ITT - Multicultural Origins of Theatre (Lesson)

Humans are by nature mimetic. This means that we learn by imitation. The best example of this can be observed watching babies learn to speak. We first learn the beginnings of language by copying the facial expressions and sounds of those around us. Slowly, over time the copied sounds are rewarded and encouraged until eventually, the child is able to arrange the sounds in a new fashion to obtain a specific goal.

Generally speaking, mimetic learning comes in three stages. The first is observation. During this phase, the learner simply takes in the world through the five senses. The second stage is direct imitation. During this stage, the learner simply tries to embody the actions observed. This stage may take a very long time depending on the complexity of the desired behavior. Once the second is mastered, the third stage is employing the action for some new purpose that suits the learner's needs. All of this is relevant to theatre because theatre is equally mimetic. The performers must observe the world and people around them, imitate what they have observed, and then use those honed skills to create something new for the audience. For this reason, it is fair to say that theatre is inherent to the human experience. Theatre did not come from one central location or culture but sprang from myriad cultures all over the globe. Theatrical presentations are as much a part of being human as language is. In fact, mimetic learning, observation of events, and the retelling of stories by recreating events and people likely predate language or the historical record.