Spectacle Examples



A modern production of “Oedipus Rex,” which is certainly a spectacle.

Spectacle

Spectacle Js Examples

Examples of spectacle in a play

In Poetics, Aristotle discusses the importance of the six elements of a good play. According to him the least artistic of all is Spectacle (Opsis.) Oh, if Aristotle could see us now. How many times have we heard each other say that “The movie didn’t have a very good plot/acting, but the effects were awesome!”? It is interesting that Aristotle doesn’t care much for Spectacle, as it is what separates a performed play from written text or song. Without Opsis, we don’t have a play! All we would have is several people standing around talking, a group singing, and then more talking again. It would be like eavesdropping on a city street corner next to someone playing music with a hat out.
In the script for Oedipus Rex spectacle is vague. There are not many stage directions (in many scripts there is not a lot of stage direction, leaving decisions up to the director.) But still the importance of action and movement cannot be taken for granted. Oedipus has magnificent dramatic speeches, how would they be believable without movement, action and spectacle? It is critical in the last scene, the “Scene of Suffering.” Oedipus has gouged his eyes out and has blood running from the sockets. If that isn’t Spectacle on stage, I’m not sure what is. He is now blind, he must convey that with bumbling movement, that of a man who has just lost his vision. He calls out to the children so he may say goodbye. That emotion cannot be shown with just words, he needs to reach for them, stretch out his arms, struggle to find them to show just how far he has fallen. He has gone from a king to a blind man who doesn’t even know where his own children are when they are in the same room. In this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDpCGBWOL78) even a low budget highschool project creates an effective scene of suffering through “Spectecle.”

What does spectacle mean? The definition of a spectacle is something amazing, interesting or exciting to see that att. In the evening, St. Peter's and its accessories were illuminated—by far the most brilliant spectacle I ever saw. GLANCES AT EUROPE HORACE GREELEY Thus all about us is the moving and shifting spectacle of riches and poverty, side by side, inextricable.

This scene is just not the same with no setting, props or movement

Spectacle Noun Examples

Spectacle lynching examples

Spectacle Examples

Aristotle writes about the drama being the “most perfect form” of literature, and yet he degrades the very thing that makes it drama as “least important.” Although I agree that good drama must have a story above all else, and unique characters, perhaps Spectacle is required in at least equal amounts to produce a good play.