Greek Drama on the World Stage

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

What are the origins of drama? How did tragedy and comedy develop? Why do ancient plays continue to fascinate audiences across the world today? In this course, undergraduates engage with the diverse dramatic art of Ancient Greece. We read plays drawn from the many performance genres of the ancient Mediterranean, including works by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes (all in English translation). In discussing these plays, we examine the conventions of tragedy and comedy; the social, economic, and political context of drama throughout its history; costumes, masks, and set design; music and dance; the art of translation; and the continuing relevance of theatrical performance today. More than two millennia after its invention, Greek drama continues to thrive on the world stage.