I used to work at a movie theater when I was in high school, which somehow warped me so that now, "theater" always means movies and "theatre" always means stage.
I specifically remember a conversation in college where I was taught that "Theater" meant the venue, and "theatre" meant the field, artform, etc. So I've always gone that way.
Having published a magazine feature story about Isaac Mishler, the Altoona, Pennsylvania, theatrical entrepreneur who built the Mishler Theatre in 1906, among other theaters, I ran up against the same debate. There appears to be a general plurality of opinion, although not carved in stone in any writer's style book, that the preference is "theater" for the brick and mortar building, and "theatre" when referencing the art form, actors' company, or other related organization in the abstract. And that is how I chose to write the feature story. Daniel Webster aside, who issued his edict long after the tradition of theatre was established in America, changing which spelling theatrical groups choose for their name or building seems immovable. But American English is filled with exceptions. What is important is to be consistent, although you will be more likely to be criticized if you use "theatre" as a generic noun for the building. Personally, I would like to see "theatre" used for the abstract and "theater" for the facility, with exceptions, of course, for proper names. Plays or movies cannot be shown indoors if you do not have a building--a theater--that exists. But, a theatre group can exist with or without the existence of a building. Stating this spelling preference in style manuals will enhance Webster's failed attempt to finalize this spelling and enhance a reader's ease in differentiating between the two.
Theatre, and most of the English-language words with the -re ending, is closer to the original Greek spelling (theatron). The flimsy distinction made here that the -er spelling is for the building and the -re spelling is for the art taking place in the building is just a silly rationalization. Use one or the other, but don't make up imaginary rules to define when to use them.
Colour vs color is a different matter. Color is closer to the Latin original spelling, the "u" was introduced by the French. Thus one should have no problem with the more straightforward spelling without the "u". Similarly with the "z" in words like ionize and rationalize... it is from Greek again (~izein).
Those are not "imaginary rules". Those are very real cultural and colloquial distinctions and are the essence of how language is *made*.
I agree, it is common usage here (east coast united states) for the work "theatre" to be used to refer to art, or to a venue in which the art is more "serious" or refined, as in a theatrical production, versus "theater" ... which usually just means a movie theater.
A lot of this has to do with the notion that "theatre" is European (stereotyped as more culturally refined) versus "theater" as American.
The cultural wrestling over the word "theatre" is not over though. It evolves... even here on this blog.
I used to work at a movie theater when I was in high school, which somehow warped me so that now, "theater" always means movies and "theatre" always means stage.
ReplyDeleteI always took "theater" to mean the venue and "theatre" to mean the medium.
ReplyDeleteI like theatre -
ReplyDeleteDrama. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI specifically remember a conversation in college where I was taught that "Theater" meant the venue, and "theatre" meant the field, artform, etc. So I've always gone that way.
ReplyDeleteI too, have used "theater" as the venue and "theatre" as the art form.
ReplyDeletei agree with time. theater=movies theatre=stage. it could also be theater=a building theatre=the art form
ReplyDelete*Tim
ReplyDeleteTheatre
ReplyDeleteHaving published a magazine feature story about Isaac Mishler, the Altoona, Pennsylvania, theatrical entrepreneur who built the Mishler Theatre in 1906, among other theaters, I ran up against the same debate. There appears to be a general plurality of opinion, although not carved in stone in any writer's style book, that the preference is "theater" for the brick and mortar building, and "theatre" when referencing the art form, actors' company, or other related organization in the abstract. And that is how I chose to write the feature story. Daniel Webster aside, who issued his edict long after the tradition of theatre was established in America, changing which spelling theatrical groups choose for their name or building seems immovable. But American English is filled with exceptions. What is important is to be consistent, although you will be more likely to be criticized if you use "theatre" as a generic noun for the building. Personally, I would like to see "theatre" used for the abstract and "theater" for the facility, with exceptions, of course, for proper names. Plays or movies cannot be shown indoors if you do not have a building--a theater--that exists. But, a theatre group can exist with or without the existence of a building. Stating this spelling preference in style manuals will enhance Webster's failed attempt to finalize this spelling and enhance a reader's ease in differentiating between the two.
ReplyDeleteClear as mud?
Fred
Theatre, and most of the English-language words with the -re ending, is closer to the original Greek spelling (theatron). The flimsy distinction made here that the -er spelling is for the building and the -re spelling is for the art taking place in the building is just a silly rationalization. Use one or the other, but don't make up imaginary rules to define when to use them.
ReplyDeleteColour vs color is a different matter. Color is closer to the Latin original spelling, the "u" was introduced by the French. Thus one should have no problem with the more straightforward spelling without the "u". Similarly with the "z" in words like ionize and rationalize... it is from Greek again (~izein).
Those are not "imaginary rules". Those are very real cultural and colloquial distinctions and are the essence of how language is *made*.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is common usage here (east coast united states) for the work "theatre" to be used to refer to art, or to a venue in which the art is more "serious" or refined, as in a theatrical production, versus "theater" ... which usually just means a movie theater.
A lot of this has to do with the notion that "theatre" is European (stereotyped as more culturally refined) versus "theater" as American.
The cultural wrestling over the word "theatre" is not over though. It evolves... even here on this blog.
Shakespeare spells is Theatre. Therefore I spell it Theatre.
ReplyDelete