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Elements Of Drama The dictionary definition of Drama is the activity of acting, or simply a play for theatre, the elements however that make up this intricate and diverse art form are far more complex than the concluding definition. The elements of Drama are essentially building blocks that culminate in the finality of this wholesome, rigorous activity. A simple way to understand a form as complex as Drama, Is to look at It as a physical project, Like building a house. The first and most Important element Is the theme of the Drama.
The main, starting Idea, the whole motive behind the play, the realization of what you want your audiences to feel and experience and what you want to produce. The theme can be looked at as basic criteria that you would have for your dream house, the kind of view that you want, the amount of land, the locality, basically the first steps in narrowing down on a concrete idea for what you want. The next logical step in terms of getting a house is buying a plot of land, and the next logical element of Drama is the plot as well.
The plot is an outline of the course of events, its always in the present but can also include a flashback. The plot is the entire narration, the occurrences that bring out the theme, and comprise the whole story. Once you have your plot of land, you start building the structure of your house. Similarly, the next element of Drama is the structure of the play, which comprises of the beginning, the exposition or the middle, which spills into the transition, or the ending, which inevitably results in some kind of resolution.
Once the house is ready, people move in and make the house a home; they infuse it with their energy, relationships, conflicts and personality. Like this, you must inject in characters and legislations to the structure to carry the plot forward. These characters can be realistic or imaginative or abstract. These characters are tools with which the drama Is presented, the plot played out and the theme revealed. Another tool that Is essential in Drama is the use of language. The language in a play is a form of expression, a direct confirmation for the direction that the plot is headed.
The language can be symbolic; It must always give perspective and can even Incorporate Imagery. The language also has a tendency to spill Into a fragmented form, and almost always as some sort of a texture, which basically translates Into the overall feel of the characters and setting. This Is where sound value comes In, It Is Important to note that dictionary words have sound value too, even silence does, and It communicates the intellectual meaning of the word, or the sound in accordance to the feeling.
For example, the word “rough” will still have the same sound value even if its said angrily or lovingly. Theatricality is created through conflict, without any conflict, the storyline will be static, the theme wont get across and it wont have any impact on the audience. Conflict is essential in drama, as it results in theatricality, the ups and downs in the storyline creates interest and is needed to establish the purpose of the play.
Examples of conflict can vary from conflicts between two or more people, groups of people or even conflict within oneself, as in the character. The arousal of conflict generates suspense about the outcome of the conflict, which in turn helps the structure make sense and come together. The concluding and most practical aspect of Drama is the feasibility of the play. This takes into account the target audience, the recitalists, the objective or even the kind of actors that are required for the execution of the play.
This aspect of Drama takes into consideration the technical and practical aspects of the play in terms of the requirements for its execution. In conclusion, all afore mentioned elements of Drama are instrumental in the becoming any play and provide a stable foundation for theatre productions to thrive on. Drama is a complex, diverse and wholesome form of expression, but there is a method behind its madness, a criteria and a process that validates or appreciates the dramaturgy of plays. By: Janis Kapok