinating look at how Romans transformed Greek theater into something uniquely their own. The Seneca plays are realy interesting cause they bridge entertainment and philosophy in a way that most modern theater doesnt even attempt anymore. I never realized how much the physical structure changes affected the actual content, like how Romans needed backdrops cause they weren't in Athens. That five-act structure shift probably influenced Shakespeare's approach too given how much he borrowed from Seneca's style.
I am elated to see a piece on such an overlooked topic! The didactic orientation of Roman drama, along with its spectacle-centric elements, reflects the high value Roman culture placed on rhetoric, action, and public display. Roman theatre offers a fascinating counterpoint to Greek tragic theatre, where mythopoetic demonstration and the audience’s cathartic experience were central.
Fascinating look at how Romans transformed Greek theater into something uniquely their own. The Seneca plays are realy interesting cause they bridge entertainment and philosophy in a way that most modern theater doesnt even attempt anymore. I never realized how much the physical structure changes affected the actual content, like how Romans needed backdrops cause they weren't in Athens. That five-act structure shift probably influenced Shakespeare's approach too given how much he borrowed from Seneca's style.
I am elated to see a piece on such an overlooked topic! The didactic orientation of Roman drama, along with its spectacle-centric elements, reflects the high value Roman culture placed on rhetoric, action, and public display. Roman theatre offers a fascinating counterpoint to Greek tragic theatre, where mythopoetic demonstration and the audience’s cathartic experience were central.
Would you be kind enough to explain the “ob scene” does not look like Greek
Thank you