The term “straight play” is used to distinguish between musical and non-musical theatrical productions. A straight play is a piece of theater that is not a musical and tells the story entirely through the spoken word. Instead of song and dance, this type of play uses spoken dialogue to move the story forward. Both of … Read more
In terms of music, neoclassicism refers to a period in the twentieth century that occurred between 1920 and 1950, roughly between the first and second World Wars. Composers sought to return to earlier musical principles during this time. Composers were primarily concerned with the classical principles of music, but they also revisited ideals from other … Read more
In the hip hop subculture, rap and hip hop are two of the most popular types of music. These two genres have had a huge impact on media and culture in the West. Hip hop was born in New York City in the 1970s and grew first among the African American and Latino communities. The … Read more
Drums are percussive instruments that are made stretching a membrane across a vessel opening. The vibration caused striking the membrane, referred to as the head, with another object produces the sound. Drumheads can be made from goat, cow, antelope, or sheep skin, as well as synthetic materials. Drums are carved out of wood, … Read more
Theater, musical theater, dance, music, acting, magic, and circus acts are examples of different types of performing arts. Facial expressions, voice, and body language are all used in the performing arts to communicate a creative fabrication. With the exception of some film and television acting and video musical productions, most forms of performing arts are … Read more
A limner is simply an artist or painter, though the term has come to be associated with painters who worked in the North American colonies in the 18th and 19th centuries. Limners were often anonymous, traveling from town to town looking for work, and they produced a large body of work of varying quality. Limners’ … Read more
The term “representative art” refers to artwork that depicts something that most people can recognize from the real world. From prehistoric to modern times, realistic art has dominated the history of visual arts for the most part. Non-representational art is the polar opposite of representational art, as it lacks a realistic, recognizable subject. The Mona … Read more
Neoclassical theatre (also spelled theater) refers to a period from the mid-seventeenth to the early-eighteenth centuries when the theatrical arts were influenced the ideas and styles of ancient Greek and Roman societies. Decorum, or dignified behavior, and realism were highly valued at the time, and people believed that the primary purposes of a play … Read more