WHAT IS DRAMA
There are some concepts that answer essential question on what drama is. A drama is a work which is meant to be read and performed (Kirszner and Mandell, 2000). Two activity are lingered when reader reads a drama text; firstly is reading the text to get the meaning and secondly is translating and performing the written words into a verbal action.
In another essential, the concept of drama can be obviously comprehended when it is compared with other two literary genres; prose and poetry. Drama , unlike the other literary genres is a staged art (Diyanni, 2001). The emphasis of drama as a stage art is that it is written to be performed infront of audience by actors who represents the characters through dialogue and action. Kirsneer and mandell (2000) stated that the differences between drama with other two literary genres are seen as follow :
1. Drama develops primarily by means of dialogue, so the audience knows only what
the character thinking.
2. The plot and the action of drama unfold on the stage as the characters interact..
3. Play wright employ various technique to compensate the absence of narrator such
as monologue (extended speech by one character, Solliqouy ( A monolgue in
which character expreses private thought when he/she is alone on stage) and
asides a brief comment by an actor who adresses the audience but not heard by
other character.
4. These dramatic techniques give the audienve insight of character’s motives and technique.
The distinctive appearance of a script ,with its stage directions, character parts and divisions into act and scenes identifies drama as unique form of literature.
The uniqueness of drama should not make readers forget that it is a literary work. Like a short story and a piece of poem, a play is a work of arts made off words (Kennedy and Gioa, 2002). The words is the bones of a play. Verbal gestures, facial expression, bodily stances, lightning and special effects are there to make the meaning of words, and to be part of the play wright’s written words. The power of words convey the similarity between drama with poetry and prose. The similarity between drama and other two literary genres lies on some following aspects :
- It possesses a narrative dimension; a play narrates a story in the form of plot.
- Like fiction drama relies on dialogue and description which takes the form of stage directions lines describing characters, scenes and action with clues to production.
- Plays is similar with lyric poems, both are allowed overheaded, we listen to the characters expressing their concern as if there were no audience present.
.
So then, when a drama is said as a stage art, in a sense that it is written to be performed and adressed not to readers but to spectators, still there is a space for us to read the drama by only relying on its written words. The plays we wish to see are not always performed. A reasonable alternative is to read them with attention to both theatrical and literary dimensions ( Diyanni, 2001). Drama with its unique theatrical idiom should be read with with the special attention to its performance element.
