The performing arts, also one of the basic genres of art, is one of the "ephemeral" arts. This means that the performances of the performing arts are transient. In these performances, which take place mainly on a stage and which are mainly acting or dancing, usually audience is present. It's a transient pleasure and the art form you can not touch will eventually come to an end.
Fortunately, today one is able to "conserve" this fleeting art form by recording it. So you can almost take the artist on tape, CD or any other storage medium home and watch the performance as often as you want.
The forms and sub-forms of the performing arts, such as theater, dance, media art and conceptual art also count among the "fine or visual arts”.
Humans have always liked to be entertained, although the manner of entertainment has changed time and again over the course of history. Last but not least, religious reasons were responsible for the fact that a theatrical performance came about in the first place and was later even temporarily banned again by the church.
Cave pictures, created by people from the Stone Age, even suggest that the "theatrical game" is much older. Perhaps the Ice Age hunters dressed up in animal skins and reenacted scenes from a hunt. Whether for religious purposes or to tell the children and women who stayed behind in the safe camp about the last hunt and to impress them, we can only guess. The fact is, however, that the Bushmen, or the people of the San, as they are better known, who live in southern Africa, still play to their children with full physical effort, how the animals of the steppes they hunt or that are dangerous, move and what sounds they make. From imitating the most diverse animal voices to an ostrich bathing in the soft sand, everything is included in the acting repertoire of an old, experienced hunter for the delight of the youngest.
Later, priest-kings presented their ideas of creation and the interpretation of being in religious plays. Monumental temples in honor of the reigning deity served as a backdrop.
An acting performance did not always have the purpose of "further education". Mostly it was only used for entertainment and diversion. Like in ancient Rome, for example. There, chariot races, gladiator fights and other bloodthirsty displays such as the popular “Lion versus Christ” encounter were very popular. More banal performances, such as silly comedies including pulling faces and falling down, took place on the sidelines.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, mass events such as those that had taken place in the great Colosseum in Rome, including all other types of drama, were initially banned by the increasingly powerful church, as the performances mostly dealt with topics such as murder and manslaughter, adultery or otherwise absurd sexual behaviors.
Only later, when the liturgical chants in the churches were given a textual extension and people began to playfully understand the events of the death and resurrection of Christ, did the theater experience its very own resurrection. It started with complex games with biblical content. At some point more space was needed and the imagination shifted from the inside of the church to the forecourt, the population was involved and the Latin that had been used in the churches up until then was exchanged for the respective vernacular so that everyone really understood what it was about. The foundation stone was laid again and from now on the further development of the theater up to film and television could not be stopped. Then as now, people were hungry for stories, but it has never been easier than today to escape reality for a few hours and immerse yourself in other worlds and spend time with your favorite heroes. Thanks to the invention of recording and playback devices, as often as you want.