Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

Fall 12-4-2024

Faculty Advisor(s)

Dr. Jocelyn Buckner

Abstract

What makes theatre “good?” There are some common answers that critics and the public agree upon, but the guidelines of good theatre have changed greatly throughout history. Many playwrights and critics have created philosophies that attempted to define popular theatre in their time or according to their personal views. Today’s opinion on “good” has its own set of characteristics that the majority of society enjoys, which is unique from any historical manifesto. Furthermore, our modern consensus doesn’t take into account the wildly different nature of individual preferences; while I enjoy light-hearted coming-of-age stories, others find deeper satisfaction from a thought-provoking drama. With so many different opinions and philosophies, how do we even begin to find a right answer? In my paper, I will explore how our definition of “good” theatre has changed using theatrical manifestos from modern history (the 1700s to today) and their historical context. I will also explore society’s definition of “good” today, and how that relates to previous philosophies. Finally, I will analyze the question of why individuals have different tastes in art through the lens of structuralism and semiotics. I will further explore our unique tastes by breaking down findings from audience surveys for Chapman University’s productions of The Rover and Everybody. Through this project, I will demonstrate that while there are several useful definitions of “good,” there is no one right answer due to vast differences among individuals. Ultimately, I hope to learn why we like what we like in order to define my own unique taste on what makes good theatre.

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Presented at the Fall 2024 Student Scholar Symposium at Chapman University.

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