THAR 281 Lecture 10 Outline of Last Lecture Realism I II III IV V Scenic Practices Costume Practices Realism a Realistic Beliefs b Characters in Realism Contributors to Realism a Naturalism Opposition to Realism a Independent Theatres b Konstantin Stanislavski Outline of Current Lecture Symbolism I II III Recap of Realism Symbolism 1880 1910 Symbolist Drama a Friedrick Nietzsche b Richard Wagner c August Strindberg Antirealist Director a Vsevelod Emilievich Meyerhold IV Current Lecture Realism Recap Goal of realism mirror reality create real life on stage Realism theatre trends not realism Symbolism 1880 1910 depict not the object but the effect which it produces Stephanie Mallarme o Depicting an effect expresses a psychological impact These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute o Portraying something not tangible People are interested artists in the same things why o Natural progression of interests they build on each other o Global Everyone knows about artists and philosophers influencing the world Symbolist drama Depict the inner life feelings Express the inexpressible portraying feelings don t have words to describe Left speechless Suggestive Theatre should depict shadows reflections projections of symbolic forms Maurice Maeterlinck Easier to see than explain No plot action not many people watch hard to follow and understand story in symbolistic drama Lyric drama dance like a giant metaphor o Metaphor ex the heart of a lion a comparison Example this empty box is my life MUSIC Lots Poetry not like realistic language Evocative ceremonial ritual like Friedrick Nietzsche o o o o o Said god is dead Friedrick Netizche influencing symbolism and this type of work Perspectivism Morality Exstentialism Richard Wagner o o o o o 1813 1883 German Dramatic composer Myth Opera composer o A lot of his music was popular for symbolist drama Melancholia Lars Von Trier directed o o o perfect example of symbolism in theatre watch play lots of attempts to express emotion no talking just images Symbolism present bride running with vines around her legs Trapped by roots and nature o What is represented The bride doesn t want to be tied down Nature is against humanity Way it is perceived makes it more personal Symbolism forces viewers to think and ask why August Strindberg o o o o Nutcase librarian journalists and dramatist Wrote A Dream Play and series Road to Damascus Had spiritual reformation bouts of insanity He felt estranged from the rest of the world didn t fit in A Dream play about daughter of god who comes to earth to seek humanity and see why they complain She experiences joy but mostly death and tragedy sadness She decides in the end to pity humans She returns to her home and wakes up it is thought to have been a dream Road to Damascus about Strindberg s life very symbolic of his journey through life Lyrical dialogue reminiscent of dance ceremonial characters wedding occurs bride dies Antirealist Director o o Opposite of Stanislavski Vsevelod Emilievich Meyerhold o From Moscow o Student of Stanislavski o Russian worked in Moscow and went to school at Moscow Art Theatre o Meyerhold experiments director s theatre Everything happens for director s mission and goals Found spaces Work in places not intended to be theatres Eliminate fourth wall wall btw Stage and audience not realistic wall Meyerhold breaks this wall Leaves on house lights o Why So that you can see the reaction of those around you as well as what is on stage Action in the audience o Actors in the house Theatricalism Makes the audience aware of the performance Show everything that makes the performance not real Makes the audience aware it is not reality Heavy emphasis on physicality of the actors Biomechanics Actor s body machine Emphasized external physical training Create an internal response based on your physical action Etudes specific positions he created and it s motions o Constructivist Settings Highly theatrical not realistic Practical apparatus for actors to manipulate giant machine Skeletal frame Shape but not real form Ramps stairways platforms Set was and extension of actors body Luibov Popova scenic designer who worked with Meyerhold