ETHICS IN THE THEATRE

Text topic: An Ethical Reading of Art

Text author: Маја Ристић

This paper aims to define and explore the importance of ethics in the theatre. The theoretical starting point of the work is based on Aristotle’s and Plato’s definitions of ethics and their observations of arts. For both Aristotle and Plato, art is an activity that inspires creation of virtues in the man. The second part brings the study of ethics in the works of Shakespeare and Sara Bernard, while the central part focuses on the theory of ethics in the theatre “poetics” of Konstantin Sergeievich Stanislavsky. In his works, The System, My Life in Art and Ethics he laid the foundations of modern, naturalistic and professional theatre. Stanislavski wanted rules in theatre and beautiful relationships, goodness. He felt that the actors should be fully committed to their role and work in rehearsals. The concept of ethics in the theatre was examined from the perspective of a multi-disciplinary theatre and syncretic art. Arts should encourage positive emotions and traits in humans.