Tragedy Lessons from Aristotle: Crash Course Theater #3

Aristotle. He knows a lot, right? And if you choose to believe Aristotle, then you must believe all the mechanics of tragedy that Mike is about to lay on you. This week, we're looking at Aristotle's rules for the basic elements of theater, and how those can be used to bring about catharsis, the emotional release triggered by onstage trauma. You know you love the catharsis.

Thanks to the following Patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:

Mark Brouwer, Nickie Miskell Jr., Jessica Wode, Eric Prestemon, Kathrin Benoit, Tom Trval, Jason Saslow, Nathan Taylor, Divonne Holmes à Court, Brian Thomas Gossett, Khaled El Shalakany, Indika Siriwardena, Robert Kunz, SR Foxley, Sam Ferguson, Yasenia Cruz, Daniel Baulig, Eric Koslow, Caleb Weeks, Tim Curwick, Evren Türkmenoğlu, Alexander Tamas, Justin Zingsheim, D.A. Noe, Shawn Arnold, mark austin, Ruth Perez, Malcolm Callis, Ken Penttinen, Advait Shinde, Cody Carpenter, Annamaria Herrera, William McGraw, Bader AlGhamdi, Vaso, Melissa Briski, Joey Quek, Andrei Krishkevich, Rachel Bright, Alex S, Mayumi Maeda, Kathy & Tim Philip, Montather, Jirat, Eric Kitchen, Moritz Schmidt, Ian Dundore, Chris Peters, Sandra Aft, Steve Marshall
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[thehopeofeden]

That "Right. On." Was slightly hilarious and slightly chilling.

[DavidSilverGames]

I could not resist but laughing when the chorus chimed.

[Roll]

That "I'm sorry, what?!" is so awesome.

[emamekkartny]

the narrator is just so hilarious and it's awesome. i love seeing young people being so enthusiastic about things such as Greek drama and being able to speak about it in a non- boring way

[sharonchase]

"You may recognize it from the English word 'peripatetic'.""

Yes... I have heard this word before... ever...

[bordaz]

Nerd note: The first performance of the Oresteia at the Dionysia came three years after Ephialtes and Pericles stripped the Areopagus jury (a standing judicial body) of its power, instituting direct democracy in its place to decide matters in Athens. Aeschylus was low key criticizing this radical move in the "Eumenides" and thus providing some satire as well as tragedy

[middernachtzon]

As a theater major, this is a life saver for my more textbook based classes. Bless your soul for helping me through midterms dude

[thespibunny]

*RIIIGHTOONNN! The Greek chorus was great! These Greek-centered videos are giving me flashbacks to my freshman college play Saving the Greeks: One Tragedy at a Time.*

[blackhammer]

Who else is watching this for there online school work

[stevenmoreno]

Persona 5 mask was a nice little easter egg.

[FRISHR]

Greek tragedy is great, but have you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the wise?

[Rocketboy]

I am glad Mike is doing another series after Mythology. He is an entertaining personality.

[veselinstoyanov]

Mike Rugnetta is my favourite Crash Course host. Keep up the good work! I love Theatre and miss Mythology!

[sixpomegranateseeds]

Bottom line: Agamemnon's family puts the fun in dysfunctional. I once did a monologue from Electra, the play by Sophocles, about how she was rearing to kill her mother and her mother's lover, and she was convincing her sister Chrysothemis to help her. I won with that piece. Anywho, I love this one, it gets a little weird for me, but can't deny its importance to anything Greek theatre related.

[natalischerbarth]

These videos are so great. I'm a big theatre person so it's super interesting to learn about how theatre got started! Love these!

[LordMephistoteles]

i thought this series was gunna suck but, gotta admit, it is just getting better and better

[QueenSince]

Stuffed grape leaves are really good tho

[OctagonalGolbat]

This was super helpful! I was having trouble understanding my course literature, including Aristotle's Poetics, and now I finally get it!

[LordDice]

Hey Mike☺ great to see you back again. Still miss Thoth though😕lol

[oowatwat]

Wow this series is bomb. I am legit learning so much