REALISM Flashcards
What movement dominated theater in the early 1800s?
Romanticism
Q: What were the key themes of Romanticism?
A: Individuality, imagination, man’s relationship with nature, beauty, mysticism, and the supernatural.
Q: How did acting styles differ in Romanticism?
A: Acting was heightened, exaggerated, and declamatory with grand entrances and exits.
Q: What advancements in staging technology occurred during Romanticism?
A: Spectacular visual effects, moving panoramas, treadmills for moving scenes, and gas lighting improvements.
Q: What defines Melodrama as a theatrical movement?
A: Sentimental drama with sensational plots, focusing on good vs. evil with happy endings.
Q: What are “stock characters” in Melodrama?
A: Recognizable character types like the hero, heroine, and villain.
Q: What theatrical form was popular in the USA from the 1880s to the 1920s?
A: Vaudeville, which featured a variety of acts including acrobats, dancers, and comedians.
Q: What was the primary purpose of special effects in Melodrama?
A: To enhance emotional impact and create a dramatic experience for audiences.
Q: What shift in lighting technology aided the development of Realism?
A: The transition from gas lighting to electric lighting after 1880.
Q: What is the “box set” in theater staging?
A: A set with three walls and an imaginary “fourth wall,” creating a realistic environment.
Q: What does Realism aim to depict in theater?
A: An exact, objective representation of human behavior and life as it is.
-slice of life
Q: How did Realism differ from Romanticism and Melodrama?
A: It rejected idealized, exaggerated emotions and instead focused on social issues and everyday life.
Q: Name two playwrights associated with Realism.
A: Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov.
Q: What kind of structure do Realistic plays typically follow?
A: Intensive structure with few characters, a single setting, and a chronological timeline.
Q: What 19th-century philosopher introduced the theory of Positivism?
A: August Comte.
Q: How did Charles Darwin’s theories influence Realism?
A: By emphasizing heredity and environment as determinants of human behavior, influencing portrayals of character motivation.
Q: What concept did Sigmund Freud introduce that impacted Realist theater?
A: The subconscious, which influenced the use of subtext in character development.
Q: What did Friedrich Nietzsche mean by “God is dead”?
A: He argued that society was moving away from traditional religious beliefs, influencing the rise of nihilism.
Q: What did Realism in theater hope to achieve socially?
A: By showing “truth” on stage, it aimed to raise awareness and encourage solutions for social problems.
Q: Describe the concept of “mise-en-scène” in Realist theater.
A: It involves set design and props reflecting a realistic environment that shapes the characters’ actions and attitudes.
Q: What types of themes did Romanticism focus on?
A: Conflicts within the soul, a sense of mysticism, the supernatural, and a higher purpose in life.
Q: How did Romanticism respond to the Industrial Revolution?
A: It provided an idealistic escape from the rapid urbanization and industrial changes by celebrating nature, imagination, and beauty.
Q: What staging technique became popular during Romanticism?
A: Tableaux Vivant, or “living picture,” where actors held expressive poses to create visually striking scenes.
Q: How did Romantic theater achieve spectacle?
A: Through advanced technology and elaborate special effects, including lighting, moving panoramas, and machinery to create visual excitement.
Q: What did Melodrama offer to the working-class audience of the 1800s?
A: Clear moral stories with triumphs of good over evil, often portraying working-class heroes and upper-class villains.
Q: How did music enhance Melodrama performances?
A: It heightened the emotional response and helped establish character, mood, and tension, often with dramatic scores.
Q: What led to the development of Realism in theater?
A: A reaction against the emotional excess of Romanticism and Melodrama, along with a desire to address real social issues objectively.
Q: What is the “slice of life” approach in Realist theater?
A: A depiction of ordinary human behavior and settings exactly as they are, without idealization or dramatization.
Q: How did the Industrial Revolution impact Realism?
A: The harsh realities of urban life and poverty highlighted the need for more socially conscious, truthful representations in theater.
Q: What themes did Realist plays typically explore?
A: Social issues like class struggles, morality, gender roles, and the impact of industrialization on individuals and society.
Q: How did Sigmund Freud’s theories impact Realist theater?
A: His exploration of the subconscious influenced the use of subtext and deeper character motivations in Realist plays.
Q: What is “subtext” in Realist acting?
A: The underlying thoughts, desires, and motivations that drive a character’s outward actions, often influenced by Freud’s ideas.
