Oresteia & The Parthenon

            Artistic Reflection of the Dawn of Modern Politics.
             In all artistic creations, a particular message is conveyed. Whether it is simple or complex, its effectiveness hinges on the quality of its construction. In Ancient Greece, two pillars of artistic communication were theatre and architecture. As with all art, certain creations stand out as being the best. Among these are the Parthenon and the Oresteia. The difference between the methods of communication lie in their respective structures'the first of which is in its architectural design and the second is in the method of diction, character development and the organization of the plot. The structures of these two monumental achievements reflect the efficacy with which they communicate a common message to their audiences, a thematic demonstration of a basic human conflict: Chaos versus Order. .
             The Parthenon and the Oresteia act as tributes to the democracy that inspired their creation. But, moreover, they serve as engines for governmental propaganda. Though they are art, the message that they communicate is a message that is intended to preserve order and generate confidence in the democratic system by which they governed themselves. To understand how this purpose is achieved, it is first necessary to understand the nature of the message itself. Then we can examine the elements that compose the structures of these monumental advertisements for democracy. .
             For thousands of years, there has existed a basic human desire for peace. It has inspired human beings to create societies with laws and order. Our instinctive aspiration for a harmony has caused us to create rules and consequences, which absolve those conflicts and preserve order. The rejection of these societal institutions causes anarchy (a reversion to the chaos of nature). In order that this does not happen, the laws must work. People, therefore, must fear the consequences of breaking the laws and thus obey them.