Transcript Realism and Beyond - Kathryn Paterson: Home

Realism and Beyond
Genres and Movements in 20th
Century American Drama
Genres and Movements
1900-1965 (an overview)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Realism
Poetic Realism
Expressionism
Social Realism
Theatre of the Absurd
Surrealism (antirealism)
Realism
• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th
century.
Realism
• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th
century.
• Gives the illusion that the audience is “looking
in” on the action, as if we’ve just happened upon
this scene.
Realism
• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th
century.
• Gives the illusion that the audience is “looking
in” on the action, as if we’ve just happened upon
this scene.
• Often focuses on the commonplace, the ordinary.
Realism
• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th century.
• Gives the illusion that the audience is “looking in” on
the action, as if we’ve just happened upon this scene.
• Often focuses on the commonplace, the ordinary.
• Leaves loose ends that can be interpreted multiple
ways.
Realism
• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th century.
• Gives the illusion that the audience is “looking in” on
the action, as if we’ve just happened upon this scene.
• Often focuses on the commonplace, the ordinary.
• Leaves loose ends that can be interpreted multiple
ways.
• Is preoccupied with verisimilitude.
Poetic Realism
• Blends characteristics of realism with a
heightened sense of aestheticism
Poetic Realism
• Blends characteristics of realism with a
heightened sense of aestheticism
• Draws attention to the representational
aspects of the set and atmosphere.
Poetic Realism
• Blends characteristics of realism with a
heightened sense of aestheticism
• Draws attention to the representational
aspects of the set and atmosphere.
• Characters often have their “last chance at
love,” but are disappointed
scene from the Murfreesboro Metropolitan Theatre’s Glass Menagerie
Poetic Realism
• Blends characteristics of realism with a heightened
sense of aestheticism
• Draws attention to the representational aspects of
the set and atmosphere.
• Characters often have their “last chance at love,”
but are disappointed
• Has some of the trademarks of expressionism, but
does not distort reality in quite the same way.
Expressionism
• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological
truth by distorting reality.
Expressionism
• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological
truth by distorting reality.
• Speech is either heightened or clipped
Expressionism
• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological
truth by distorting reality.
• Speech is either heightened or clipped
• Characters are often “types” rather than fully
developed
Expressionism
• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological
truth by distorting reality.
• Speech is either heightened or clipped
• Characters are often “types” rather than fully
developed
• Dramatizes the spiritual awakenings and/or
sufferings of the protagonist
Expressionism
• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological truth by
distorting reality.
• Speech is either heightened or clipped
• Characters are often “types” rather than fully developed
• Dramatizes the spiritual awakenings and/or sufferings of
the protagonist
• Often dramatizes the struggle against middle-class values
and established authority/institutions
Social Realism
• A subset of realism that is sometimes called
“kitchen-sink” drama
Social Realism
• A subset of realism that focuses on realistic, often
domestic situations
Social Realism
• A subset of realism that focuses on realistic
often domestic situations, sometimes giving
it the term “kitchen-sink drama”
• Politically aware; overtly presses for change.
Theatre of the Absurd
(1950s-1960s)
• Emerges from the philosophy of existentialism
Theatre of the Absurd
(1950s-1960s)
• Emerges from the philosophy of existentialism
• Expresses the idea that the human situation is
devoid of purpose, and therefore futile and
absurd
Theatre of the Absurd
(1950s-1960s)
• Emerges from the philosophy of existentialism
• Expresses the idea that the human situation is
devoid of purpose, and therefore futile and
absurd
• Little plot or logical structure
Theatre of the Absurd
(1950s-1960s)
• Emerges from the philosophy of existentialism
• Expresses the idea that the human situation is devoid of
purpose, and therefore futile and absurd
• Little plot or logical structure
• However frantic the action, it often comes to nothing.
Surrealism
• Sometimes referred to as antirealism
Surrealism
• Sometimes referred to as antirealism
• Resembles expressionism, but draws its
material from the subconscious (dreams,
repressed memories, etc.)
Expressionism vs. Surrealism
Surrealism
• Sometimes referred to as antirealism
• Resembles expressionism, but draws its
material from the subconscious (dreams,
repressed memories, etc.)
• Highly theatrical and highly poetic
Surrealism
• Sometimes referred to as antirealism
• Resembles expressionism, but draws its
material from the subconscious (dreams,
repressed memories, etc.)
• Highly theatrical and highly poetic
• Plots are often non-linear or even circular
Genres and Movements
1900-1965 (a recap)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Realism
Poetic Realism
Expressionism
Social Realism
Theatre of the Absurd
Surrealism (antirealism)