historic theater
Introduction
The history of theater studies the evolution of dramatic art over time. The concept of theater is very broad: any person or group of people who develops a show in a given time and space forms a theatrical show. Theater has a literary basis, a script or plot written by a playwright. But this dramatic text requires a setting into action, for which interpretation is essential through actors or characters who develop the action, as well as elements such as scenery and sets, lighting, makeup, costumes, masks, etc. Certain shows can also be without text, as in the case of mime and pantomime, where gestural expression stands out. On the other hand, an essential element for communication is the presence of an audience. Theater has a function of socialization of human relationships, since it presents a certain degree of ritualization.
The origins of theater are found in ancient rites of prehistoric origin, where human beings began to be aware of the importance of communication for social relationships. Certain religious ceremonies already had a certain component of theatrical staging from their origin. In hunting rites, primitive man imitated animals (mimetic dance, represented in caves and rock shelters of the Mesolithic, where archers, spearmen and people dressed in masks and deer horns are seen, who probably also copied their movements and sounds); from the rite it went to the myth, from the sorcerer to the actor. In Africa, religious rites mixed movement and gestural communication with music and dance, and identity objects such as masks, which served to express roles or moods. These rites reinforced identity and social cohesion: the Gun") of Porto Novo (Benin) perform the kubitó, a mortuary ceremony where the participants, with sleight of hand techniques, disappear from the public; the Ibo of Nigeria celebrate the odo, over the dead who return; the Dogon of Mali practice the sigu every 60 years, in celebration of the first man who died; the Abidji of the Ivory Coast have the dipri, a New Year's agricultural festival, where knives are stuck in the belly, then healing the wounds with a paste. In pre-Columbian America, a form of theater was developed in the Mayan, Inca and Aztec cultures: the Mayan was related to agricultural festivals, and illustrated stories from the Popol Vuh; to state interests.
ancient theater
In Greece, theater understood as "dramatic art" was born. Greek theater evolved from ancient religious rituals (); The ritual became a myth and, through "mimesis", the word was added, resulting in tragedy. At the same time, the public went from participating in the ritual to being an observer of the tragedy, which had an educational component, transmission of values, as well as purgation of feelings ("catharsis"). Later, comedy emerged, with a first component of satire and political and social criticism, later leading to traditional themes and archetypal characters. Then mimicry and farce also appeared. The main Greek playwrights were: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides in tragedy, while in comedy Aristophanes and Menander stood out.[1].