What point of the history of humans did the idea theater begin?

Answer 1

I. Origins of Theatre
Little information about the origin of theatre has survived. The information we do have comes from wall paintings, decorations, artifacts, and hieroglyphics that show the importance of successful hunts, seasonal changes, life cycles, and stories of the gods. From these we see the necessity of passing along the experiences of the old to the young through art, storytelling, and dramatizing events. This practice gave the youth of a culture a guide and a plan for their own lives.

Theatre emerged from myth , ritual, and ceremony. Early societies perceived connections between certain actions performed by the group or leaders in the group and the desired results of the whole society. These actions moved from habit, to tradition, and then on to ceremony and ritual. The formulation of these actions, and the consequent repetition and rehearsal, broke the ground for theatre.

According to the mythologist Joseph Campbell, rituals are related to three basic concerns: pleasure, power, and duty. Power- influencing and controlling events- was often the intention of rituals such as ceremonies to guarantee a successful crop or to please the gods. Usually societies had rituals that glorified supernatural powers, victories, and heroes. Often supernatural forms would be represented using costumes and masks. Rituals that were practiced as duty to the gods, also brought entertainment and pleasure.

These rituals are accompanied by myths. The myths enter the storytelling tradition, gaining a life beyond the original rites. This new life allows the myths to move towards entertainment and the esthetic. These stories now are performed for their own sake and move towards theatre.

Through these rituals, leaders, or actors of sorts, emerged. These acting/leadership roles were often filled by elders and priests. In addition, the beginnings of acting spaces or auditoriums developed as a result of more elaborate rituals.

The earliest example of ceremony and ritual evolving towards theatre comes from ancient Egypt. "Pyramid texts" dating from 2800 to 2400 B.C., contain dramas sending the dead pharaoh off to the underworld. These dramas also the continuity of life and the pharaoh's power. There is also the Memphite Drama, recounting the story of the death and resurection of the god Osiris, and the coronation of his son Horus. The most important Egyptian drama, though, was the Abydos passion play. Like the Memphite drama, the Abydos passion play concerns the story of Osiris. The paramont egyptian myth, this drama was enacted at the most sacred place in Egypt, Abydos- the burial site of Osiris. .Performed annualy from 2500 to 550 B.C. and full of spectacle, this passion play is the first of its kind ever recorded and is the first example of theatre.

Answer 2

With this question,I assume you mean a group of actors to entertain the populace.We know the greeks and romans did They built amphitheatres.The greeks held sporting(olympics)contests These were held in a stadium for mass entertainment The romans did as well.Perhaps the best known amphitheatre was the coliseum.Where gladiators fought to the death.With an audience of thousands.

Answer 3

Probably the first time a hunter came home late drunk when he had said he was going hunting and had to explain where he had been. Or the first time a fisherman had to explain why he didn't have his harpoon any more and rather than tell the truth (he threw it in the water when he lost a fish) he made up a story about how a large whale swam off with it.

Answer 4

Theater was used to educate people. It was a way to hand down oral traditions when there was no writting. Humans similar to us, with about the same brain size have been around for 250,000 years. It could have arisen anytime in that period.

Answer 5

If we look back to the ancient Greeks, there are early examples of theatre in a form that is comparable to modern theatre. Early examples of theatre are connected to Thespis, who was around in 534 BC, and won a play competition about the Greek god Dionysus.

Answer 6

see: the Flintstones