Intro to Realism - Theatre Arts for Teens!

Summary

This educational script transports us to 18th century Norway to explore the origins of realism in theater, sparked by Henrik Ibsen's groundbreaking play 'A Doll's House.' It outlines realism's core elements: naturalistic acting, everyday dialogue, realistic settings, the absence of breaking the fourth wall, and the use of subtext. The script also highlights key playwrights like Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, and August Strindberg, emphasizing their influence on American theater, particularly in the works of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The script begins with a reference to the ocean and seagulls, setting a maritime theme for the lesson on theater history.
• 🎭 The lesson revisits the United Kingdom's theater history, highlighting the influence of William Shakespeare before shifting focus to Norway and the rise of realism.
• ❄️ It provides a historical context for the emergence of realism in theater, explaining the shift from the comedic and farcical style of Molière to the more serious and authentic storytelling of Henrik Ibsen.
• 🎭 Realism in theater is characterized by naturalistic acting, everyday conversation, realistic settings, no breaking of the fourth wall, and the use of subtext.
• 👤 Henrik Ibsen is credited as the father of realism, with his play 'A Doll's House' being a pivotal work that challenged societal norms and sparked controversy.
• 🌟 Other notable playwrights of realism include Anton Chekhov, known for his portrayal of deep human emotions within mundane scenarios, and August Strindberg, who focused on psychological turmoil.
• 🇷🇺 Chekhov, a Russian playwright, and Strindberg, a Swedish playwright, are highlighted as significant figures who, along with Ibsen, shaped the realism movement.
• 🎨 Strindberg is noted for his feud with Ibsen, which fueled their creative rivalry and contributed to the development of their respective styles within realism.
• 🗽 Realism had a profound impact on American theater, influencing playwrights like Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, and helping to define an American identity in theater.
• 📚 The lesson concludes with a summary of the key points and a teaser for the next lesson on avant-garde theatre, encouraging students to continue their exploration of theater history.

Q & A

What is the significance of the ocean breeze and the seagull in the opening of the script?

The ocean breeze and the seagull symbolize a fresh start and a new journey into the world of theatre, setting the tone for the exploration of realism in the context of the lesson.

Why did the group leave the United Kingdom and head to Norway?

The group left the United Kingdom to head to Norway to learn about realism, a movement that originated there, particularly focusing on the works of Henrik Ibsen.

What was the impact of Molière on European theatre?

Molière, known as the king of comedy and farce, captivated European theatre and influenced the entirety of Western Europe, leading to a golden age of theatre in France.

How did melodrama emerge in the 18th century, and what are its characteristics?

Melodrama emerged as a consequence of the French Golden Age of theatre and is characterized by bombastic and excessively sentimental dialogue, appealing to the emotions of the characters rather than the actions of the story.

Why was Henrik Ibsen critical of melodrama, and what did he advocate for in theatre?

Henrik Ibsen was critical of melodrama because he saw it as fake and a poor representation of real human struggles. He advocated for theatre that portrayed human behavior as it truly was, with all its subtleties and nuances.

What was the controversy surrounding Ibsen's play 'A Doll's House'?

The controversy surrounding 'A Doll's House' was due to the protagonist Nora's decision to leave her husband and children behind for self-fulfillment, which was unheard of and caused a storm of controversy in the 19th century.

List the five main elements that characterize realism in theatre.

The five main elements of realism are naturalistic acting, everyday conversation and style of speaking, real settings, no break of the fourth wall, and subtext.

How does naturalistic acting in realism differ from the performances in melodrama?

Naturalistic acting in realism is subtle and intended to represent real human behavior, in contrast to the exaggerated and over-the-top performances in melodrama.

What is the significance of subtext in realism, and how does it reflect real-life conversations?

Subtext in realism reflects the true intentions behind the actors' lines, often saying one thing but meaning another, which mirrors the use of irony or sarcasm in real-life conversations where people cover up their true feelings.

Who are some of the prominent playwrights of realism besides Henrik Ibsen?

Prominent playwrights of realism besides Henrik Ibsen include Anton Chekhov, known for plays like 'Uncle Vanya' and 'The Cherry Orchard', and August Strindberg, famous for 'Miss Julie'.

