Greek tragedy | The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Ep. 243: Aristotle’s “Poetics” on Art and Tragedy (Part Two)

May 18, 2020 by Mark Linsenmayer 7 Comments

Continuing on the Poetics from around 335 BCE, on the structure of plot (every element must be essential!), the moral status of the heroes, Homeric poetry, the difference between tragedy and history, and how Aristotle’s formula may or may not apply to modern media.

Begin with part one or get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: “Structure of a Tragedy” by Mark Lint. Read about it.

Sponsor: Visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/PEL for a free trial of The Great Courses Plus Video Learning Service.

Ep. 243: Aristotle’s “Poetics” on Art and Tragedy (Part One)

May 11, 2020 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

These notes from 335 BCE are still used in screenwriting classes. Aristotle presents a formula for what will move us, derived from Sophocles’s tragedies.

What is art? The text describes it as memesis (imitation), and tragedy imitates human action in a way that shows us what it is to be human. Aristotle has lots of advice about how to structure a plot optimized to our sensibilities. Join Mark, Wes, Dylan, and Seth to see if you think he’s right.

Don’t wait for part two; get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition now. Please support PEL!

Sponsor: For 20% off and free shipping on Ettitude’s CleanBamboo Charcoal sheets, text PEL to 64-000.

Ep. 243: Aristotle’s “Poetics” on Art and Tragedy (Citizen Edition)

May 11, 2020 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

These notes from 335 BCE are still used in screenwriting classes. Aristotle presents a formula for what will move us, derived from Sophocles’s tragedies.

What is art? A. describes it as memesis (imitation), and tragedy imitates human action in a way that shows us what it is to be human. A. has lots of advice about how to structure a plot optimized to our sensibilities. Join Mark, Wes, Dylan, and Seth to see if you think he’s right.

End song: “Structure of a Tragedy” by Mark Lint (2020).

Ep 119 Aftershow: Nietzsche (Featuring Greg Sadler)

August 6, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

Seth Paskin and Danny Lobell were joined by Dr. Gregory B. Sadler, David Buchanan, Erik Weissengruber, Tom Kirdas, Ken Presting, and Bill Coe. Recorded July 26, 2015.

Episode 119: Nietzsche on Tragedy and the Psychology of Art

July 6, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 14 Comments

On Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy (1872). Nietzsche thought that you could tell how vital or decadent a civilization was by its art, and said that ancient Greek tragedy was so great because it was a perfect synthesis of something highly formal/orderly/beautiful with the intuitive/unconscious/chaotic. But then Socrates ruined everything! With guest John Castro.

Includes a preview of the Aftershow feat. Greg Sadler.

End song: “Some Act” by Mark Lint and the Fake from “So Whaddaya Think?” (2000).

Episode 119: Nietzsche on Tragedy and the Psychology of Art (Citizen Edition)

July 5, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 3 Comments

On Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy (1872), which was his first book. Nietzsche thought that you could tell how vital or decadent a civilization was by its art, and said that ancient Greek tragedy was so great because it was a perfect synthesis of something highly formal/orderly/beautiful with the intuitive/unconscious/chaotic. But then Socrates ruined everything, and it remains ruined! Can we recapture the magic? Probably not. With guest John Castro.

End song: “Some Act” by Mark Lint and the Fake from “So Whaddaya Think?” (2000)

Topic for #119: Nietzsche on the Birth of Tragedy (and the Function of Good Art)

July 4, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 4 Comments

We discussed Friedrich Nietzsche’s first book, “The Birth of Tragedy,” about how different psycho-social strategies for dealing with the harshness of existence feed into art. This will be released in three parts on Mondays starting on 7/6, with the Aftershow on 7/26.

Reading ‘Antigone’ with Hegel

July 3, 2015 by Erik Weissengruber 1 Comment

Listeners to the PEL Antigone episodes who want to dig deeper into the meaning of the play can benefit from Mark W. Roche’s overview of Hegel’s remarks on tragedy, put forth in his essay “Introduction to Hegel’s Theory of Tragedy.” Roche specifies four Hegelian questions audiences might ask of any tragedy in an attempt to understand its characters and their interactions, and the ultimate outcomes.

Episode 117: Discussing Sophocles’s “Antigone”

June 15, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 3 Comments

Philosophically considering the ancient Greek tragedy, which we also performed with Lucy Lawless and Paul Provenza.

End song: “Woe Is Me” (live, 2002) by Madison Lint.

Features a preview of the Aftershow, feat. Wes and host Danny Lobell.

Episode 117: Sophocles’s “Antigone” (Citizen Edition)

June 13, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 2 Comments

What can philosophy wrench from the ancient Greek tragedy (BCE 451)? A party, for one! Mark, Wes, and Dylan are rejoined by drama guy John Castro, who played Haimon in our performance.

End song: “Woe Is Me,” live 2002 on WORT by Madison Lint.

“Antigone” Read by PEL with Lucy Lawless and Paul Provenza

June 8, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 9 Comments

An unrehearsed, fun read-through of the Greek Tragedy from 441 BCE, plus some discussion with the cast of Greek drama, our selected translation, and other stuff. Enjoy!

PEL Citizens can get an ad-free, extended version.

End song: “Antigone (Choragos Speaks)” by Mark Lint. Read about it.

Not Ep 117: “Antigone” Full-Cast Audioplay (Citizen Edition)

June 7, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 2 Comments

An unrehearsed read-through of the Greek Tragedy from 441 BCE by the PEL Players featuring Lucy Lawless and Paul Provenza, plus some cast discussion of Greek drama and our selected translation, as well as Citizen-exclusive outtakes.

End song: “Antigone” by Mark Lint (2015)

Topic for #117: Sophocles’s Play “Antigone”

June 6, 2015 by Mark Linsenmayer 5 Comments

We’ll be discussing the famous Greek tragedy, and also performing a version of it with Lucy Lawless and Paul Provenza. What can such a work teach philosophy about ethics and the human condition?