"What the film, the comic strip, the TV situation comedy, and burlesque (in the American sense) have been to the twentieth century, the Commedia dell'Arte was to the Renaissance" (Oreglia). Commedia dell'arte which translates to "comedy of arts," was the first professional form of theatrical art. This distinctive form of art first begun in Italy during the early fifteenth century, and thrived with popularity throughout Europe, during the seventeenth century. Commedia dell'arte was termed the comedy of arts because it involved highly skilled professional artisans, who performed specific skills, using only a written plot outline, and improvisational dialogues, actions, and scenarios. (Commedia Dell'Arte: The Story, the Style, seg 1). The performances
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It has influenced artists and playwrights such as Lope de Vega, Shakespeare, Picasso, Moliere, Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, and Carlo Goldoni, who has used its elements to help transformed performing arts. Although Commedia dell'arte eventually declined during the seventeenth century, some of its core elements such as the introduction of actresses, stock characters in situational and slapstick comedy, and puppetry have continued to evolve with phenomenal influences on contemporary performing arts …show more content…
Commedia dell'arte used stock characters to represent the stereotypes in society, to focus on the social, cultural, and political, issues and corruption of that era. According to Duchartre and Weaver, the characters came into being by a welding of humanism and direct observation. (19). The stock characters were based on the zanni's or lower class servants, inamorati or young lovers, and Pantalone, the wealthy but greedy old man, who were the three mainstays of the Commedia dell'arte, also complemented by other characters (Oreglia, 3). In addition, each character wore masks to express their personality which eventually gave the impression of permanence to them. As results, the characters remained constant throughout the years, only changing the situations and plot of the
It has influenced artists and playwrights such as Lope de Vega, Shakespeare, Picasso, Moliere, Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, and Carlo Goldoni, who has used its elements to help transformed performing arts. Although Commedia dell'arte eventually declined during the seventeenth century, some of its core elements such as the introduction of actresses, stock characters in situational and slapstick comedy, and puppetry have continued to evolve with phenomenal influences on contemporary performing arts …show more content…
Commedia dell'arte used stock characters to represent the stereotypes in society, to focus on the social, cultural, and political, issues and corruption of that era. According to Duchartre and Weaver, the characters came into being by a welding of humanism and direct observation. (19). The stock characters were based on the zanni's or lower class servants, inamorati or young lovers, and Pantalone, the wealthy but greedy old man, who were the three mainstays of the Commedia dell'arte, also complemented by other characters (Oreglia, 3). In addition, each character wore masks to express their personality which eventually gave the impression of permanence to them. As results, the characters remained constant throughout the years, only changing the situations and plot of the