Peace - "As I told you this is his form of madness"

Aristophanes Aristophanes

Summary

The reality is that little is known of Aristophanes actual life but eleven of his forty plays survive intact and upon those rest his deserved reputation as the Father of Comedy or, The Prince of Ancient Comedy. Accounts agree that he was born sometime between 456BC and 446 BC. Many cities claim the honor of his birthplace and the most probable story makes him the son of Philippus of Ægina, and therefore only an adopted citizen of Athens, a distinction which, at times could be cruel, though he was raised and educated in Athens. His plays are said to recreate the life of ancient Athens more realistically than any other author could. Intellectually his powers of ridicule were feared by his influential contemporaries; Plato himself singled out Aristophanes' play The Clouds as a slander that contributed to the trial and condemning to death of Socrates and although other satirical playwrights had also caricatured the philosopher his carried the most weight. His now lost play, The Babylonians, was denounced by the demagogue Cleon as a slander against the Athenian polis. Aristophanes seems to have taken this criticism to heart and thereafter caricatured Cleon mercilessly in his subsequent plays, especially The Knights. His life and playwriting years were undoubtedly long though again accounts as to the year of his death vary quite widely. What can be certain is that his legacy of surviving plays is in effect both a treasured legacy but also in itself the only surviving texts of Ancient Greek comedy.

Available since: 03/03/2017.

Other books that might interest you

Relentless

Bill Hicks

Raising the spiritual and philosophical stake considerably, Relentless is pure comedic catharsis.

Show book

Dalí

Eric Shanes

Painter, designer, creator of bizarre objects, author and film maker, Dalí became the most famous of the Surrealists. Buñuel, Lorca, Picasso and Breton all had a great influence on his career. Dalí's film, An Andalusian Dog, produced with Buñuel, marked his official entry into the tightly-knit group of Parisian Surrealists, where he met Gala, the woman who became his lifelong companion and his source of inspiration. But his relationship soon deteriorated until his final rift with André Breton in 1939. Nevertheless Dalí's art remained surrealist in its philosophy and expression and a prime example of his freshness, humour and exploration of the subconscious mind. Throughout his life, Dalí was a genius at self-promotion, creating and maintaining his reputation as a mythical figure.

Show book

German Painting

Klaus H. Carl

In a country only unified since 1871, German culture and art is derived from ancient tradition. Studying German painting requires viewing it on a different scale, larger than the current geographical frontiers. From the Middle Ages through to the New Objectivity of the 20th century, we introduce you to the German artists who have marked history: Albrecht Dürer, the Romantic Caspar David Friedrich, and the Expressionist Otto Dix. Original in its themes, German painting always seeks harmony whilst remaining inquisitive.

Show book

How The View Of An Ancient World...

PBS NewsHour

Greece’s highest court is considering a case about Athenians’ visual access to the landmark Acropolis. Its decision could set a precedent about preserving historic skylines -- and potentially ban construction of high-rise buildings. The matter prompts a fundamental question: is an unimpeded view of sites on the UN's World Heritage List a human right? Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports.Read the Full Transcript

Show book

The Author's Craft

Arnold Bennett

Why do we write? What does it mean to be a writer? 
This book contains no useful tips on grammar, style, or plot. Instead, it focuses on the observation and perspective that is needed to be a good writer - on the fact that writing is an expression of the art of living. A lovely journey through a very Edwardian world.

Show book

Contemporary Art and the Church...

W. David O. Taylor, Taylor Worley

The church and the contemporary art world often find themselves in an uneasy relationship in which misunderstanding and mistrust abound.
On one hand, the leaders of local congregations, seminaries, and other Christian ministries often don't know what to make of works by contemporary artists. Not only are these artists mostly unknown to church leaders, they and their work often lead them to regard the world of contemporary art with indifference, frustration, or even disdain.
On the other hand, many artists lack any meaningful experience with the contemporary church and are mostly ignorant of its mission. Not infrequently, these artists regard religion as irrelevant to their work, are disinclined to trust the church and its leaders, and have experienced personal rejection from these communities.
In response to this situation, the 2015 biennial conference of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) facilitated a conversation between these two worlds. This volume gathers together essays and reflections by artists, theologians, and church leaders as they sought to explore misperceptions, create a hospitable space to learn from each other, and imagine the possibility of a renewed and mutually fruitful relationship. Contemporary Art and the Church seeks common ground for the common good of both the church and the contemporary art world.
The Studies in Theology and the Arts  series encourages Christians to thoughtfully engage with the relationship between their faith and artistic expression, with contributions from both theologians and artists on a range of artistic media including visual art, music, poetry, literature, film, and more.

Show book