Regionalism , Realism, & Naturalism

1. Regionalism, Realism, & Naturalism

2. Regionalism • Regionalism was heavily influenced by Romanticism and carried on many core beliefs. • After the Civil War there was intense urbanization in America. • Regionalism reacted against urbanization and sought to portray the color of local culture.

3. Elements of Regionalism • Regionalism portrayed local culture by displaying the lives of ordinary people. • Dialect was very important to convey the culture (especially for southern/mid-west writers) • Regionalist writers leaned one of two ways: • Nostalgic: Mood of story liked and longed for things & time before urbanization. • Critical: Judged the outdated habits of the culture • Both: presented tension between new & old ways • The ultimate goal of both of these was to fit together the regional pieces of the nation: ? (Identity)

4. Realism • Resulted out of the disillusionment of the Civil War and reacted against Romanticism. • Realist writers & Muckrackers • Fought against the “Gilded Age” (glorious prosperity built on the backs of the poor) • Muckrackers “dug up” the truth (dirt) on industry bullies

5. Elements of Realism • “The truthful treatment of material…” • Examined the psychology of human behavior and presented problems readers would recognize in their own lives. • Concerned with real people, problems and actions. • Wanted to present life as its often cruel self with no embellishments. Aka – life stinks • But Realistic Writer’s ultimate goal was reform

6. Naturalism • Grew out of Realism & Darwinism • Was not concerned with philosophical questions. • Believed that people have little control over their own lives, but were shaped by heredity, social and economical pressures, and natural environment. • Wrote about ordinary people, depicting their futile battles against brutal society and an indifferent universe. • However, Naturalism writers (as opposed to Realism writers) were not interested in trying to enact reform. Rather pessimistic

7. Naturalism: Elements • Nature is indifferent • Man has no power over nature. It cannot be predicted, controlled, or bargained with; nature simply goes on doing whatever it wants, indifferent and ignoring man. A man said to the universe: “Sir, I exist!" “However,” replied the universe, “The fact has not created in me “A sense of obligation.” -Stephen Crane