Elliott.11.04.2009

Beginning of class

Dr. Nicosia- not alot of sleep, running on caffeine, peanut butter. Delicious

Today, 3 things:

1. Video 2. Go over Aristotle's "Poetics" 3. Arthur Miller’s tragedy of common man.

Miller Article is on Wiki.

HW: Wiki convo over the weekend, and read Oedipus.


 * Warning! This movie is intentionally cheesy! YEAH!!!!**

Tragedy: can be sad, or intellectually stimulating

King Lear is a dramatic art!

Playwrights use language and imagination to make the tragic figure’s experience our own.

Tragedy: Terrible beauty

Terrible: the hardships the character faces

Beauty: the grace with which the character faces them

King Lear maintains dignity, keeps the true character of a man.

Should the tragic hero be viewed as better then us? Some say yes. Some say no.

Everyone can be a tragic hero, without being a king, queen, or knight.


 * EEEYHdipus Rex.**

First tragic play.

Oedipus is destined to kill his father and marry his mother.

Investigates, realizes he has done this. EWWW.

Oedipus kills a guy for not giving him right of way. Overkill.

Goes to Thebes to alleviate a sphinx and a plague

Answers the sphinx’s riddle, plague is gone.

Becomes king, marries widowed queen

Puts out his eyes!

**Is he a mighty figure?** Yup, he’s a king Totes Mgotes, he went from king to banished Killing your dad, and then marrying your mom qualifies as uncommon suffering, at least by my judgment. Oh yeah, and punishes himself violently for them. Yes
 * Does he suffer a reversal of fortune?**
 * Does he endure uncommon suffering?**
 * Does he recognize the consequences of his actions?**
 * Does his plight enoble and enlarge us?**


 * Tragedy in middle ages**

500-1500

Tragical tales - teaching stories, rather than dramatic plays.

Took form as stories, death of main character, and used to impart moral lessons.


 * Let’s talk about the movie!**

Moment of __epiphany__ is had by __character__.

__Catharsis__ is had by the __reader__.

We’re reading this, because we won’t get to Shakespeare (no Shakespeare? D=)


 * BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP*

Jimmy is sorry.

Did anyone read the essay? Yeah....

PERK UP, PERK UP! it’s Wednesday!


 * Aristotle’s “Poetics”**

“Poetics” is important, founds the basis of our final exam.

page 672: Last paragraph.

Kyle reads.

This paragraph discusses:

-Tragedy has some common elements.

-Relates concepts of good and evil into the tragic form.

-Money should not be the basis for tragedy. //(Is Great Gatsby a tragedy? What about Midas?)//

[difference in college: teachers don’t tell students what is right and wrong, but give them different viewpoints, and the vocabulary to discuss their view/interpretation]

Sweeney Todd The Watchmen Clint Eastwood, in movies where he’s a cowboy.
 * Modern tragedies?**

Bottom of 673: footnote #9

Discusses //deus ex machina//, an acceptable storytelling method in Greek drama, typically unacceptable in modern storytelling.

Page 674

Discusses importance of the Chorus in tragedy.


 * The clock is disturbing. It’s an hour ahead. Holy cow.**

Everyone: take notes on this Arthur Miller! It’s good stuff.

Dr. Nicosia starts the reading. (PRO TIP: Number your paragraphs, fool.)

Are there tragedies written anymore? Discuss!

Who are modern heroes? Sport figures? Firemen? Police?

These figures don’t match Aristotle’s definition.

Collective figures like Firemen, Police are common.

To be a hero, it is felt that one must “toot your own horn.” You have to appeal to the media, to make yourself known.

Glory and honor have been replaced with fame and wealth by modern society.

Sully Sullenberger has been called a hero.

It’s sad to not be able to say we have a definitive hero for today.

Sports heroes, who grow up in hard areas, sometimes forget their roots, and get lost in fame.

When are the Freeman fires going to stop? This is an example of people letting something that is unacceptable go on.

We are a generation that is no longer willing to stand up.

We are connected to Oedipus, even though he is a king, and we are students, by simple human psychology.

Do we feel a connection to Oedipus, the guy who killed his dad and married his mom?

If we don’t relate, it is a failed tragedy.

__Updated HW:__ Over the weekend, finish Arthur Miller’s essay, read as much of Oedipus as humanly possible for you.