How did the rivalry between Ibsen and Strindberg influence their works?

The rivalry between Ibsen and Strindberg motivated them to write better works and try to outdo each other, ultimately benefiting the readers with their enhanced literary output.

What was the influence of realism on American contemporary theatre?

Realism was pivotal in the development of American theatre, influencing playwrights like Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, and helping to give American theatre its own identity and place on the global stage.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Introduction to Realism in Theatre

The video script begins with a lively introduction to the world of theatre, setting the scene with the imagery of an ocean breeze and seagulls. It then transitions to a recap of previous lessons on William Shakespeare and the United Kingdom, before announcing the new focus on Norway and the study of realism in theatre. The historical context is established by discussing the European theatre post-Shakespeare, highlighting the rise of Molière and the French Golden Age of theatre, which led to the 18th-century popularity of melodrama. However, this style was not universally embraced, particularly in Norway, where playwright Henrik Ibsen sought a more authentic portrayal of human emotion, leading to the creation of 'A Doll's House' and the birth of realism in theatre.

05:03

🎭 Elements and Playwrights of Realism

This section delves into the defining characteristics of realism in theatre, emphasizing the shift from melodramatic exaggeration to a more naturalistic and authentic representation of human behavior and conversation. The script outlines five key elements of realism: naturalistic acting, everyday conversational dialogue, realistic settings, no breaking of the fourth wall, and the use of subtext. It then introduces prominent playwrights of realism, starting with Henrik Ibsen as the father of the movement, followed by Anton Chekhov, known for his portrayal of deep human emotions within mundane scenarios, and August Strindberg, who brought a more clinical approach through naturalism, often focusing on lower-class characters and the impact of science and technology on society.

10:09

🌟 Impact of Realism on American Theatre

The final paragraph discusses the significant influence of realism on American contemporary theatre, particularly in the mid to late 19th century. It mentions how American playwrights like Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller were inspired by European realism and adapted it to give it an American identity. This adoption of realism played a crucial role in propelling American theatre into the 20th century and establishing its global presence. The script concludes with a review of the day's lesson, summarizing the historical background, main elements of realism, notable playwrights, and the movement's impact on American theatre, while also teasing the next lesson on avant-garde theatre.

Keywords

💡Realism

Realism in the context of the video refers to a movement in theatre that strives to depict human behavior and society as they truly are, with all of their complexities and nuances. It is characterized by naturalistic acting, everyday conversation, realistic settings, and a focus on subtext. The video explains that realism emerged as a reaction to melodrama, aiming to portray life more authentically. A key example from the script is Henrik Ibsen's play 'A Doll's House,' which is considered a seminal work in realism, focusing on the struggles of a woman in a male-dominated society.

💡Melodrama

Melodrama is a theatrical genre characterized by exaggerated emotions, sensational plots, and over-the-top dialogues. It was popular in the 18th century and is often seen as a contrast to the more subtle and authentic portrayals of human experiences in realism. The video mentions that melodrama was loved by audiences for its big, loud, and exaggerated nature, but it was also criticized for being unrealistic, which led to the rise of realism.

💡Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Ibsen is a Norwegian playwright who is considered the father of realism in theatre. His work 'A Doll's House' is highlighted in the video as a groundbreaking play that challenged the norms of the time and introduced a new, more authentic way of portraying human struggles on stage. Ibsen's dislike for melodrama and his desire to show human behavior as it truly was were pivotal in shaping the realism movement.

💡Naturalistic Acting

Naturalistic acting is a performance style where actors aim to behave as naturally and authentically as possible, in contrast to the exaggerated performances often seen in melodrama. The video explains that in realism, the goal is to make the audience believe they are witnessing real life rather than a performance. This is illustrated by the video's discussion of how actors in realism plays should not break the fourth wall and should speak in a conversational style.

💡Everyday Conversation

Everyday conversation, as discussed in the video, refers to the use of prose and natural dialogue in realism, as opposed to the poetic verse often found in classical theatre. This style of dialogue is meant to mirror real-life speech patterns and contribute to the overall authenticity of the theatrical experience. The video emphasizes that realism seeks to portray human interactions as they occur in daily life.

