THAR 281 EXAM 2 Realism and Naturalism Influential Theories of the 19th century Karl Marx 1818 1883 German o Communist Manifesto 1848 Understands humanity through history of class struggle Economic and social forces Charles Darwin 1809 1882 English o On the Origin of the Species 1859 Understands humanity through natural process of evolution Natural forces Sigmund Freud 1856 1939 Austrian o The Interpretation of Dreams 1899 Understands humanity through unconscious drives Psychological Forces What Determines Character Classical o Fate The Gods o Blood Social Status o Type Stock Characters Modern o Social Economic Forces o Natural Evolutionary Forces o Mental Psychological Forces Naturalism Realism A literary and theatrical movement that attempted to achieve objective verisimilitude by adopting a scientific attitude toward its subject matter It emphasizes the role of society history and personality in determining the actions of its characters usually expressed as a conflict between characters and their environment A literary and theatrical practice valuing direct imitation or verisimilitude Realism is usually concerned with psychological motives the inner reality not just a superficial verisimilitude It is closely related to naturalism Emile Zola 1840 1902 Naturalism Drama should French playwright and theorist 1870s spokesperson for naturalism in theatre o Reflect scientific observations truths o Depict social ills so they can be corrected o Naturalism begins with exact reproduction of the environment Naturalism Slice of Life o No selection editing arrangement o Artist as objective deliverer of information o Blur distinction between art and life Plays o Often focus on lower classes or downtrodden o Often censored for political content In Production Realism Is Realism Ain t o Real beef carcasses The Butchers 1888 Realism is a style or approach whose characters and situations appear to mirror everyday life Realism does not equal Real Seems real because conventions seek to imitate real life But no more real than any dramatic form o Uses literary conventions symbolism foreshadowing plot etc o Shaped to create aesthetically satisfying whole Some Conventions of Realism In Drama o Ordinary People o Everyday life situations o Psychologically developed characters o By depicting life s it is maybe audience will want to change On Stage o Fourth Wall and Box sets o Actors ignore audience audience passive o Acting is believable o Blocking is motivated o Settings often domestic o Lighting appears natural Moscow Art Theatre 1898 Founders o Konstantin Stanislavski o Vladimir Nemirovich Danchenko Important in developing realism Ensemble no stars The Sea Gulf first success Most influential theatre in Russia still producing work today Anton Chekhov 1860 1904 Russian playwright and author Realism Major works o The Seagull o The Cherry Orchard o The Three Sisters o Uncle Vanya Life is bad and dreary Konstantin Stanislavski 1863 1938 Russian Created approach to acting Henrik Ibsen 1828 1906 Norwegian Wrote 25 plays o Early verse dramas about Norwegian past o Middle realist dramas o Late symbolist dramas Contributions o Reined well made play o Art should be about ideas not merely entertainment A Doll House Henrik Ibsen nice house o Make behavior of the performer natural and convincing o Convey goals and objectives of character without objectives and super objective characters seem mechanical o Character should be convincing throughout not just at dramatic moments o Sense of ensemble relationships Necessary scene confrontation and resolve all loose ends Production History 1879 Premiere o Denmark o Sold Out o Critics love it 1880 German production controversy o Lead actress refused to play ending o Ibsen rewrote ending o Called it barbaric outrage Well Made Play Characteristics Causal plot clear cause and effect 1 2 Action revolves around secret 3 4 Coincidence letters and lost documents 5 Often focus on social issues Mabou Mines Dollhouse 2003 NYC Casting Acting o Men s roles Little People Set and Costume Design o Melodrama o Accents o Miniature o Dollhouse Modernism Context Late 19th century early 20th century Nationals Colonialist Expansion Militarism Wars Questioning earlier 18th 19th c ideas Enlightenment Science observation would solve social ills Humanism belief in known universal truths Modernism questions these beliefs Modernism in Art Rejection of humanist ideal Rejection of values based on scientific knowledge Does not seek to imitate reality not mimetic Acknowledges competing truths Favors abstraction new forms But how to represent competing truths Some Modernist Theatre Art Movements Symbolism Expressionism Surrealism Futurism Dada Symbolism 1880 1910 Reaction against realism Depicted inner life No plot or action Relied on symbol metaphor poetry music Static indirect ceremonial Ex Maeterlinck Pelleas and Melisande 1892 Stephan Mallarme Depict not the object but the effect which it produces Expressionism 1912 1921 Germany Representation of reality is distorted to convey inner feelings Characteristics o Settings abstract angles distorted o Action episodes stages in hero s life point of view of protagonist o Characters nameless representative o Language clipped fragmented telegram style o Acting ecstatic style rapid speech violent and intense o Often critiques society family The Cabinet of Dr Caligari 1920 o German expressionism o Silent horror film Other Early Anti Realists Designers o Adolphe Appia Simple Sets Colored Lighting o Edward Gordon Craig Free theatre from realism literature actors Unified artwork with lighting as element o Both Acting is not an art It is therefore incorrect to speak of the actor as an artist o expose devices of theatre so audience is aware it s watching a performance Scenery should merely suggest locale No realism Use levels and platforms Vsevelod Meyerhold Theatricalist Lighting is central Found Spaces Constructivist Biomechanics o Spaces not purposely built as theatres o Sets are machines for actors to work on o acting approach emphasized external physicality All would later influence avant garde movements The Magnificent Cuckhold 1922 o Constructivist sets often featured ramps frames stairs and platforms o Did not evoke specific locale Futurism 1909 Believed the past is a barrier to progress glorified war industry and technology In Art o New Forms for new era o Embrace new technology o Evokes movement speed o Subjects industry vehicles military Futurist genres o