CHAPTER 9

DRAMA
(Week 9)

MY JOURNEY

Have you ever acted in a school play, performed a commercial in a class activity,
or danced in a recital? If so, you've already participated in the dramatic arts. The dramatic
arts are a form of narrative performed on a stage in front of an audience. These stories
and the way they are portrayed manifest in a wide variety of styles, also known as genres.

In this lesson, you will understand better the meaning and role of drama as a form
of art. You will also know the origin and elements of a good drama, types of drama, and
the forms of drama.

MY EXPECTATIONS

At the end of the Chapter, the students should be able to:

1. recognize the origin and elements of a good Drama;

2. demonstrate knowledge about the types of drama;
3. appreciate the benefits of drama and the role of Artist;
4. identify the forms of drama; and
5. display an ability to do a drama on stage.

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 88

 MY INITIAL TASKS

As a preliminary activity for the topic, you need to do this activity.

Think of a film, a drama

series, or a live play you have
watched. Try to analyse the film by
answering the following questions
below:

1. What is the title of the drama?

_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. Who are the main characters?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. What is the story all about?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. What is the opening of the story? How did it end?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. What do you like about the drama?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 89

 MY READINGS

The origin and elements of a good Drama

He terms “Drama” is from a Greek word drao, meaning “to do” or “to act.” It is

T performed by actors and actresses on radio, television or stage before an

audience. Often, it combined with music and dances (Clark, 1965; Banham,
1998).

Drama is a play that is acted out. It is a reflection of the everyday lives of people.
It shows how people seriously or humorously experience some eventful period in their
lives. It combines the arts of the actor, author, director, designer, and others (Bain et al.,
1973).

Drama is writing the

scene that is intended to be
performed by the artists for an
audience. The script are consists
of dialogue, the words the actors
say, and the stage directions on
how and where the actors move
and speak. In a drama, the artist
should start with characters that
are full, rich, interesting, and
different enough from each other
to come up with a good story.

Engaging characters are at the heart of all good drama. Characters should be
realistic, even if they are in an incredible situation. We should be able to empathize or
engage with the main characters, even if we don’t necessarily like them.

A good drama is something that is cool which we always wanted to watch. It is

something that appeals to our emotions, has proper character development, and leaves
us wanting to come back for the next episode to find out what’s going to happen next.

Drama is a favorite form of entertainment for many people. The following are its
elements:

1. Audience. The audience is the body of theatre-goers that the writer always had in
mind when he/she wrote the play. The role of the audience is to witness the
production and to encourage the actors through their applause and appreciation.

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 90

 2. Dialogue. The dialogue is a technique in which playwright used two or more
characters to be engaged in conversation with one another. It has two parts: Inner
Dialogue (the characters speak to themselves and reveal their personalities like a
monologue) and the Outer Dialogue (a simple conversation between two
characters in a play).

3. Plot. It refers to the order of events or story that occurred in a play. What the
characters do, how they interact, the course of their lives as narrated by the story,
and what happens to them in the end, constitutes the plot.

4. Stagecraft. It refers to the technical aspects of

theatrical production, which include costume
design, lighting, scenic design, stage machinery,
sound, and makeup.

5. Convention. It refers to the technique of actions

established by the director to the actors to create
a desired dramatic effect.

6. Genres. It refers to the types of acts used in a drama in showing an emotional

and relational development of realistic characters.

7. Characterization. It is a writer's ability to match the Protagonist against an

Antagonist. The protagonist is the main character in a story while the antagonist
is the opposition.

Other Dramatic Elements

Dramatic elements are the center of all drama. They can be used in isolation and are
manipulated by a performer for a spectacular result. The following are the other dramatic
elements:

Climax. It is the highest point of dramatic tension or conflict in a story or play. Without
the climax, a story will have lack of excitement or an overarching meaning.

Conflict. It is a vital element of drama and script writing. It is an essential ingredient

for all dramatic performances. It can be between two or more characters, or just one
(inner conflict). It can be verbal (physical) or non-verbal (psychological).

Contrast. The use of variation in a drama is a useful way to focus the audience's
attention. Without the careful use of contrast, a performance is dull and lacks tension. A
prominent example of contrast is a sad scene followed by a happy one.

Focus. It is used interchangeably with the terms concentration and engagement in

assisting the performer in the portrayal of believable personae. It also suggests

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 91

memorization of word, moves, gestures, and requires channeling (focusing) of all the
performer’s energies into achieving the given goals of a character.

