REALISM

Question 1

What movement dominated theater in the early 1800s?

Answer 1

Romanticism

Question 2

Q: What were the key themes of Romanticism?

Answer 2

A: Individuality, imagination, man’s relationship with nature, beauty, mysticism, and the supernatural.

Question 2

Q: How did acting styles differ in Romanticism?

Answer 2

A: Acting was heightened, exaggerated, and declamatory with grand entrances and exits.

Question 3

Q: What advancements in staging technology occurred during Romanticism?

Answer 3

A: Spectacular visual effects, moving panoramas, treadmills for moving scenes, and gas lighting improvements.

Question 4

Q: What defines Melodrama as a theatrical movement?

Answer 4

A: Sentimental drama with sensational plots, focusing on good vs. evil with happy endings.

Question 5

Q: What are “stock characters” in Melodrama?

Answer 5

A: Recognizable character types like the hero, heroine, and villain.

Question 6

Q: What theatrical form was popular in the USA from the 1880s to the 1920s?

Answer 6

A: Vaudeville, which featured a variety of acts including acrobats, dancers, and comedians.

Question 7

Q: What was the primary purpose of special effects in Melodrama?

Answer 7

A: To enhance emotional impact and create a dramatic experience for audiences.

Question 8

Q: What shift in lighting technology aided the development of Realism?

Answer 8

A: The transition from gas lighting to electric lighting after 1880.

Question 9

Q: What is the “box set” in theater staging?

Answer 9

A: A set with three walls and an imaginary “fourth wall,” creating a realistic environment.

Question 10

Q: What does Realism aim to depict in theater?

Answer 10

A: An exact, objective representation of human behavior and life as it is.
-slice of life

Question 11

Q: How did Realism differ from Romanticism and Melodrama?

Answer 11

A: It rejected idealized, exaggerated emotions and instead focused on social issues and everyday life.

Question 12

Q: Name two playwrights associated with Realism.

Answer 12

A: Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov.

Question 13

Q: What kind of structure do Realistic plays typically follow?

Answer 13

A: Intensive structure with few characters, a single setting, and a chronological timeline.

Question 14

Q: What 19th-century philosopher introduced the theory of Positivism?

Answer 14

A: August Comte.

Question 15

Q: How did Charles Darwin’s theories influence Realism?

Answer 15

A: By emphasizing heredity and environment as determinants of human behavior, influencing portrayals of character motivation.

Question 16

Q: What concept did Sigmund Freud introduce that impacted Realist theater?

Answer 16

A: The subconscious, which influenced the use of subtext in character development.

Question 17

Q: What did Friedrich Nietzsche mean by “God is dead”?

Answer 17

A: He argued that society was moving away from traditional religious beliefs, influencing the rise of nihilism.

Question 18

Q: What did Realism in theater hope to achieve socially?

Answer 18

A: By showing “truth” on stage, it aimed to raise awareness and encourage solutions for social problems.

Question 19

Q: Describe the concept of “mise-en-scène” in Realist theater.

Answer 19

A: It involves set design and props reflecting a realistic environment that shapes the characters’ actions and attitudes.

Question 20

Q: What types of themes did Romanticism focus on?

Answer 20

A: Conflicts within the soul, a sense of mysticism, the supernatural, and a higher purpose in life.

Question 21

Q: How did Romanticism respond to the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 21

A: It provided an idealistic escape from the rapid urbanization and industrial changes by celebrating nature, imagination, and beauty.

Question 22

Q: What staging technique became popular during Romanticism?

Answer 22

A: Tableaux Vivant, or “living picture,” where actors held expressive poses to create visually striking scenes.

Question 23

Q: How did Romantic theater achieve spectacle?

Answer 23

A: Through advanced technology and elaborate special effects, including lighting, moving panoramas, and machinery to create visual excitement.

Question 24

Q: What did Melodrama offer to the working-class audience of the 1800s?

Answer 24

A: Clear moral stories with triumphs of good over evil, often portraying working-class heroes and upper-class villains.

Question 25

Q: How did music enhance Melodrama performances?

Answer 25

A: It heightened the emotional response and helped establish character, mood, and tension, often with dramatic scores.

Question 26

Q: What led to the development of Realism in theater?

Answer 26

A: A reaction against the emotional excess of Romanticism and Melodrama, along with a desire to address real social issues objectively.

Question 27

Q: What is the “slice of life” approach in Realist theater?

Answer 27

A: A depiction of ordinary human behavior and settings exactly as they are, without idealization or dramatization.

Question 28

Q: How did the Industrial Revolution impact Realism?

Answer 28

A: The harsh realities of urban life and poverty highlighted the need for more socially conscious, truthful representations in theater.

Question 29

Q: What themes did Realist plays typically explore?

Answer 29

A: Social issues like class struggles, morality, gender roles, and the impact of industrialization on individuals and society.

Question 30

Q: How did Sigmund Freud’s theories impact Realist theater?

Answer 30

A: His exploration of the subconscious influenced the use of subtext and deeper character motivations in Realist plays.

Question 31

Q: What is “subtext” in Realist acting?

Answer 31

A: The underlying thoughts, desires, and motivations that drive a character’s outward actions, often influenced by Freud’s ideas.