Studying Drama by Michael Patterson
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Studying Drama by Michael Patterson
What is a play ?
The difference between a play and other literature, for example poetry or narrative fiction, becomes quiet clear just by briefly looking at a text. A play text contains stage directions, the characters names introducing their dialogue, acts, scenes and a sense that the text is only a basis for a live performance in front of an audience.
One might find even more evidence for the fact that a play is supposed be performed in front of a live audience by looking at the origins of the word "drama" and other related words. The word "drama" derives from the Greek word "dran", which means "to do, act or perform". Another example is the word "theatre", which derives from the Greek "theatron" and means "a place for viewing".
When we think of the word play, we usually associate it with children, who dress up, paint their faces and even adopt vocal and physical mannerism observed from adults. To them the playing has several functions. A very valuable one would be to prepare them for their future life's, for example while playing "Mom and Dad". But it also seems to be a natural impulse for human beings to play...