Creative Writing 101 Ep.5 - Drama and Its Elements

Summary

In this episode of Creative Writing 101, Siranji Javier explores the genre of drama, tracing its origins from the Greek word 'drama' meaning 'to act'. Drama is a prose composition intended for stage performance, but now extends to various media. Javier outlines the essential elements of drama, including plot, theme, characters, dialogue, musical rhythm, and spectacle, and expands on modern elements like convention and genre. The video categorizes drama elements into literary, technical, and performance, providing insights into each for a comprehensive understanding of drama creation.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Drama originates from the Greek word 'drama', meaning 'to act' or 'to do', and is a prose composition intended for stage performance.
• 🌐 The modern concept of drama extends beyond the stage to include television, movies, and internet platforms.
• 📚 Drama is characterized by both literary and theatrical elements, which are crucial for its creation and appreciation.
• 🎨 Literary elements of drama encompass plot, theme, characters, dialogue, musical rhythm, and spectacle, as proposed by Aristotle.
• 👤 Modern drama includes additional elements like convention, genre, and audience, expanding the traditional six elements.
• 📜 The literary elements of drama include characters, point of view, conflict, plot, theme, moral, and literary devices.
• 🗣️ Dialogue in drama can be common, monologue, soliloquy, or aside, each serving a specific purpose in character expression.
• 🏞️ Technical elements of drama involve scenery, costumes, props, lighting, sound, and makeup, which contribute to the stage setting.
• 👥 Performance elements focus on the actors, their acting skills, and techniques such as speaking styles, breath control, and facial expressions.
• 👏 The ultimate goal of drama is to present a story through acting for the enjoyment of the audience.

Q & A

What is the origin of the word 'drama'?

The word 'drama' comes from the Greek word 'dran', which means to act or to do.

How has the medium for drama evolved over time?

Drama has evolved from being presented on stage to also being seen on different media such as television, movies, or on the internet.

What are the two sets of characteristics that define drama?

Drama has literary and theatrical characteristics, which identify the elements of drama one should consider in creating a drama.

Who proposed the essential elements of drama that became the standard used in modern times?

The Greek philosopher Aristotle proposed a set of essential elements of drama that became the standard used in modern times.

What are the six essential elements of drama mentioned by Aristotle?

Aristotle's six essential elements of drama are the plot, the theme, the characters, the dialogue, the musical rhythm, and the spectacle.

What are the three additional elements of drama in modern theater?

In modern theater, the three additional elements of drama are convention, genre, and the audience.

How are the elements of drama categorized?

The elements of drama can be categorized into literary elements, technical elements, and performance elements.

What are the four types of dialogue a playwright can use in a drama?

The four types of dialogue are common dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, and aside.

What is the purpose of the technical elements in a play?

The technical elements refer to the technicalities of the play, including scenery, costumes, props, lighting, sound, and makeup, and are used to set the stage for the play.

What are the performance elements of drama?

The performance elements of drama include the actors, acting, speaking styles, breath control, vocal expression, infection, projection, and gestures.

What is the significance of the audience in the elements of drama?

The audience is significant because the whole effort of making a play is for their enjoyment and engagement.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Introduction to Drama in Creative Writing

In this segment, Siranji Javier introduces the genre of drama within creative writing. Drama is derived from the Greek word 'drama,' meaning 'to act,' and it is a prose composition intended for stage performance. However, with advancements in media, drama can now be experienced through various platforms like television and the internet. Drama is characterized by both literary and theatrical elements. Literary elements include the story's plot, theme, characters, dialogue, musical rhythm, and spectacle, which refers to the visual aspects of a play. Theatrical elements encompass conventions, genre, and audience. The video further breaks down drama elements into literary, technical, and performance categories. Literary elements focus on the story, including characters, point of view, conflict, plot, theme, and moral, along with language, style, and dialogue types such as common dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, and aside. The segment concludes with an invitation to revisit previous episodes for a deeper understanding of these concepts.

05:00

🎭 Deep Dive into Drama Elements and Performance

This paragraph delves into the technical and performance elements of drama. Technical elements pertain to the stage setup, including scenery or set design, costumes, props, lighting, sound, and makeup. These elements are crucial for creating the setting and atmosphere of the play. Performance elements, on the other hand, relate to the actors and their portrayal of characters through casting and acting techniques. The form of acting, such as musical or mime, is also discussed. Additional performance elements include speaking styles, breath control, vocal expression, projection, and the use of gestures and facial expressions. The paragraph concludes by reiterating that drama is a form of storytelling meant for stage performance, encompassing literary, technical, and performance elements. Siranji Javier thanks the viewers for watching and encourages them to like and subscribe for more content on creative writing.

