Week 3’s lesson started by Ryan asking if we had any difficulties understanding/completing our assignments as there wasn’t any lesson for week 2. Gwyn commented that he did not have any trouble completing my sentence into a story as he felt my sentences were ’simple’(I shall take that as a complement! (:) and ‘neutral’. And so Ryan asked me to share one of my openers with the class. I read the first sentence(Minutes feel like seconds as Cheryl tries to unlock the room.) to the class and Ryan talked about it. In my opinion, this sentence is not a neutral one as it has created an expectation of how the story will be continued.
Anyway, we went on next with our presentation on Aristotle. I was grouped with Khai and together we made up Group A! Ryan handed out mahjong papers and markers for the different groups to draw out their presentations. Everyone was in shock as they have already created powerpoint slides for the presentation. Luckily, Khai and I only did a brief one as ryan did not mention about powerpoint slides needed. Anyway being in Group A, we presented first. Below are the main notes on our presentation as well as other’s. (All of us were like typing agressively, bullet-speed! ahhaha.)
Aristotle was born in Stagira in north Greece. (384 B.C)
Aristotle’s Poetics is a book that gives an account of poetry. It is the foundation of Renaissance poetic theory. He explains poetry through principles and classifies them into different genres and parts.
Aristotle wrote the Poetics about seventy-five years after the last of the great fifth century tragedies had been written. His chief aim was to give advice on writing tragedy to contemporary poets.
What is the definition of Greek tragedy?
It is a drama genre, a literary composition written to be performed by actors in which a central character called a tragic protagonist or hero suffers some serious misfortune which is not accidental. Tragedy stresses the vulnerability of human beings. However, is not totally pessimistic in its outlook. Although many tragedies end in misery for the characters, there are also tragedies in which a satisfactory solution of the tragic situation is attained.
Ryan’s notes on the definition of tragedy:
A tragedy is an Imitation of an action (mimesis) that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, in the form of action not narrative; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its kartharsis of such emotions.
Mimesis: Greek meaning:”Imitatin”/”Representation”. The extract of how art imitates/represents reality.
Kathersis: Greek meaning: “Purification” or “Cleansing”. Audience can identify themselves witht the characteristics, as they are able to experience what the character feels.
What is an example of a movie or a play that follows Aristotle’s definition of tragedy? Explain your selection.
Saving Private Ryan. Tom hanks was considered the ‘hero’ in the film. According to Aristotle’s definition of tragedy, the hero actually dies in some unlucky situation, which is unintentional. Tom Hanks in Saving Private got shot in the end and suffers massive blood loss and therefore he dies in the end.
6 parts of tragedy.
plot
character
diction (rhythmic language)
thought
spectacle (costumes/set/props) (beautifies, more interesting to watch.)
song
Cause & effect chain:
cause =reason
effect=result
chain=diminoeffect
Each event leads to another; Chain of events.
Action is the foundation of a plot.
According to Aristotle, tragedy…
- shows rather than tells.
- creates a cause-and -effect chain that clearly reveals what may happen
- arouses not only pity but also fear, because members of the audience can imagine themselves within the cause-and-effect chain.
Unity of actions!
1. Time
2. Place (moving of sets very troublesome.)
3. Action
Film allows breaking of all these rules because controls what we see.
We should try to keep it simple, general theme. Make it understandable.
Plot is the arrangement of incidents. (calendar of events)
it is not the story itself, but the way the incidents are presented to the audience
The structure of the play.
THREE-act structure.
Beginning
- the incitive moment
- it must start with the cause-and-effect chain
Middle
- climax
- it must be caused by earlier incidents and itself cause the incidents that follow it
End
- resolution
- must be cause by the preceding events but not lead to other incidents.
- the end should resolve the problem created during the incitive moment.
What is a episodic plot?
it is a plot where lesser focus is placed on connection between scenes and it is only bonded by common characters.
scenes have no unity & does not link logically
same characters, no constant sequence.. no coherence, ex. Shakespeare’s. MacBeth/12th night.
simple vs complex plots.
a simple plot wld be one idea , continuous. Simple has only a “change of fortune.”
a complex plot has a reversal of intention “peripetia” & recognition “anagnorisis” connected with the catastrophe.
perepeteia: reversal of circumstance or turning point (sudden reversal dependant on intellect and logic.)
Anagnorisis- the point in the plot , particularly the tragedy where the reality of the situation dawns upon the main character.
Cannot begin suddenly, nor end suddenly.
Credibility- must be believable
There shld NEVER be someone who comes in suddenly, to solve all problems and leaves. (Fairy God-mother etc.)
Character
-supports plot.
(secondary.)
-personal motivations are connected to the cause-effect chain
- the protagonist in a tragedy should be renowned and prosperous, so his change can be from good to bad.
-in the IDEAL tragedy, the protagonist will mistakenly bring about his own downfall-not because he is sinful or weak-but because he does not know enough. when he finally finds out, its called anagnorisis.
-this lack of self-knowledge is called “hamartia”.
Mindless Looking vs. True observation
This topic was interesting as Ryan posted a question in class, “Is shopping considered ‘Mindless Looking’ or ‘True Observation’?” And all the guys answered ‘Mindless looking straight away while the girls answered ‘True Observation’. Hee. 