Language. It is the written script that helps achieve any performance. The use of
words in performance can be verbal (vocal) or non-verbal (body language). It can also
be sung or chanted as a major means of communicating the story of the drama to the
viewers.

Mood. It refers to the emotion or tone of a performance through a combination of

several stagecrafts and dramatic elements that harmoniously work with each other. The
mood of production is linked with common feelings such as anger, desire, frustration, or
pity. It can also be through lighting, sound, movement, setting, rhythm, contrast, or
conflict.

Rhythm. It refers to the speed and timing (beat or tempo) of the play that follows the
emotional state of one or more characters of the performance.

Sound. It is a means of creating an atmosphere or mood in a play. Small props

sometimes produced sound effects that can be used live during a performance.

Space. It refers to the practical use of available area utilized by the actors, such as
crawling, bending over, sitting, or lying down.

Symbol. It refers to the objects or sets and props used in theatre performances. They
are intended to arouse some concept or emotion in the mind of the audience.

Tension. This can sometimes be similar to the term conflict. The tension form when
audience anticipates specific outcomes in the plot of the story. The development of
tension usually parallels the advancement of the plot, leading to the climax.

Timing. It refers to the dramatic phases or synchronization of movements and

gestures of the various parts of production for theatrical effect.

Types of Drama

1. Tragedy: It is a simulation of an action that is serious, complete, and of absolute

magnitude in a play. It usually depicts the downfall of the protagonist. The great
Greek tragedians in the early Greece are Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles.
Sophocles is known for his drama trilogy of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and
Antigone.
2. Comedy: It is a type of dramatic work that is amusing and humorous in its tone,
mostly having a cheerful ending.
3. Problem Play- It is a type of drama that deals with controversial social issues in a
realistic manner. It exposes social ills and stimulates thought and discussion on
the part of the audience.
4. Farce-It is a comedy that turns around impossible and exaggerated events.

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 92

 5. Fantasy- This type of drama is often romantic and contains the elements of the
supernatural, magic, secret societies, and revenge.
6. Melodrama- It is a dramatic work in which the plot is designed to appeal strong
emotions and takes precedence over detailed characterization.

The drama of Historical Interest

1. Ancient Drama- Drama existed in religious ceremonies for the worship of the
different gods.
2. Medieval Drama- It dealt with Bible stories and allegorical mysteries.
3. Renaissance Drama- During this period, the Greek and the Roman dramatist were
imitated in Italy, France, Germany, and England. Mask and costumes become
popular also during this time.
4. Modern Drama- it was during the last two decades of the 19th century and the first
half of 20th century that witnessed a great variety of trends in a stage play. Romanic
fantasy, symbolism, expressionism, impressionism, comedy, and poetic drama
reached new heights during this period.

Benefits of Drama and the Role of Artist

Drama is a form of self-expression that exists in every culture of the world. As a

unique skill in itself, it is a topic that is discussed by many colleges and universities. As
a versatile, Drama can be in other areas of the curriculum in the form of activities. Hence,
by incorporating these activities into the program, the students have of play-acting.
He/she should have technical equipment in his /her facial expression, bodily poise,
gesture, voice, and by-act that enables him /her to perform the character (Putatunta,
2012). Other benefits of drama are as follows:

1. It develops imagination, creativity, and flexible ways of thinking

2. It promotes concentration, focus, and the ability to pay attention to detail.
3. It helps to master body language, blending body movement and facial expression,
coupled with spoken language to convey oneself.
4. It helps to explore feelings, inner values, and thoughts.
5. It develops the ability to interact and work with others.
6. It helps in building self-confidence and self-esteem.

Drama Forms

Drama forms are composed of specific structures that define, differentiate, and shape
ways in which it is explored. Often, its forms are the improvisation, movement, scene
work, and speech.
a. Movement

1. Clowning- It is the act that draws skill-based exaggerated movements and

gestures, to create humor for the viewers.