💡Real Settings

Real settings in the video refer to the detailed and lifelike stage designs used in realism plays, which aim to closely resemble real-world environments. This is in stark contrast to the symbolic or abstract settings often used in other theatrical styles. The video mentions that such settings are intended to enhance the illusion of reality and make the audience feel as if they are observing real people in their actual living spaces.

💡Fourth Wall

The 'fourth wall' is a theatrical term that refers to the imaginary wall through which the audience views the action on stage. In the context of the video, it is explained that realism plays maintain the illusion of reality by not breaking this wall, meaning actors do not directly address the audience. This technique helps to keep the audience as mere spectators of the unfolding drama, rather than participants.

💡Subtext

Subtext in the video is described as the underlying meaning or true intentions behind the lines spoken by actors, which may differ from the literal words. This concept is crucial in realism as it allows for a more nuanced portrayal of human behavior, similar to how people often communicate indirectly in real life. The video gives an example of subtext through a conversation where characters say one thing but mean another, reflecting the complexity of real-life interactions.

💡Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov is mentioned in the video as a significant figure in the development of realism, particularly known for his ability to convey deep human emotions through subtle and mundane scenarios. His plays, such as 'Uncle Vanya' and 'The Cherry Orchard,' are celebrated for their realistic portrayals of everyday life and the underlying tensions within it. Chekhov's work is seen as a continuation of the realism movement, further emphasizing the subtleties of human experience.

💡August Strindberg

August Strindberg is highlighted in the video as a Swedish playwright who contributed to the realism movement, with a particular focus on psychological turmoil and the lower classes. His play 'Miss Julie' is noted for its exploration of class dynamics and the raw, authentic portrayal of its characters. The video also discusses Strindberg's feud with Henrik Ibsen, which reflects the competitive spirit that drove innovation within the realm of realism.

💡American Contemporary Theatre

American Contemporary Theatre, as discussed in the video, refers to the evolution of theatre in the United States, particularly from the mid to late 19th century onwards. The video explains that realism played a pivotal role in shaping American theatre, with playwrights like Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller drawing inspiration from European realism. This influence helped to create a distinctly American identity within the theatre, marking a significant step in the development of the art form in the country.

Highlights

The importance of ocean breeze and seagulls in setting a cheerful mood.

Introduction to the lesson on realism in theater, following the study of Shakespeare.

Historical transition from Shakespearean era to the influence of Molière on European theater.

The rise of melodrama in the 18th century as a reaction to Molière's comedic style.

Henrik Ibsen's critique of melodrama and his pursuit for a more authentic portrayal of human struggles.

The publication of 'A Doll's House' by Ibsen and its groundbreaking impact on theater.

Ibsen's role in establishing realism in theater, focusing on subtleties and nuances of human behavior.

Five main elements that characterize realism: naturalistic acting, everyday conversation, real settings, no break of the fourth wall, and subtext.

The goal of realism to make audiences believe they are witnessing real-life scenarios.

Realism's approach to dialogue as a reflection of everyday speech in prose, not verse.

The detailed and lifelike settings in realism plays to enhance the sense of authenticity.

The absence of direct address to the audience in realism to maintain the illusion of reality.

The significance of subtext in realism to represent the true intentions behind characters' lines.

Anton Chekhov's contribution to realism with his focus on deep human emotions and subtle plots.

August Strindberg's role in the development of naturalism and his feud with Ibsen.

The influence of realism on American theater and the works of playwrights like Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller.

The transformation of European realism into an American identity by American playwrights.

Review of the lesson's key points and预告 of the next lesson on Avant-Garde Theatre.

Transcripts

Ah, nothing like the ocean breeze to get your  spirits up in the morning. Oh look, a seagull!  

I wonder is there any place  named after you my flappy friend.  

Hello fellow thespians, welcome back! In our last  two lessons we visited the United Kingdom where we  

learned all about Mr. William Shakespeare. We have  just left the British shores and are setting up to  

colder weather. Get ready to disembark in Norway  where we're going to learn all about realism.  

