When was lysistrata performed

However, as scholars point out, there are also anti-feministic nuances in the play. For example, Aristophanes uses crude humour within the play to ridicule women and their desperation to have their men home.

And even the very fact that women withhold sex to force men to end the war reinforces one thing-women are nothing but sexual objects for men. Also, the play was written at a time when feminism did not exist. What further throws us into turmoil is that the play is a satirical comedy. This takes away any feminist standpoint within the play. Moreover, we know that for centuries, the characters of women were performed on stage by men themselves. This heightens the comical factor. For Lysistrata to be taken as a serious, heroic figure, it does not help matters when men deliver her dialogues and revolutionary actions.

For the audience, which comprised mostly of men, it may have appeared even more comical. But from a modern point of view, the sex strike is a revolutionary act by women, not to mention their wit and leadership skills portrayed within the play. As with any literary or artwork, the play is open to various interpretations.

It is difficult to say what Aristophanes actually meant by writing the play as he did. Was it merely a protest against war and its devastating effects?

Or did he truly intend for women to be seen as leaders and not merely the wives of leaders? Whether the play is considered feministic or not, it holds a tremendous influence on modern theatrical and musical productions, not to mention society. This shows its impact on modern cultures all over the world. One of the influences of the play on modern society can be seen in the movement called the Lysistrata Project.

The original idea was born when Kathryn Blume, an actress from New York, decided to organize a reading of the play. All the earnings would go towards humanitarian efforts. In , an article published discussed how the success of the project and the message of the play inspired several professors in Texas to create their own movement. Three consecutive readings of Lysistrata were organized at the universities of Weber and Utah. They served as a type of peace project. One of the directors was Linda Brown, who stated that the play was a catalyst for the people who needed to voice their opinions.

The play also had an impact on her as a mother, with her son going off to war. Although at the time the play was written, the notions of female liberty may not have existed, but it certainly does have a lasting impact on society now.

Skip to content. Post Views: 4, Bust of Aristophanes. Lysistrata follows Greek women, led by Lysistrata, ending the Peloponnesian War by denying sex to men. Epiphany of a Serious Dionysus in a Comedy? Toponimi e immaginario sessuale nella Lisistrata di Aristofane. Two Phaedras: Euripides and Aristophanes? Plautus und die Techniken des Improvisationstheaters. Aristophanes in England, — Reform: A Farce Modernised from Aristophanes Translations of Aristophanes in Italy in the 19 th century.

Lysistrata on Broadway. Aristophanes at the BBC, s—s. A British female theater director in a male dominated field, Littlewood has been important to theater history for exploring experimental forms of political theater within the context of theater collectives. A central highlight of my research was the discovery of a manuscript containing an adaptation of Lysistrata authored by Ewen MacColl for the Theater Union collective , as well as detailed staging notes for a communist production of the play directed by Littlewood during WWII in Manchester.

Incorporated into chapter 7 Lysistrata and the World Wars , my interpretation of the new archival material on Littlewood will also form the basis for an article on the history of the Theater Union, directed towards researchers of British theater history. My project relates to recent work on the reception of Greek drama, challenging traditional views of classical Greek culture as the province of Western, mainstream and text-based high culture.

While books on the reception of Greek drama in the modern theater mostly focus on tragedy, there has also been growing interest in the reception of comedy, especially post My study is primarily directed towards scholars of Theater and Classics.

This will be the first book on the production history of Lysistrata , by far the most frequently performed Aristophanic play in modern times.

The phenomenon is also probably unique by reference to the production history of Greek tragedy. The book will complement book-length studies on the performance of Greek comedy in the modern world, contributing a comparative and comprehensive study of significant traditions of Aristophanic staging in Western theater, involving major directors and influential interpretations. Equally significant is that early twentieth century Lysistrata s outline virtually all essential traits of Aristophanic performance in the 20th century.

There is no book of comparable scope on Attic comedy in performance, in existing literature. The majority of current book-length studies tend to focus on Aristophanic production within a single, national culture; other major books on Aristophanic performance are collections of articles, of diverse interests and perspectives, in which connections across time and place are not comprehensive.

Beta, Simone. Ancient drama in music for the modern stage. OUP Oxford, Erkelenz, Michael. Hall, Edith and Amanda Wrigley, eds. Peace, Birds and Frogs. Antichthon — DOI: Ussher, Robert G. Walton, J. A comprehensive list of all Greek plays in English translation. In Found in translation: Greek drama in English. Edited by J. Michael Walton, — Zimmermann, Bernhard. Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content on this page. Please subscribe or login.

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