The Application Of Game Theory In Drama Conflict

Game Theory is a research tool used mostly in the humanities as a branch ofmodern mathematics. Game theory’s research field is about interactive behaviorsystem. The core of interactive behavior is that human acts in such a way as to havean effect on each other and each person thinks based on other person’s decision tochoose the most beneficial one in all decision. The social nature of game theory needsit to apply abstract theoretic results to concrete reality, so game theory belongs toscience and art. Theatrical art is centered in action and set conflicts in interaction asmain object, so game theory have the influence of directive guidance to theatre. Gametheory supplies theoretical basis for analysis of complicated conflicts in theatre, and isvery helpful to clear and complex thinking for playwrights.This dissertation applies the method of game theory to construct the possibilityand feasibility in dramatic conflict based on the discussion on many classical dramasand movies in order that we can standardize dramatic conflict in some way. At thesame time, this dissertation applied the research framework of performance studies toexpand and review the hypothesis and precondition in game theory in order to adaptthe nature of dramatic conflict for game theory. It wants to do something incross-disciplinary research which gives theoretic evidence of game theory’sapplication and propose the practical ways.In author’s opinion, the thinking in game theory’s way is not to make the processof playwright become scientific computing, and game theory is not a catholicon tocreative writing. But strategically thinking will support the development of dramastory. In the process of playwright’s writing, he must understand the principle ofhuman action clearly. Playwright can make the understanding more concrete anddirective through game theory’s way. When playwright use the principle, he mayidentify complex dramatic conflict by thinking strategically.The application of game theory to theatre follows three routes. First is analysis.Game theory gives a good viewpoint to drama. Reasonable explanation is needed todramatic development in the framework of game theory which gives a channel tocommunicate with different epoch and culture writer and accepter and is helpful tolink up the consequence of playwright, director, actor and audience. Second isreconstructive. Game theory helps us to rethink the idea in the drama, and add somenew possibilities to it. Third is suggestion. The interaction Between dramaticcharacters’ and between playwright, director, actor and audience is both needed togame theory’s systematical way.