ASCND Social context

Question 1

Old Vs New south

Answer 1

Old south is representative of aristocratic wealth and ideas of hierarchical systems

The new south draws ideas from social Darwinism- the survival of the fittest- it is a debased method of survival and draws animalistic parallels of sex, desire and masculinity

Question 2

The American civil war 1861-1865

Answer 2

Here the abolishment of slavery foresaw the destruction of the old south

Question 3

The Great Depression

Answer 3

Started by the Wall Street crash of 1929 it dissolved the myth of the old south as land lost value

Question 4

New Orleans

Answer 4

Symbolic of the new south- cosmopolitan aspects and tolerance come with a violent undertone and cruelty

Question 5

The southern belle

Answer 5

In the old south the southern belle was an alluring female character who’s aspirations were to advance into the southern lady; accomplishable by marriage

Characteristics include:
Prioritises beauty and appearance 
Completely reliant on men
Speech is sophisticated and respectful
Charming
Chaste and in control of desires 
Conservative values

Question 6

The roles of women and domestic abuse

Answer 6

Women were to subordinate sexually and emotionally to their husband. Domestic violence was considered a family matter

Question 7

Attitudes towards immigrants

Answer 7

Immigrants were able to prove themselves during WW2 and increase their reputation and power in society

Question 8

Attitudes towards mental illness

Answer 8

Viewed in a much narrative and more extreme light- seen as psychosis. In general people with mental illness where rejected.

Question 9

WW2

Answer 9

Reshaped society giving rise to suppressed individuals and allowing people to rebuild their lives in postwar America

Question 10

Realism

Answer 10

Given rise to by the Great Depression and WW2
Method acting
Characters believable everyday types
Setting bland and deliberately ordinary
Primary focus is interior lives of characters- psychologically driven

Question 11

Naturalism

Answer 11

Stage time is real time
Aristotle- 3 unities 
Concept of scientific determinism from theory of evolution- characters shaped by circumstances and external forces eg social and economic environment- ASCND IS A FIGHT BETWEEN SPECIES REPRESENTED BY INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERS 
Explore taboo matters 
Extreme form of realism

Question 12

Attitudes towards violence

Answer 12

New south- masculinity is power and violence can be the determine
Violence comes with atavism

Question 13

Attitudes towards the gay community

Answer 13

Tolerated but treated as weak and harshly- those who lack masculinity cannot survive without a masculine partner

Question 14

American theatre

Answer 14

Before Williams era AT was conservative and religious- it began to include more setting descriptions and stage direction