Passage from Argument Project: “Wrestling and Theater: Similar Yet Different”
“Wrestling and theater are on a similar plane, yet they are on different ends of it. Indeed, storytelling elements are similar between the two mediums. Also, it is very true that both theater and wrestling involve acting and, occasionally, the suspension of belief on the part of the audience. Despite this, wrestling’s presentation of matches, as well as elements of the sport more so puts it on the level of a high-level professional sports event or a different fighting promotion like the UFC. For example, wrestling has elements such a breaking the “fourth wall” In theater, the “fourth wall” is a metaphor for what separates the audience from the performers on stage. While some would think that breaking the fourth wall breaks the immersion of a scene, in a Hughes 3 wrestling match, getting the crowd involved adds to the experience. Wrestling breaks the “fourth wall” by often having a wrestler appeal to the audience during a match to both give him support, as well as to show their discontent towards his opponent. This brings the audience into a more active role in the story, rather than a passive one that is the case with most stage shows. While this is less prevalent in modern theater, it must be noted that audience participation did play a role in the theaters of antiquity. According to Milly Barranger’s book “Theatre: A Way of Seeing” the audience in ancient Athens often played a role in performances because they “were so near to the chorus they were practically an extension of it.” (Barranger 28) This participation no doubt made a play considerably more immersive for those that took part.”
In regards to this learning outcome, my skills in how to properly compose an argument have definitely improved, particularly in the integration of sources. I have had to argue a variety of topics in different classes, but not too often have I sat down and fully composed an argumentative essay. We developed our arguments based on a topic we selected from articles found within The New York Times. Wanting to do something different and unique, I composed my essay to argue that the entertainment medium of professional wrestling was and is much different than theater and stage acting, which was a direct disagreement with what the author of the article I selected stated. The hard part of argumentation was now upon me. I not only had to fit in the sources where I thought they would fit, but I had to do it in such a way to where it was compelling to a reader to make them join my side. In the passage above, readers can see that I used a credible source about theater from a noted theater expert, Milly Barranger, and I used a passage from that source that showed audience participation has been part of theater from its earliest days. That passage and source supported my point that both theater and wrestling rely on audience participation and that audience participation is a long-standing component of theater. That smooth integration of sources built my argument’s credibility and gave strong support to my sub-claim and thesis.