1Drama 101 Molière’s Tartuffe and 17thC. French Theatre Wars of Religion (1562-1598) Catholics vs. Huguenots (French Protestants) Catherine de Médicis (Gallicized) had married into French royalty, brining with her an Italian influence on art, cuisine, and theatre. Edict of Nantes (1598) 26 years later, King Henry of France Signs a treaty French theatre at the time Confrérie de la passion (org. 1402) monopoly on religious mystery plays Hôtel de Bourgogne (built 1548) monopoly on performance in Paris A set broken up into different areas and different places Depending on the scene you would place certain things accordingly Farce: a subset of comedy, preoccupied with absurdities and physical action. Aims to entertain by mans of improbable situations, mistaken identity, and verbal human of varying levels of sophistication Cardinal Richelieu Centralizes power around the crown Creates a cult of personality around the King and court-first with Louis XIII, particularly later with Louis XIV “The Sun King.” Institute s a “performance” of royalty (Meals, le grand coucher, le petit coucher) Solidifies the “Idea” of France, started by Francis I in the early 16thc. Pours state subsidy of the arts in order to promote it: sculpture, architecture, painting, music, literature oSculpture, painting, art, etc.