Keywords

💡Drama

Drama, derived from the Greek word 'dran', refers to a prose composition that is meant to be performed on a stage before an audience. In the context of the video, drama is a genre of creative writing that has evolved to be presented on various media beyond the traditional stage, including television, movies, and the internet. The script discusses how drama comprises both literary and theatrical characteristics, making it a dynamic form of storytelling.

💡Elements of Drama

The elements of drama are the fundamental components that make up a dramatic work. As outlined in the script, these include plot, theme, characters, dialogue, musical rhythm, and spectacle. The video expands on these by adding modern elements like convention, genre, and audience, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of drama as an art form.

💡Literary Elements

Literary elements in drama pertain to the story's fictional aspects, such as characters, point of view, conflict, plot, theme, and moral. The script highlights additional literary elements like language, style, and dialogue, which contribute to the depth and richness of the narrative. These elements are crucial for engaging the audience and conveying the story's message.

💡Technical Elements

Technical elements of drama refer to the practical aspects of stage production, including scenery, costumes, props, lighting, sound, and makeup. These elements are discussed in the script as essential for creating the physical environment of the play and enhancing the audience's experience. They support the performance and help bring the literary elements to life visually and audibly.

💡Performance Elements

Performance elements are those that involve the actors and their portrayal of the characters. The script mentions actors, acting techniques, and various performance aspects like speaking styles, breath control, vocal expression, and facial expressions. These elements are vital for translating the written drama into a compelling live performance.

💡Dialogue

Dialogue in drama is the conversation between characters, which is central to revealing character traits and advancing the plot. The script distinguishes between common dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, and aside, each serving a specific dramatic purpose. Effective dialogue is key to engaging the audience and driving the narrative forward.

💡Monologue

A monologue, as mentioned in the script, is a form of dialogue where a single character speaks while the others listen. It is often used to express a character's thoughts or feelings in depth, providing insight into their inner world. Monologues are a powerful tool for character development and can be particularly impactful in dramatic storytelling.

💡Soliloquy

A soliloquy is a dramatic device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone on stage, as explained in the script. It is a way for the audience to gain access to a character's private reflections, which would not be shared with other characters. Soliloquies are commonly used in plays to provide a deeper understanding of a character's motivations and conflicts.

💡Aside

An aside in drama, as described in the script, is a line or speech delivered by a character that is intended to be heard only by the audience, not the other characters on stage. This device allows for a direct communication with the audience, often used to reveal a character's true thoughts or to provide commentary on the action, adding a layer of intimacy and depth to the performance.

💡Genre

Genre in the context of drama refers to the type or style of the play, such as tragedy, comedy, or historical drama. The script discusses how the genre can influence the narrative structure, themes, and the overall tone of the play. Understanding the genre helps in shaping the audience's expectations and the director's approach to the production.

💡Audience

The audience is central to drama, as they are the recipients of the performance and the ultimate judges of its success. The script emphasizes that playwrights and actors must consider the audience's expectations, preferences, and reactions when creating a play. The audience's engagement and enjoyment are the ultimate goals of any dramatic production.

Highlights

Introduction to a new genre of creative writing: drama.

Definition of drama and its origin from the Greek word 'drama'.

Evolution of drama to be presented on various media beyond the stage.

Identification of two sets of drama characteristics: literary and theatrical.

Discussion on the essential elements of drama as defined by Aristotle.

Expansion of drama elements in modern theater to include nine components.

Explanation of the additional elements: convention, genre, and audience.

Categorization of drama elements into literary, technical, and performance elements.

Detailed explanation of literary elements such as characters, plot, and theme.

Introduction to the concept of dialogue types in drama: common dialogue, monologue, soliloquy, and aside.

Description of technical elements like scenery, costumes, props, lighting, sound, and makeup.

Emphasis on the importance of the audience in the creation and enjoyment of drama.

Discussion on performance elements focusing on the actors and their portrayal of characters.

Exploration of acting techniques and styles used in drama.

Highlight of additional performance elements like speaking styles, breath control, and vocal projection.

Conclusion summarizing the three categories of drama elements and the essence of drama.

Call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and stay updated for future episodes.