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 93

 2. Dance- It is the execution of a creative, free, and exploratory series of actions
performed with or without music.
3. Mask Work- It is the exploration of movement using a mask to bring the focus to
the physical expression of the body.
4. Mime- It is pantomime acting without words and is through facial expression,
gesture, and movement.
5. Stage Fighting- It is a choreographed movement designed to simulate fighting
between actors.
6. Tableau- It is a silent and motionless scene created by actors to draw focus to the
central theme of the drama.

b. Improvisation

1. The character in Role- It is a person role-playing character in a particular situation.

2. Improvisational Drama- It is a spontaneous style of theatre in which there is no set
of script and scenes are created without advance preparation
3. Role Play- It is an activity in which individuals assume identities other than their
own
4. Spontaneous Stories- It is a verbal warm-up activity in which narratives are made.

c. Speech

1. Choral Work- It refers to the ensemble speech or singing.

2. Monologues- It is a long speech by a single character.
3. Radio Drama- It is a drama that is intended to be listening instead of viewing.
4. Reader’s Theatre- It is a performance created by actors through reading a script.
5. Recitation- It is the oral presenting of a scripted piece of work that often involves
ballads, monologues, and rhymes.
6. Soundscape- It is the use of various overlapping sound to create an atmosphere
7. Storytelling- It refers to relating stories to an audience.

d. Scene Works

1. Collective Creation- It is a group process of writing an original script

2. Docudrama- It is the use of dramatic devices to illustrate a real-life situation
through performance
3. Puppetry- It includes an extensive variety of props that almost anything brought to
life by human hands to create a performance.
4. Story Theatre- It refers to a theatrical production of an existing story where the
characters speak every line of the story.

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 94

 MY DISCOVERY TASKS

Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. When can you say the drama is good?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2. What is the role of the playwright in a Theatrical Production?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

3. If you are the writer, what type of drama are you going to write? Why?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

4. What is the difference between ancient drama and modern drama?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

5. Give at least two benefits of drama and briefly explain each.

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 95

Directions: Select the correct answer from the given choices. Encircle the letter of the
correct answer.
1. It is a type of drama which involves ridiculous or hilarious complications without regard
for human values.
a. Tragedy c. Farce
b. Melodrama d. Docudrama

2. An act that draws exaggerated movements and gestures, to create humor.

a. Dance c. Ask Work
b. Tableau d. Clowning

3. It is acting done without words but through facial expression, gesture, and movement
only.
a. Mime c. Stage Fighting
b. Dance d. Tableau

4. It is an activity in which individuals assume identities other than their own.

a. Story Theatre c. Role Play
b. Fantasy d. Character in Role

5. It refers to the ensemble speech or singing.

a. Soundscape c. Storytelling
b. Radio Drama d. Choral Work

6. It is an element of drama that has assembled for the explicit purpose of seeing a play.
a. Plot c. Convention
b. Audience d. Stagecraft

7. It is a play in which the central character faces defeated by some overwhelming threat
or disaster.
a. Tragedy c. Coincidence
b. Dramatic Irony d. Tension

8. It is a dramatic element which is often used interchangeably with the terms

concentration and engagement.
a. Rhythm c. Focus
b. Timing d. Space

9. It refers to relating stories to an audience.

a. Recitation c. Climax
b. Conflict d. Story Telling

10. The following, except one, are conventional elements of drama:

a. Contemporary c. Realism
b. Chinese Drama d. Greek Drama

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 96

 MY TREASURE

You are now about to end this journey. Kindly do this task to leave you a life lesson
that you can bring forever.

Directions: Reflect on the given quote.

You may write your thoughts below.
“The real object of the
drama is the exhibition of
_____________________________________ the human character”.
_________________________________________ -Thomas Bibington
___________________________________________ Macaulay
_______________________________________________
__________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Flexible Learning Task No. 9

FILM REVIEW: ANINO

Directions: Visit the link below to watch in full the movie titled Anino. After watching the film,
answer the following questions:

a. Provide a brief summary of the film you have watched.

b. To what extent did the film engage you, interest you, and captivate you? Why?
c. What is the message of the film?
d. What do you think are the issues and conflicts depicted in the films? How is it
related to our real life?
e. What do you think is the reason why it is titled Anino?

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 97

 Cinema One. (2019). FULL MOVIE: Anino - A film by Raymond Red (with ENGLISH Subs).
Cinema One Originals. YouTube video. Retrieved last August 20, 2020 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m95qNVlucmw

MY SUPPLEMENTS

Gildow, C. (2012). Art Appreciation. Retrieved last August 18, 2020 from
https://learn.canvas.net/courses/24

SBCTC & Lumen Learning. (n.d.) Art Appreciation. Retrieved last August 18, 2020 from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/masteryart1/

Art Class Curator. (2020). Art Appreciation. Retrieved last August 21, 2020 from
https://artclasscurator.com/principles-of-design-
examples/#:~:text=The%20principles%20of%20design%20are,a%20wide%
20range%20of%20effects.

Art Appreciation | Learning Module for Students in GE 1 Original, R.A. ©2020 98