Communication Quote by Patrice Pavis
“New dramatic writing has banished conversational dialogue from the stage as a relic of dramaturgy based on conflict and exchange: any story, intrigue or plot that is too neatly tied up is suspect.”
About This Quote
The quote argues that modern drama has abandoned naturalistic dialogue, viewing it as outdated, and now favors stories where conflict and resolution are ambiguous, making neatly resolved plots suspicious.
In simple terms: Modern drama rejects natural dialogue, favoring ambiguity.
Key Takeaway
Embrace complexity over tidy conclusions.
Themes
theatrical innovation
dialogue style
conflict theory
narrative ambiguity
dramatic structure
Mood
provocative
introspective
critical
Type
critical observation
theoretical claim
cultural commentary
When to use this quote
- playwriting workshops
- theatre criticism
- script development meetings
- academic seminars on drama
- directorial rehearsals
Key Concepts
dialogue evolution
conflict resolution
plot construction
stagecraft
Practical Applications
- writing scripts that challenge conventional resolution
- teaching drama students about non-linear storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- How does ambiguity affect audience engagement?
- When might a tidy resolution be preferable?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that clear resolution provides audience satisfaction and narrative closure, which can be essential for certain genres.
![“Do remember, though, that unless you're a playwright, the result [dialogue] isn't what you want; it's only an element of what you want. Actors embody and re-create the words of drama. In fiction, a tremendous amount of story and character may be given through the dialogue, but the story-world and…” quote by Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ccc/ursula-k-le-guin-138_actors_do-remember-though-that-unless-you-re-a_2836249.jpg)
![“Avant-garde theatre, with its distrust of the individual (that bourgeois invention), tends to go beyond [character] and the psychological approach in search of a syntax of types and characters which are "deconstructed and post-individual.” quote by Patrice Pavis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c22/patrice-pavis-72351_approach_avant-garde-theatre-with-its-distrust-of_59690.jpg)
