Realism

The Rebellion Against Royal Neoclassicism Begins

After reading Chapter 8, you be able to

* Explain how realism became a mo ement * !now what is romanticism * !now the characteristics of realism in acting and staging * !now the pioneer playwrights and their significant wor"s * #efine naturalism * !now the plot of Che"ho $s Three Sisters * !now the three ma%or American playwrights and their significant wor"s

The reasons for realism

* Realism was a re olt against the neoclassic standards& * Rebellion against the contri ed manners and elitist snobbery also fueled the attac" * Theatre, they felt, should hold a mirror up to nature

The first challenge to neoclassicism was Romanticism:

* * * *

originated in the late '8th century and stressed strong emotion (se of the )magination *reedom from classical correctness in art forms, Rebellion against social con entions&

* Epic ad entures

* +a%estic style * Exotic locales * ,rotes-ue illains * .ur i es today primarily in musicals and grand opera

Characteristics of Realism
* Realism sought a /li"eness to life0 * Realism remains today the dominant influence in the theatre& * Realist playwrights see" to ha e the audience understand their own struggles and to feel compassion for the human condition&

Qualities of Acting and Staging

* Actors see" to become the characters * #ialogue sounds li"e con ersation * .cenery resembles the locale * .cenery depicts ordinary li ing conditions * Costumes represented status of character * 1rotagonist drawn from e eryday life& * 1rotagonist may be perplexed and inarticulate in the face of conflict

* Themes2 Thought pro o"ing moral and social -uestions

Remo ing the /fourth wall0 3atching a /realistic0 play should be similar to loo"ing in someone$s li ing room or house&

The /fourth wall0 is missing for us to watch the characters&

Realism remains one of the dominant styles of presentation today.

* The unspo"en purpose of e ery realistic play is exploring the mystery of life& * Characters in a realistic play are indi iduals we can compare thoughts and feelings with as they disco er life$s meanings * The catharsis of this genre is that each member of the audience is to gain an understanding of his or her own struggles and feel compassion for the struggles of others& * 1lays in this era were often referred to as /problem plays0 since they focused on social concerns&

Henrik I sen!"ather of Realism

* A Dolls House * Ghosts * An Enemy of the People

Themes: Social concerns

* Dolls House2 3omen$s rights * Ghosts: +ercy !illing and .ocial #isease * An Enemy of the People2 1olitical corruption

Russian realism: Anton Chekho#

* Che"ho wor"ed with Russian director, !onstantin .tanisla s"y and the +oscow Art Theatre, to create a series of plays dealing with the end of c4arist Russia& * The Seagulls * Uncle Vanya

* Three Sisters * Cherry Orchard

$aturalism
* Extreme form of realism * /A slice of life0 * +an$s beha ior is the result of genetic and social circumstances * Emphasis on /character0 rather on plot

American%realist& playwrights:
* Arthur +iller * Tennessee 3illiams * Eugene 5$Neill

America's first master dramatist: Eugene 5$Neill was so called because his were the first American plays to recei e recognition abroad&
* The Hairy Ape, Long Days Journey Into Ice"an Co"eth

ight, Desire Under the !l"s, The