Tragedy has been around for a long time, but the meaning has only changed slightly. Wikipedia defines tragedy as "a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in the viewing.” But why is this entertaining? Is that how humans boast about their good lives? But tragedy is everywhere and in everyone’s lives at some point; why mock others misfortunes? Is this all tragedy is?
I think that tragedy goes deeper than finding joy that your life hasn’t had any major bumps. Tragedy doesn’t just show us how others handle bad situations; it can teach us how to deal with those situations ourselves. That is what we love about tragedy! By showing others misfortunes, people may really think into how that particular situation would affect them and how they would deal with it. They learn more about themselves as a person based on their reactions to different situations. Isn’t that what makes us human?
One thing tragedy shows well is how cultural experimentation, negotiation, struggle, and change can affect one’s life and the lives around them. Through tragic works of arts, we get a better understanding of the culture and the society of the world. We see the imperfect side of culture and society, just like the real world.
I like the Wikipedia definition but I think that it should be amended to "a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis that in turn makes them reflect on their own actions in their own suffering." This definition gives the feeling that audiences won't be just finding pleasure in the viewing, but really thinking about the suffering and thinking about what they would do in that situation.
I think that tragedy goes deeper than finding joy that your life hasn’t had any major bumps. Tragedy doesn’t just show us how others handle bad situations; it can teach us how to deal with those situations ourselves. That is what we love about tragedy! By showing others misfortunes, people may really think into how that particular situation would affect them and how they would deal with it. They learn more about themselves as a person based on their reactions to different situations. Isn’t that what makes us human?
One thing tragedy shows well is how cultural experimentation, negotiation, struggle, and change can affect one’s life and the lives around them. Through tragic works of arts, we get a better understanding of the culture and the society of the world. We see the imperfect side of culture and society, just like the real world.
I like the Wikipedia definition but I think that it should be amended to "a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis that in turn makes them reflect on their own actions in their own suffering." This definition gives the feeling that audiences won't be just finding pleasure in the viewing, but really thinking about the suffering and thinking about what they would do in that situation.