The Rhapsodes

In the world of literature, it rarely matters how the material was performed or presented when it was first imagined. Of course, if it was performed multiple times over generations before being recorded, in writing most likely, then the message could have changed. Other than that fluctuation, literary scholars usually care about the writings and messages shared. As a performance scholar though, I understand the importance of presentation toward the meaning of the piece. 


The way a performance takes place creates meanings of its own within the text. So in the world of the Rhapsodes, how important were the performances to their messages? The answer is that the importance resided in the motivation to perform the way they did. Since video tapes had not been invented yet, we only have written works to tell us of the Rhapsodes. That makes the performative aspects of their performances much more difficult to understand. I believe that the Rhapsodes did not perform long monologues, but most likely performed song-like chants.


These chants were easier to remember. Think back to how easily it is to remember a song you heard on the radio or a jingle on a TV commercial, those with rhythmic beats, even if the words themselves are spoken, are much easier to remember than purely spoken words. This memorable impact would also lead to involvement from the audience. The audience singing or chanting in unison would lead to common bonds and communitas. The joining in unison would lead to a cultural memory instead of individual memories creating a longer lasting impact.


This chanting leads me to believe that the Rhapsodes understood the importance of their performances. It is most likely why we are still taking about them so many centuries down the road.