Intro to Realism - Theatre Arts for Teens!
Summary
TLDRThis 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
🌊 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.
🎭 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.
🌟 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Realism
💡Melodrama
💡Henrik Ibsen
💡Naturalistic Acting
💡Everyday Conversation
💡Real Settings
💡Fourth Wall
💡Subtext
💡Anton Chekhov
💡August Strindberg
💡American Contemporary Theatre
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!
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