Ancient Greek philosophy

Classical Greek Architecture The reuse of older art works in contemporary times is not an uncommon occurrence, and many examples can be seen throughout the day as one goes from place to place. Even when one is browsing through the World Wide Web can many uses of older art and architecture be seen, as with the example shown. This image was found on the internet at the American Express homepage (http://www.americanexpress.com/student/), which functions as a resource for college students to find

1. Kabuki - Kabuki is a style of Japanese theater that evolved from Noh theater. Noh was slow, contemplative, and philosophical, and eventually became so refined that it was considered inaccessible and reserved for the educated upper classes. Kabuki was developed by the rising middle class as popular entertainment, and included stylized fighting, aerial stunts, exaggerated makeup and costuming, and physical and verbal comedy. 2. Nixon in China - Nixon in China is an American opera portraying President

Famous Ancient Greek philosophers: Socrates and Plato The human mind has always been puzzled with basic questions such as: who am I? Where the universe come from, and what is its purpose? How can I be happy? Greek philosophers who were” seekers and lovers of wisdom” tried to approach these life’s big questions sometimes in a scientific way, other times in mystic ways, but always imaginatively. Among them, we remember: Pythagoras of Samos, who was viewed as a charlatan because he believed in the doctrine

In 399 BCE, nineteen years before Plato transcribed Republic, classical Greek philosopher Socrates was formally put on trial and executed on the citation of two “impious” acts: having “failed to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges” and “introducing new deities.” These two recognized accusations, and the punishment that Socrates paid for them through a poisonous hemlock-based liquid, was witnessed by his student, Plato. Plato was inspired to later write Socratic works and dialogues dedicated

The Italian Renaissance was an explosion of art, writing, and thought, that roughly lasted between 1300 to 1600. In this time each citizen, countrymen, or villager had and performed different jobs and careers. Humanism the study of Greek and Roman writings, art, and architecture, initially jump started the Renaissance, and the need for art. Artists now were inspired to use life like art and linear perspective, so art seemed and was more realistic. The start of the Italian Renaissance was the

One of the most popular conflicts from classical Greek literature is the one found between Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ play Antigone. After a lethal conflict that left both of Antigone’s brothers dead, Creon ordered that Polyneices (one of Antigone’s brothers who fought against Creon’s state) be denied a proper and honorable burial. Antigone opposed Creon’s order; her own religious faith to the Greek Gods demanded that she defy the decree and bury Polynices anyways. This tension between the

In Sophocles’ play, “Antigone” translated by Robert Fitzgerald and Dudley Fitts, Creon believes his laws surpass the laws written by the gods but his real flaw is his belief in masculine superiority and his self-destructive pride. In Greek literature, a tragedy means a sad story in which a hero is defeated because of his flaws and through this the audience will have a better understanding of themselves and the world. King Creon takes the audience thru his journey of ego, stubbornness and suffering

Theatre History Explained Neil Fraser outlines the history of theatre from Greek and Roman times, all the way through the twentieth century. Fraser makes a claim that theatre truly began in Greek culture with even the Roma’s looking upon that time as “the golden age”. “The Romans looked back on Greek theatre of circa 600BC as a golden age, and we can still make a case for the great plays of that period as having never been bettered.” (Fraser, 2004, pg.5). Some of the more important highlights of

Aristotle was a phenomenal Greek philosopher. His words and thoughts inspired millions, and continue inspiring today. He taught lessons to those who would listen, he preached his scientific findings, but above all, Aristotle enjoyed the theatre. In fact, Aristotle had his own views about different genres. Today we will look at tragedy. In Aristotle’s mind, a tragedy was the process of imitating an action which had serious implications, was complete, and possessed magnitude. He even composed

Socrates, a Greek philosopher stated, "Look death in the face with joyful hope, and consider this a lasting truth: the righteous man has nothing to fear, neither in life, nor in death, and the Gods will not forsake him” (Socrates). This explains the basis for Greek beliefs that can be carried over to values and qualities of them. As in this, Homer, the author of The Odyssey, portrays many Greek values that make up a righteous man or as, Homer’s character Odysseus, an epic hero. The Odyssey is