George Pierce Baker
George Pierce Baker
George Pierce Baker was an American educator in the field of drama...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionEducator
Date of Birth4 April 1866
CountryUnited States of America
assumed death far period recent tragic understand
What then is tragedy? In the Elizabethan period it was assumed that a play ending in death was a tragedy, but in recent years we have come to understand that to live on is sometimes far more tragic than death.
attains conduct dramatic human pleases reach revelation
When the drama attains a characterization which makes the play a revelation of human conduct and a dialogue which characterizes yet pleases for itself, we reach dramatic literature.
broader next shaped standards turn
Out of the past come the standards for judging the present; standards in turn to be shaped by the practice of present-day dramatists into broader standards for the next generation.
depends difference essential material point tries view
There is no essential difference between the material of comedy and tragedy. All depends on the point of view of the dramatist, which, by clever emphasis, he tries to make the point of view of his audience.
eagerly holding laughter mankind men mirror nature reveals tears welcomed
Sensitive, responsive, eagerly welcomed everywhere, the drama, holding the mirror up to nature, by laughter and by tears reveals to mankind the world of men.
acted requires
Acted drama requires surrender of one's self, sympathetic absorption in the play as it develops.
ages barbarism essence
Back through the ages of barbarism and civilization, in all tongues, we find this instinctive pleasure in the imitative action that is the very essence of all drama.
appeal best encourage foster limit poorest thereby weakest
We do not kill the drama, we do not really limit its appeal by failing to encourage the best in it; but we do thereby foster the weakest and poorest elements.
adequate dramatic instinct itself memorable pleasure produces provide
The instinct to impersonate produces the actor; the desire to provide pleasure by impersonations produces the playwright; the desire to provide this pleasure with adequate characterization and dialogue memorable in itself produces dramatic literature.
entirely great however stage
No drama, however great, is entirely independent of the stage on which it is given.
absurd best farce granted logically move premise start
In the best farce today we start with some absurd premise as to character or situation, but if the premises be once granted we move logically enough to the ending.