What is a play? A public holiday? A lesson? A pastime? In…
““What is a play? A public holiday? A lesson? A pastime? In the first place it might seem that a play ought to be a kind of public holiday, being a show put on for a crowd of citizens gathered together. But we must not forget that there are several different kinds of theater audiences, or at least two: there is the audience of a few intelligent people, and the one that is just a crowd. For the crowd, spectacular shows [...] are mainly a pastime, and maybe just a little bit of a lesson since they are not forgotten quite immediately, but a lesson in mock sentimentality and mock esthetics, which are the only real kind for people like that, and for whom the minority theater seem an incomprehensible bore. This other theater is neither a holiday for its audience, nor a lesson, nor a pastime--it is something real: the elite join in the creation of one of themselves who, among this elite, sees a being come to life in himself that was created by himself: an active pleasure which is God's sole pleasure and which the holiday mob achieves in caricature in the carnal act.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote contrasts two types of theater audiences: the crowd seeking entertainment and the elite seeking profound, self‑reflective creation.
In simple terms: Two audience types: casual and elite.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the depth of art beyond mere spectacle.
Themes
theater
audience
artistic value
elitism
entertainment
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- producing serious drama
- educational workshops
- highbculture festivals
- community theater discussions
Key Concepts
Aesthetic philosophy
self‑creation
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does theater serve both entertainment and self‑discovery?
- Can art bridge the gap between elite and popular audiences?
A Different Perspective
The elite view may be inaccessible to many, limiting its impact.