GREEK AND ROMAN PHILOSPHY IN THEATRICAL PRACTICE

This course fits into the more general domain of the history of philosophy but is characterized by the particular evidence it gives to the translation of philosophical reflection into the theatrical sphere.
It is an innovative course that aims to combine traditional teaching and seminars with a theater training laboratory.

Teaching will proceed according to the following path:
A) A theoretical-problematic study of some key topics of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, thanks to the study of a theater work.
B) Focus on the ancient poetic conception
C) Setting up of a scientifically correct and efficacious survey method.
D) Perfecting of the dialectical technique
E) Reading of theatrical works in translation
F) Participation (optional) in a theater training workshop

The student will master the tools of research in the historical-philosophical field and will achieve an adequate knowledge of the key points of the Greek and Roman philosophical tradition thanks to the investigation concerning the ancient theater. He will demonstrate his ability to reflect on the problems of ancient thought in reference to ancient poetics.

A basic knowledge of the History of Ancient Philosophy is required.
A basic knowledge of classical languages is also desirable.

Topics of ancient philosophy at theater
Aeschylus’ and Seneca’s Agamemnon .
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A) - S. Maso, Lingua philosophica Graeca, Milano : Mimesis 2010
B) - Aristotele, Poetica, a cura di P.L. Donini, Torino : Einaudi, 2008
C) - Eschilo, Orestea, introd. di F. Di Benedetto, trad. E. Medda, Milano : Rizzoli BUR
D) - Seneca, Agamennone, introd. e note di A. Perutelli, trad. G. Paduano, Milano : Rizzoli BUR

E) – A. Rodighiero, La tragedia greca. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2013. “Introduzione” (pp. 7-12); cap. 1 “La tragedia nella città” (pp. 23-46); cap. 2 “Lo spazio teatrale” (pp. 47-83).

F) On Aeschylus: choice of one of the following proposals:
- S. Halliwell, The poetics of emotional expression: some problems of ancient theory, in Emotions in the Classical World, D. Cairns & D. Nelis (eds.), Stuttgart : Steiner 2017, pp. 105-142.
- C. Barone, Profili di Clitennestra tra odio e amore, in OJH, 1, 2019, 369-83
- E. Medda, La grande manipolatrice. Clitemestra e il dominio del linguaggio nell’Agamennone di Eschilo, «Rhesis» 11, 2020, 52-64
- E. Medda, Dal mito al teatro: la Cassandra di Eschilo, in Cassandra: immaginari letterari e figurativi, L. Calafiore, L. Pallaracci, G. Vitali, Roma, Bretschneider 2023, pp. xiii-xxvii
- S. Mazzoldi, Cassandra, la vergine e l’indovina: identità di un personaggio da Omero all’Ellenismo, Pisa 2001, pp. 63-81
- E. Severino, Il dolore, Zeus, l’epistème; la potenza della verità, in Il giogo. Alle origini della ragione: Eschilo, Adelphi : Milano 1989, pp. 21-43.

G) On Seneca: choice of one of the following proposals:
- S. Maso, Teorie stoiche in Seneca tragico, in Studi su ellenismo e filosofia romana, F. Alesse, A. Fermani, S. Maso (a cura di), Roma : Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, 2017, pp. 3-31.
- A. Costazza, La filosofia a teatro, Milano : Istit. Editoriale universit. Cisalpino, 2009, pp. 9-35
- G. Mazzoli, Il tragico in Seneca, in “Lexis”, 15 (1997), pp. 79-91
- C. Torre, Sur les passions et la tragédie, in Lectures plurielles du «De ira» de Sénèque. Interprétations, contextes, enjeux, V. Laurand, E. Malaspina, F. Prost (éd.), Berlin/Boston : De Gruyter 2021, pp. 277-291

H) On Seneca: choice of one of the following proposals:
- F. R. Berno, La strana coppia. Tieste e Cassandra profeti di sventura nell’Agamemnon di Seneca, in Agamennone classico e contemporaneo, a cura di F. Citti, A. Iannucci, A. Ziosi, Venezia : Edizioni Ca’ Foscari 2022, pp. 125-42
https://edizionicafoscari.it/en/edizioni4/libri/978-88-6969-633-6/la-strana-coppia-tieste-e-cassandra-profeti-di-sve/
- G. Mazzoli, L’Agamemnon come teorema tragico. In Il caso e le sue architetture. Trenta studi su Seneca tragico, Palermo : Palumbo, 2016, “Il segno di Eschilo”, pp. 309-25.
- G. Mazzoli, L’Agamemnon come teorema tragico. In Il caso e le sue architetture. Trenta studi su Seneca tragico, Palermo : Palumbo, 2016, “Cassandra fra tre mondi”, pp. 326-340

His preparation will be tested through an oral interview, the investigation referring to the texts of the tragedians, the study of secondary literature.

oral

Regarding the grading scale for the oral exam:
A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned for:
- Sufficient knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Limited ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Sufficient communication skills.

B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned for:
- Fair knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Fair ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Fair communication skills.

C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned for:
- Good or excellent knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Good or excellent ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Fully appropriate communication skills.

D. The “laude” will be awarded to students with excellent knowledge and comprehension of the textbooks and related topics.

The course is developed according to a perspective.
Occasional participation to the conferences of Ca' Foscari's visiting professors is scheduled.
We practice a close analysis of some classical theatrical works.
We encourage participation in a theater workshop scheduled for this course.

The theatrical workshop organized in connection with this teaching, run by a theater director, will allow the attending students to acquire 3 CFUs as an internship replacement activity. Attendance is limited and requires that those enrolled must have taken regular classes in the course "Greek and Roman Philosophy in Theater".

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion
Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development