Today we will provide a brief historical  background and illustrate the origins of realism,  

name the elements that characterize realism,  

list the most prominent playwrights and  practitioners of realism, and finally, describe  

the influence that realism played in American  contemporary theatre. Jump on the ship because  

we got some sailing to do. As we say in the  theater, the show must go on! So actors, places!

Welcome to 18th century Norway. Before we jump  into realism though let me give you a brief  

historical background of what happened in Europe  after Shakespeare's death because it will inform  

why realism came to be. Not long after Shakespeare  passed away another playwright erupted in Europe  

and captivated European theatre. Jean-Baptiste  Poquelin, better known by his stage name Molière.  

Molière was born in Paris, France in 1622.  Throughout his lifetime he became the king  

of comedy and farce in Europe writing comedic  masterpieces such as Tartuffe and the Misanthrope.  

With Molière, France entered into a  golden age of theatre which in turn  

influenced the entirety of Western  Europe. One of the consequences of  

this French Golden Age came in the 18th  century with the appearance of melodrama.  

You might have heard of this term before and  it's where the word melodramatic comes from.  

Melodrama is characterized for having dialogue  that is bombastic and excessively sentimental.  

It's a genre that appeals to the emotions  of the character rather than the actions  

of the story. It is big, it is loud, it is  exaggerated, and 18th century friends loved it!

However, not all of Europe felt the  same way which brings us back to Norway.  

Here there was a playwright named Henrik  Ibsen. Ibsen, like many of his contemporaries,  

was not a big fan of melodrama. He saw it as  fake and a poor representation of the very real  

struggles of human emotion. Ibsen wanted theatre  to portray human behavior as it truly was with  

all of its subtleties and nuances. So in 1879 he  published A Doll's House. The play concerns the  

fate of Nora a married woman who at the time  in Norway lacked reasonable opportunities for  

self-fulfillment in a male-dominated world. Nora  realizes at the climax of the play that in order  

for her to truly discover herself as an individual  she must leave her husband and children behind.  

Needless to say that being the 19th century  this caused a huge storm of controversy.  

Such an action was unheard of at the time;  however, A Doll's House was a massive success.  

It opened Europe to a whole new way of doing  theatre, one that looked like real life and moved  

away from the overbearing spectacle of melodrama.  A Doll's House issued a new movement now referred  

to as realism with Ibsen credited as the father  of the movement. A movement that instead of  

merely entertaining society, wanted to represent  society in all of its good, bad, and ugly traits.

Now that we have described a brief historical  background and the origins of realism, here are  

the main elements that characterize realism. There  are several elements that characterize realism but  

these are the five main ones; naturalistic acting,  everyday conversation and style of speaking,  

real settings, no break of the fourth wall,  and subtext. Let's break them down one by one.  

Like we mentioned before, realism seeks to  move away from the exaggerated and over-the-top  

performances of melodrama. Instead, realism  performances are subtle and naturalistic, intended  

to represent real human behavior. In realism the  goal of the actors is to fool the audience into  

believing that they are watching a real scenario  play out before their eyes and not a spectacle.

Part of that attempt of representing real human  behavior is seen in realism's conversational  

style of speaking. Unlike classical dialogues  which many times are spoken in poetic verse,  

realism dialogue only happens in  prose. In other words, dialogue  

in realism looks very similar to a regular  day-to-day conversation between two people.  

This is yet another attempt of realism to portray  reality. In realism there's no such thing as an  

abstract setting. Unlike a Shakespearean  play where a shipwreck, a fairy forest,  

or even a castle can all be symbolized  with a couple of boxes and some frames,  

realism sets leave little to the imagination.  They are as lifelike as your own home.  

They're done that way because the whole  purpose of realism plays is to represent  

how people live their lives as authentically  as possible and that includes the setting.

This is another key element in realism. Unlike  in other styles where many times an actor will  

speak directly to the audience, in realism  this never happens. The audience is merely  

a spectator peeking into another person's  life. If the actor would speak directly to  

the audience then the illusion of reality that  realism playwrights are so desperately trying to  

achieve would be shattered. Therefore, actors in a  realism play never speak directly to the audience.  

Subtext is another crucial element in realism.  

Although subtext is not exclusive to realism,  it is highly prevalent in this style of theatre.  

