lhwiki1

Contrast and compare the role and purpose of secular drama and theatre as an expression of the communities from which it arose and for which it has served with that of religious and ritual drama and theatre. Use examples from __Joe Turner__ and the way the play makes use of both secular and religious/ritual aspects to shape it's content an manner of expression.
 * Question: **

Over the years, the theater has served as a sort of mirror for society. As one explores the motives behind plays and other works of theater and the meanings behind these pieces, one is able to see the religious and secular influences of the times. For example, in many Native American societies, the people celebrated and worshipped their gods by depicting the lives of the gods in tribal theatrics. These performances involved ornate costumes and masks and very intricate dance choreography. In Ancient Greece as well, the people collaborated to produce plays that, again, were a form of worship for the gods. Dionysius represented new life and was celebrated in the spring, primarily with dramas that reflected the human condition and human triumphs. In the Christian tradition, the mystery cycles were performed in medieval Western Europe. These shows were performed on wooden carts that traveled across the continent. Each cart had a different scene from the life of Christ reenacted on it so that the townsfolk could experience the entire story of the Christian faith. The entire community worked together to costume, create special effects, and produce these scenes.
 * Answer: **

In Elizabethan Theater, the religious influences on theater disappear and the focus turns again to the human condition and motivations. This period of theater was almost entirely secular. The Beijing Opera also had little, if any, religious motivation. The main purpose of this theater was to display the actors and the focus was on the perfect execution of specific artistic techniques, especially the details in clothing and dance choreography.

In __Joe Turner__, Bynum serves as the main religious symbol. He brings couples together serving as a sort of reverend performing symbolic marriage ceremonies. He also kills the pigeons in the yard and uses their blood in a type of ritual, a religious rite of some sort. Again we see religious influences in the scene where Loomis collapses on the floor and Bynum leans over him asking questions and calling him by his full name as if it were some sort of baptism. The play also focuses on some secular themes such as family; here the traditional idea of family is challenged and expanded to include people who are very close to one another even though they are not actually related. Identity is also explored in depth as most characters travel through a type of transition in their lives to find themselves.

**Citation:** Arnold, Stephanie. //The Creative Spirit: An Introduction to Theatre//. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.