Entry 2 Part 1

For this entry, I will be concentrating on the Element of Drama of Dramatic Tension and how I will negotiate it in the classroom. This is my second podcast where I will look at Dramatic Tension and how it can translate into a classroom setting..

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XX2d1XmVAU

Here are some supplementary materials that helped shape my understanding as Dramatic tension can be hard to define...

Defining Dramatic tension

Definition of tension (courtesy: thefreedictionary.com):

3.

a. Mental, emotional, or nervous strain: working under great tension to make a deadline.

b. Barely controlled hostility or a strained relationship between people or groups: the dangerous tension between opposing military powers.

4. A balanced relation between strongly opposing elements: "the continuing, and essential, tension between two of the three branches of government, judicial and legislative" (Haynes Johnson).

5. The interplay of conflicting elements in a piece of literature, especially a poem.

Dramatic tension would arise in fusing these human tensions in the platform of Drama. From the definition above, we see how the four different aspects of Dramatic Tensions were derived. 3(a) effectively shows us where tension of the task stems from with the mental emotional and nervous strain. 3(b) on the other hand shows a slightly different definition that brings about the idea of tension in relationships as there is hostility involved between two characters.

Tension of Mystery and tension of surprise is not well in thefreedictionary’s definition but when we look at 

Merriem- Webster’s definition we get the following:

a: inner striving, unrest, or imbalance often with physiological indication of emotion

b : a state of latent hostility or opposition between individuals or groups

c : a balance maintained in an artistic work between opposing forces or elements

Definition (a) shows the feelings that may accompany the tensions of mystery and surprise. The unrest is developed in mysteries as there are a lot of unanswered questions that the character needs answers to. There is an inner striving that needs to be involved as well as if the character in the play is not motivated to solve the mystery, the tension is not vividly created. The definition of imbalance works better when there is tension of surprise as there is something present in a given scenario that threatens to offset or change the direction of the play.

From these actual dictionary definitions, we see how the Dramatic tensions were possibly derived. As there are many definitions of the term “tension” (since it is associated as a feeling that cannot be easily quantified, at times), there is a need four the four portions of Dramatic Tension to be equally looked at. As a teacher, many a time, I may actually end up focusing more on the most blatant form of tensions which is tension of mystery and relationships. This would not work well for the student’s understanding as he/she may only associate tension with these two scenarios. I must take into considerations the other forms of tension and also be open to the fact that this may not be an exhaustive list of the different kinds of dramatic tensions that may be encountered. The main objective would be to allow the students to feel and understand the idea of tension so that they grasp a deeper and proper understanding of it.

It is important to note that Tension is an integral part of any Dramatic performance as it feeds on the idea of conflict which is the essence of a piece of Drama. Every Play should come with a conflict in order to get the plot further.

References:

Haseman, B., & Toole, J. (1986). 2. Dramawise: an introduction to the elements of drama (pp. 18-33). Richmond, Vic.: Heinemann Educational Australia.

Hornbrook, D. (2002). Drama and Education. On the subject of drama (Taylor & Francis e-Library ed., pp. 6-18). London: Routledge.

Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. (n.d.). Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. September, 2011, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/


Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/