The thing that surprised me the most about theatre, is that it seems to naturally emerge within any society. If we look at both the Greek and the Japanese, both societies came up with theatre without influence from each other. Although their traditional forms have many distinct differences, they involve similar factors. I found this incredibly interesting. As if theatre is inherent in human nature and that it will always exist. For me, this realization has validated my choice to pursue performing because it is something that is very important to our culture. It was also neat to see how theatre evolves. Because people get so passionate, they want to revolutionize this art and make it their own. All of the rules (neoclassicism), choices (reducing the dithyramb), and rebellions (storm and stress/romanticism) individuals and groups of people have made in the past have shaped what theatre is today, which is very broad and diverse (this is why theatre is so hard to define). My idea of what theatre is hasn't changed much from the start of this course, but I now have a better understanding of why i define it the way I do. I feel that above all else, it must tell a story and entertain an audience. The story does not have to be anything concrete, but it must be something that has been thought out in order to have an influence on the viewers. My reasons for believing this are because, when we look at history, theatre was used as a tool to prove a point, create change, satirize, glorify, mock, etc. In general, theatre has been our way of communicating something to the masses. It is then the responsibility of the public to do with it as they will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJcCLr19tIs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rlp1zrBl4g