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Essay / The Renaissance Era and William Shakespeare's Globe Theater
Plays have always been one of the main entertainment attractions over the centuries. The Renaissance era was a rebirth of European interest in the arts, exploration and technology. This period was extremely important because it occurred at the most favorable moment in history for the rise of Renaissance theaters. Many features of amphitheaters have been imitated over the years. One of the greatest playwrights is William Shakespeare. He presented some of the most famous plays of all time at the Globe Theatre. The development of plays and the structure of performances in Renaissance amphitheaters, including Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, continue to influence modern theater. The Renaissance was an artistic and scientific era that sparked social, economic, and political changes in Europe from 1350 to the 16th century. The awakening of art led to the revival of dramatic literature intended for the entertainment of the people. The first Globe Theatre, established in 1599, was located on the banks of the River Thames. The river reinforced the irresistible attraction of the beauty of the theater. The building was constructed using timber from an earlier amphitheater, simply named The Theatre, which was assembled in 1576. The Globe stood near London Bridge; near Park Street and Southwark. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Other large theaters such as the Swan, the Rose and the Hope were also built in the area. The rise and development of theaterology has been linked to the Renaissance era due to the revival of arts and literature. These interests centered on Greek and Roman literature. On the other hand, Shakespeare's popularity meant that it attracted greater numbers of visitors to the Globe Theater and its occasional performances at court. Because of his admiration, more people were introduced to theater productions. The architecture of early theaters was used to enhance newly designed performance halls. The details presented in the pieces were very important to the quality of the show. Props included crowns, banners, swords, animal organs, and other realistic additions. The wild and visual experience created a warning about the consequences of real scenes. Scenes of brutal entertainment and executions used organs from donated animals from slaughterhouses to create a real-life experience for the crowd watching. The Globe's audience consisted of ordinary people, the middle class and the privileged. Ordinary people stood in the courtyard of the amphitheater and lacked shelter from the sun, rain and other natural phenomena. They were also at risk of muscle fatigue and neck pain due to the viewing angle of the scene. When the gallery was crowded, spectators expected an area of two feet by two feet. People were much smaller, so today the space would be very uncomfortable with so little legroom for anyone. The bourgeois were seated lower in the stands, on the wooden benches. The wooden benches did not have wooden backs, so they often had back pain after two to four hours of sitting during a performance. If those who paid two cents for a bourgeois seat arrived too late, they would have to stand in the courtyard with the others. The privileged paid a high price to sit above or directly on the stage. Theater actorsElizabethans were considered unreliable and distrustful. They were often accused of being thieves and vagabonds. As the popularity of theater increased over the years, many actors became very wealthy in their careers and were able to perform in front of royalty. The Globe was a three-story open theater. The structure was 100 feet in diameter and could accommodate 3,000 seats. Shakespeare's Globe Theater had columns that helped with the roof. A painting of blue sky and clouds was on the roof. People called this painting "the heavens". Many other theaters replicated the appearance of the theater. Julius Pomponius focused on a wide but slightly raised stage with curtains falling behind it. The first professional performance halls also adopted this system. By the 1540s, three-dimensional paintings were used as backdrops, creating a realistic experience for the audience. At the same time, the first use of "behind the stage", meaning further from the audience, and "downstage", meaning towards the audience, was used in theater history. In June 1613, the Globe caught fire when a propeller cannon fired and hit the wooden beams and straw roof. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The Globe was built later, taking over a year to complete. The building was rebuilt so quickly so as not to lose the interest of spectators. In 1642, the Puritans announced that all theaters were to be destroyed, including Shakespeare's Globe. The Globe was demolished in 1644. However, in 1949, Sam Wanamaker was credited with the recreation of the new Globe Theatre. Londoners have remembered his works since the 1800s, when 9% of his exhibitions in London used his ideas. Even though he's down 17% from his peak, he has way more than his opponents. UK Theater Web listings estimate that 5% of all performances since 2000 have been Shakespeare plays. It is very striking to see Shakespeare compete impressively with thousands of modern writers. At the same time, the Renaissance era transformed traditional writings into a more accurate representation for readers and viewers. Many Renaissance factors improved the quality of current literature with humanist and classical works. Ultimately, these concepts had a positive impact socially, culturally, scientifically and intellectually. The structure of a room has changed dramatically over time. These ideas are currently modeling future literature and how it will be presented. Works Cited Allison, Amy. Shakespeare's Globe. Lucent Books, 2000. Barker, Clive and Howard Bay. “The Elizabethan Scene.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., November 14, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/art/theater-building/The-Elizabethan-stage. Accessed November 7, 2019. “Elizabethan Actors.” Elizabethan Actors, http://m.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-actors.htm. Accessed November 7, 2019. “Greatness was imposed on him; Shakespeare. The Economist, October 26, 2019, No. 81. Gale One File:Business, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A603668378/GPS?u=tel_s_tsla&sid=GPS&xid=3b9309ce. Accessed November 4, 2019. Hildy, Franklin J. “Renaissance.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopœdia Britannica, Inc., November 28, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/art/threatre-design/Renaissance. Accessed November 7, 2019. “How did the Renaissance influence modern society?” » eNotes Editorial, February 15, 2017, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-do-you-think-renaissance-period-influenced- 2019, 2019.