Realism

1. Realism In the Arts

2. Realism in the Arts: • “faithful representation of reality” • accurate, detailed, unembellished depiction of contemporary life • rejects imaginative idealization • generally deals with ordinary, middle-class life • characters are often more important than plot • may involve complex ethical choices

3. Realism was Stimulated by… • anti-Romantic movement (esp. in Germany) • interest in the scientific method • rise of professional journalism • development of photography All contributed to interest in accurately recording contemporary life and society.

4. Realism in Literature • emphasis on detachment, objectivity, and accurate observation • lucid but restrained criticism of social environment and mores • humane understanding underlies its moral judgments

5. Realism in Theatre • General movement in the later 19th century: texts and performances aimed at greater fidelity to real life. • Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg in Scandinavia and Anton Chekhov and Maksim Gorky in Russia

6. Realism in Theatre • rejected complex and artificial plotting • addressed themes and conflicts belonging to a real, contemporary society

7. Realism in Theatre • dispensed with poetic language and extravagant diction • action and dialogue looked and sounded like everyday behaviour and speech. • Replaced declamatory delivery with natural movement, gestures, and speech • used set designs that accurately reproduced ordinary surroundings