Transcripts

hello everyone i am siranji javier and

welcome to a new episode of creative

writing

101

[Applause]

we already discussed the conventions of

fiction and poetry

this time we'll focus on a new genre of

creative writing

that is drama to define drama came from

the greek word ran

which means to act or to do because a

drama is basically a prose composition

that presents a story that is intended

to be acted on a stage

before an audience but with these

innovations

drama can now be seen on different media

like

television movies or on the internet

with this known drama has two set of

characteristics

those which are literary and those which

are theatrical and these characteristics

identify the elements of drama which one

should consider

in making an actual one there are many

versions of the elements of drama in

fact

even the greek philosopher aristotel had

his own set of essential elements

that became the standard used in modern

time these essential elements include

the plot

the theme the characters the dialogue

the musical rhythm

and the spectacle which refers to the

visual elements of a play

the costumes the set the special effects

or simply everything that the audience

sees as they watch the play in modern

theater

these six essential elements of marissa

tell became

nine the additional elements are

convention which means the methods or

techniques the director uses

to create a specific style or effect

second is the genre which means the type

of play

is it a tragedy is it a comedy is it a

historical place don't worry we will

discuss

these genres further in our next

episodes and third

the audience which of course are the

people who watch the play playwrights

and actors

highly consider the audience as the

whole effort of making a play

is for the enjoyment of the audience but

to make the elements of drama more

comprehensive

let us discuss them in categories there

can be three categories of drama

elements

these are the literary elements the

technical elements and the performance

elements the literary elements are

basically the elements of fictional

things about the story itself these are

the characters the point of view the

conflict the plot

the theme the moral even literary

devices like foreshadowing

and ironys we had discussed this in our

previous episode so if you wish to

recall these concepts

kindly click the link right here aside

from these elements

additional literary elements are first

language which is just like diction or

the choice of words

as for the dialogues of the characters

there's also the style

which refers to the shaping of the story

the setting the theme the costumes

that creates the overall vibes of the

play and finally the dialogue which

refers to the transcript or

simply the lines the characters deliver

remember there are four types of

dialogue a playwright can use

to make the characters stop in a drama

the first is the common dialogue where

two or more characters

talk in a scene simply a conversation

the second

is monologue from the words mono meaning

one

and log meaning speak it means there's

only one character speaking and the rest

of the characters

are merely listening to him or her

remember a monologue is usually

triggered by a scene

or a dialogue before it happens

third is the soliloquy this refers to

the lines

a character delivers while he or she is

alone on stage

this is usually used to express a

character's deep thoughts

like when reflecting especially in

musical plays

and finally the fourth one is the aside

which refers to the lines a character

delivers

that the other characters seem not to

hear and only the audience hears

this is used to express a character's

thought during a specific moment or

event once again those

are the literary elements of drama now

let's talk about the tactical elements

if the literary elements are about the

story the technical

refer to the technicalities of the play

or simply

everything about the stage the first

tactical element is the scenery or set

this is the arrangement of the stage

based

of course on the setting of the story

this includes the backdrops the

platforms the curtains and

everything else that is used to make the

stage look like the place where the

story

happened second is the costumes simply

they are the clothes and accessories

worn by the actors

next is the props or properties do not

confuse these with costumes

the props are any movable object

the characters or the actors use on

stage like cell phone

table and backwards we have live of

course a play should have good lighting

effect

that will intensify the environment and

the impact of the play

fifth is the sound sound is the use of

music and other sound effects

to improve the impact of the scenes and

the dialogues of the characters

and finally the sixth one makeup which

of course is the styling

of the actors again these technical

elements are for the setting of the

stage

of the play finally the performance

elements are for the actors

of the drama the first performance

element is the actors themselves

they portray the characters in the story

who are thoroughly

selected through castain second is the

acting

or the use of the face the body and the

voice to portray the characters

we also have the form of acting which

refers to how an

actor acts is it musical is it communal

or common acting

or is it phantom mimic or no lights at

all but pure acting

there are other performance elements

that i think i do not have to explain

further

as they are self-explanatory or very

easy to understand

this includes speaking styles breath

control

vocal expression infection and

projection

addiction gestures and facial

expressions

we're done once again drama is a story

that is intended to be acted on a stage

before

an audience and we have three categories

of elements of drama

we have the literary elements the

technical elements and the performance

elements

thank you for staying with me until the

end of this video if you like this video

please give it a thumbs up and subscribe

to our channel

so you would be updated of our next

uploads i am sir angie javier and this

is creative writing 101.