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Appendix F: Glossary


abstract
To do with, or existing in, thought rather than matter, or in theory rather than practice; not tangible nor concrete; denoting a quality or condition or intangible thing rather than a concrete object (e.g., freedom, love).

aesthetic
Pertaining to a distinct category of understanding that incorporates intellectual, sensory, and emotional involvement in and responses to the arts.

as if
Imagining and being in an agreed-upon place, time, and circumstance, and facing the same situation together.

aural
Of, relating to, or received by, the ear.

blocking
The working out of the physical movements of actors in a play.

business
Any activity actors do on stage in their role (e.g., playing cards, making a sandwich).

central image
A visual image that incorporates action ("noun and verb"); a metaphor for the play (as in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof).

character's objective
The goal or desire towards which the character, through actions and dialogue, is working.

Choral Theatre
A form of drama in which lines are spoken by a chorus of voices.

compositional elements
Echoes, resonance, and repetition.

context
Circumstances influencing the creation of a dramatic or other work. Includes social, cultural, historical, personal circumstances. (See also dramatic context.)

contrast
Darkness and light; sound and silence; movement and stillness.

critique
Constructive criticism of the effectiveness of the work or the appropriateness of the choices made by the creator or performer.

design elements
Levels, colours, space, texture, and other elements affecting the physical representation of drama.

directing skills
Researching, conceptualizing, analysing, organizing, blocking, rehearsing.

drama elements
Focus, tension and contrast, symbol, form, and balance.

dramatic anthology
A presentation of a thematically based collection of material (e.g., poetry, narration, essays, songs, and scenes).

dramatic context
Setting for dramatic work that includes who, where, and when in a given activity.

dramatic form
A medium for the expression of dramatic meaning (e.g., improvisation, tableau, role, Story Theatre, dance drama, Readers Theatre, mask, mime, puppetry, script work, audiovisual); may involve the integration of a variety of media and a combination of the arts.

dramatic interactions
Interactions of people and forces within a selected environment and event.

dramatic play
A make-believe situation in which the learner can explore actions and reactions in a spontaneous way.

focus
Concentration of attention on a specific person, object, or event.

form
(See dramatic form.)

Forum Theatre
A form of audience-participation drama. Students create scenes that address an issue of their choice; an audience member who sees one actor belittling another actor within the context of the scene calls "freeze!" and the scene is replayed with the audience member participating and illustrating a solution to the problem.

freeze
A sudden and immediate stoppage in action and motion that creates a tableau during a dramatic work.

general space
The space in which the whole group works.

genre
A term used in literary criticism to describe a literary form. Traditional dramatic genres are comedy and tragedy.

improvisation
The invention of dialogue and action spontaneously, based on an understanding of a role or a situation.

kinesthetic
Having to do with the sensations of movement.

making meaning
A way of understanding personal experience and coming to terms with the world of thing and events; meaning beyond the ordinary.

movement elements
Time, space, energy, relationship, dynamics, and body.

open and closed positions
In mime, open and closed body positions are the two extreme contrasts to the neutral body position. In neutral, the body elements are balanced and make a minimal dramatic statement. In open position, all the elements of the body are open. This state frequently represents an emotional attitude as well as a physical position. The closed position is the opposite: all elements of the body are closed, and the emotional attitude is also closed.

pace
The speed of speech or movement, often used in building up or down to a climax.

pathways
The path on the floor along which the actor (or actors) moves.

performance space
The area where a presentation occurs, such as proscenium, alley, thrust, in the round, forum (large open space).

personal space
The space in which an individual works.

play building
Process of creating, rehearsing, and presenting a story based on ideas, life experiences, and imagination. Refer to Storymaking and Drama: An Approach to Teaching Language and Literature in Appendix B.

Readers Theatre
An oral interpretation of poem or prose. Refer to Readers Theatre Anthology by Mel White.

reflection
The act of thinking about or considering the significance of the work. Reflection can take many forms.

ritual
A ceremonial act or performance used to heighten commitment and deepen understanding.

role
Assuming the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs of another in a drama; to put oneself in anotherıs shoes in order to understand anotherıs point of view.

Role Drama
Drama in which students, and perhaps the teacher, work in role to explore events, issues, and relationships and reflect on these experiences.

soundscape
A series of connected or contrasting sounds to be used in isolation and heard or used as the source for a mimed or movement exercise.

stage blocking
(See blocking.)

stage vocabulary
Words used to describe position of the stage, such as: upstage, downstage, stage right, stage left, wings, and apron.

status
The relative importance of characters. Status can be endowed or assumed. Elements of status include height, vocal quality, proximity, stage position, and eye contact.

storyboard
A visual representation of the "story" or organization of episodes in a collective drama.

story starter
A line or situation given as a point of departure for developing an improvisation or other dramatic work.

Story Theatre
Technique for telling stories in drama. The story may be told by a narrator, with others acting it out with dialogue, or through mime; the narration may also be provided by those who are acting out the characters, animals, or inanimate objects.

styles
The manner of dramatic expression chosen. Examples include: naturalism, symbolism, and surrealism.

subtext
The implied or unspoken theme or character motivation in a dramatic work.

suspend disbelief
The willingness to accept as if.

symbol
A person, place, or object that stands for or represents an idea or quality and, when used or referred to, immediately summons an organized pattern of emotional and intellectual responses.

tableau
A still picture representing concretized thought that is physically created by actors.

teacher-in-role
By taking on roles, teachers are able to provide students with a model for working in role through the use of appropriate language and apparent commitment to the process and the work.

technical elements
Lighting, sound, set, design, props, and cost.

tension
The force that drives the drama. It may be created through elements such as challenge, time, space, conflict, constraints, unknown, responsibility, and mystery.

theatre elements
(See drama elements.)

theatresports
A competitive, improvisational game in which students work in teams. Refer to a manual on theatresports to understand the scoring and variations in the game.

theatrical conventions
Common agreements between the observer and the drama participants regarding theatrical custom.

three unities
The three unities are: Together, called the principle of the three unities.

vocal collage
A collection of vocal sounds based on a theme or storyline. Each student thinks of words associated with a theme. Point to each student in turn to activate voices.

voice elements
Volume, timbre, projection, diction, dialect, tone, pitch, articulation, pace.

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Province of British Columbia
Ministry of Education
Standards Department İ 1995 Copyright

Maintained by: Fine Arts Coordinator - Drama

Revised: January 28, 1999

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