Polykleitos the Younger. The Theater at Epidauros. 4th c. BCE
Art as Mimesis:
The Ancient Greeks felt that art should imitate many of the visible features of reality, so that part of the viewer's mind could react just as if (s)he were seeing the real thing in person, not just a depiction of the real thing. Mimesis helps art fulfill one of its main functions, allowing us to experience things in our minds without physically doing them. In other words, through Mimesis art offers viewers a chance to experience Catharsis. Catharsis means cleansing yourself of dangerous or forbidden urges by seeing them acted out by others, whether in reality, or represented in an artwork, or in a show. So in Ancient Greece, every city had a theater located on the edge of town. In the Classical phase of Greek history (500-300 BCE) there seems to have been a strong emphasis on self-control, moderation, and reason. In those years, they left their theaters open on one end, so that even though real humans did the acting, the audience never go too completely "wrapped up" in the drama.
Polykleitos the Younger. The Theater at Epidauros. 4th c. BCE
Art as Mimesis:
The Ancient Greeks felt that art should imitate many of the visible features of reality, so that part of the viewer's mind could react just as if (s)he were seeing the real thing in person, not just a depiction of the real thing. Mimesis helps art fulfill one of its main functions, allowing us to experience things in our minds without physically doing them. In other words, through Mimesis art offers viewers a chance to experience Catharsis. Catharsis means cleansing yourself of dangerous or forbidden urges by seeing them acted out by others, whether in reality, or represented in an artwork, or in a show. So in Ancient Greece, every city had a theater located on the edge of town. In the Classical phase of Greek history (500-300 BCE) there seems to have been a strong emphasis on self-control, moderation, and reason. In those years, they left their theaters open on one end, so that even though real humans did the acting, the audience never go too completely "wrapped up" in the drama.