You know how sometimes we use irony or  sarcasm in our daily conversations? We say  

one thing but we really mean another?  That subtext. Let's see an example.  

Well if it isn't my kind and most generous friend  Juan! Oh thanks Caroline! Oh, I was about to eat  

this popsicle. Do you mind? Oh no, no, like go  ahead, go ahead that is totally fine. I will just  

stand here and watch you eat that mouth watering,  succulent, delicious popsicle all by yourself.  

Um, would you like to share? Oh well  if you insist! It's mine now! Hahaha.  

Subtext is the true intentions behind the actors  lines. It is yet again another attempt of realism  

to portray human behavior as authentically as  possible. Actors in realism often say one thing  

but really mean another because they're covering  up their true feelings just like people do in real  

life and this is also where the artistry of the  actors comes into play. Great actors will let the  

audience know exactly what their intentions are  in a line despite saying the complete opposite.

Now that we have listed some of the main elements  in realism, here are some of the most prominent  

playwrights and practitioners of realism. Besides  Henrik Ibsen who's considered the father of  

realism there are many other important realism  playwrights. For time purposes in this video we're  

going to focus on two others starting with Anton  Chekhov. Anton Chekov was born in Russia in 1860  

and is considered to be one of the greatest  playwrights of all time. Along with Ibsen,  

he's considered to be one of the seminal figures  in realism because of his ability to portray the  

deepest of human emotions within his characters  while also keeping the subtlety of simple plots  

and mundane scenarios. Even though he was a  doctor by profession he achieved great success  

as a playwright and writer in his lifetime.  His most famous plays are Uncle Vanya, The  

Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, and The Seagull.  Hey, there is a play named after you! How cool!

And since we're in the region let's sail to  Sweden for our next playwright. August Strindberg.  

August Strindberg was born in Stockholm,  Sweden in 1849. Throughout his lifetime he  

became a prolific playwright, novelist,  poet, essayist, and even a painter.  

He is highly regarded as the father of modern  Swedish literature and his most famous play Miss  

Julie, which deals with a working-class couple  living and working in a wealthy family's house,  

is an absolute masterpiece. Another fun fact  about Strindberg is that he had a publicly known  

feud with Ibsen throughout his lifetime.  I mean these two guys hated each other!  

Strindberg thought that Ibsen's plays were mundane  and uninteresting and he felt that true naturalism  

should be a battle of the brains which is why  his plays often deal with psychological turmoil.

Naturalism is a form of realism in that it  shows people living in an authentic way;  

however, naturalism does two things  differently from realism. Number 1. 

Naturalism focuses on lower class characters  versus realism which tends to focus on middle  

class characters. And 2. Naturalism explores  how science and technology affects society as  

a whole so they have a more clinical approach to  the story and not as heartfelt or passionate as  

realism stories do. But the important thing  here to remember is that Strindberg's and  

Ibsen's lifetime feud motivated each other  to write better works and to try to top each  

other off. So in the end if you think about it,  their rivalry benefited us the readers the most!

Now that we listed some of the most  prominent playwrights of realism,  

let's detail the influence that realism  played in American contemporary theatre.  

Realism was pivotal in the development  of American theatre, especially in the  

mid to late 19th century. Many great American  playwrights like Tennessee Williams or Arthur  

Miller who we will talk about later in this  unit often credited Stringberg and Ibsen as  

inspiration for their style of writing. The Great  American classic playwrights took European realism  

and gave it their own American identity. Their  interpretation and adoption of realism catapulted  

American theatre into the 20th century and  basically put American theatre on the map.

However, before we explore the 20th century  let's review what we learned in today's lesson.  

Today we provided a brief historical background  and Illustrated the origins of realism,  

named the main elements that characterize realism,  

listed the most prominent playwrights and  practitioners of realism, and finally, described  

the influence that realism played in American  contemporary theatre. Don't forget to check  

the practice questions and PDF for this lesson to  prepare for our next lesson; Intro to Avant-Garde  

Theatre. Until then remember in theatre  like in life, the limit is your imagination!  

Hey look, it's the seagull again! Yo  flappy! Guess what I learned about you!