  Drama
This week: A Brief History of the Drama Genre Edited by: zwisis
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Welcome to my first Drama Newsletter. Drama is not a genre I have ever focused on in my personal writing, so I hope my research will benefit my understanding of Drama and produce a newsletter you the reader will find helpful and informative. |
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The modern visual media owes the Drama Genre an apology. Whenever I see a film marked as a “drama” I tend to change the channel. All too often these films focus on emotional characters playing depressing roles in sad stories with dismal conclusions. I prefer to watch something that uplifts me, with appealing characters telling an interesting story. So it came as a rather pleasant surprise to learn that the origins of this genre are best represented by the Classical Greek symbols used by modern theatre.
The mask on the left represents the laughing face of Thalia, the Greek Muse of Comedy. The one on right depicts Melpomene, the weeping face of the Greek Muse of Tragedy. The word “Drama” originates from the Greek word dran, meaning “action”, derived from “to do” or “act”. Over the centuries this genre has evolved, so today Drama has expanded to include elements from other writing genres.
In the film and television media Drama is used to describe a more serious, intellectual genre. In writing, Drama is so much more; think of the earliest dramatic works known to mankind, and the true features of this genre become clear. The Greek poet Homer’s most famous works are The Illiad and The Odyssey feature an assembly of Gods and Goddesses, Kings and Queens, heroes and villains, combined with a good deal of superstition and culture relevant to the era they reflect. These works represent tragedy, triumph, horror and spirituality, yet both poems belong to the Drama genre and have had an influence on many writers in the 2,500 years since they were first written.
Shakespeare’s dramatic works are world famous, and embrace different themes: romance (Romeo and Juliet), revenge (Hamlet), tragedy (Macbeth), comedy (The Merchant of Venice), history (Henry V) and biographical (Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra). Regarded as the world’s greatest English writer, William Shakespeare is considered history's finest dramatic writer.
Consider the examples of Homer’s and Shakespeare’s writing: all their works reflect element of reality. They describe events that happened to ordinary men and women - people like you and me. There are elements of superstition and fantasy in some of the stories, but these surely reflect the culture of the era when the stories were written. In The Odyssey Odysseus’ wife Penelope fights off suitors while waiting for her husband to return from the Trojan War. Although Homer details intervention by various gods and goddesses Odysseus eventually returns home, having survived storms, escaping from an island where he was held captive for seven years, dealt with cannibals, a whirlpool, a drunken crew and seen the ghost of his dead mother... all these events are believable, even the hallucination.
The Merchant of Venice touches on topics still as relevant today as they were in 1596, when the story was first written. There’s the differences between the cultural classes, money lending, racism, love and con artists, all played by a cast of memorable and believable characters. Drama writing is closely linked to realism, and this means the characters used to tell the story must be intense, interesting and exciting. Maybe they’re dealing with some form of inner conflict or torment, or facing a challenge from an outside source, the Drama genre tells the story of human struggles and how an individual comes to terms with specific trials and tribulations. Drama writing needs realistic characters, and real life scenarios are often the best settings for this genre.
During my research for this newsletter, one article I read claimed “writing in the drama genre is something we all know how to do – think back to the essays you wrote in English class at school, and you’ll realise those pieces fit the genre.” In conclusion, I’d like to share three suggestions for first time drama writers:
 Write about topics that combine elements of drama and fear; something to bring out the readers’ emotion. Example: the death of beloved pet.
Never overdo the drama element, or your story will become boring.
Don’t feature too many deaths – readers lose interest in characters if they think they will soon die.
Thank you for reading this first newsletter. Please feel free to write to me with any suggestions you wish to make. If you have any issues you’d like to see featured please drop me a line, and we’ll see what we can do.
Until next time, WRITE ON!
zwisis
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The sounds and smells of a dying summer and a long school year ahead would never leave Paul. They would haunt him, because that was the moment when everything changed. That was the memory Paul would dwell on, because that was when the ball fell out of Paul's pocket
He was going to die of a heart attack. Simon knew this without a doubt as he clung to the dirty brick behind him, his heart pounding so hard he was afraid it would knock him off the ledge. Or he would pass out. At least that way, he wouldn’t feel it when he hit the ground. Would he?
This poem, written by new member of WDC, proves how effective drama can be in poetry.
You can not say you do not love me as you push me aside,
For in me you found comfort when you needed to run and hide.
| |  | Family Matters (E)
A mother is dying and her grown children are asked to come be with her.
#1915612 by Wren   |
“I told you, no, she won’t be coming! She has better things to do.”
“Than be with her husband when his mother is dying? How can that be?”
“Look. I’m tired of talking about this. I’ll see you Friday night.” He hung up.
The guard held the door for her, and after she entered, he turned around and locked the door. Her breath quickened and she sat on her hands to disguise the trembling. Or should trembling be part of the act? She placed her hands in her lap and exaggerated the shakes
The police. She should call the police. She reached into her shorts pocket and withdrew her phone with her right hand, holding the paintball gun erect with her left hand while she dialed. After four tries, her shaking fingers finally managed to successfully type the 9, the 1, the 1, and the green "call" button. |
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Drama: January 29, 2013 Issue [#5485]
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