Realism

Question 1

Darwinism

Answer 1

• The evolution of life and the progression as a species in order to adapt to survive.

Question 2

Changes in drama

Answer 2

: Socio-political climate (scientific enquiry because of Darwin’s Origin of the Species, Shift to urban environments because of the industrial revolution, politicised because of the need to assert social rights)
: Theatrical climate (there was frivolous and highly romanticised plays that had overly simplistic morals, it was completely unrelated to the life experience of an average person)
: Theatrical buildings (the change from the proscenium arch with two-dimensions, to the box set with three-wall dimensions and the audience being the fourth wall)

Question 3

What took place before

Answer 3

• Spectacle, melodramatic, romanticised was before realism, extravaganzas.
• proscenium arch, large set, declamatory, wings, extravagant backdrops, implausible, 2-dimensional style.
• set to script, no realistic emotions or real endings for the situations presented.
• Traditional five-act division
• theatrical trickery was used.
• simple characters who don’t develop, the characters consist of heroic stature.
• glorified ideals

Question 4

Playwrights

Answer 4

- Henrik Ibsen
. Characters evolve
. Three acts
. carefully worded stage directions
. Doll's House - a play is about Feminism and the attempt to show and gain equal rights. The play toiled with a dominating male and a submissive female, this then turns to her leaving her husband after he told her to leave after she tried to help him illegally. This play reacts to sexism and the lack of rights for women in society at the time. 
- George Bernard Shaw
. intended to influence human behaviour
. comic uses to portray serious points
. philosophical
. sociological
.characters were embodiments or intellectual concepts
. Arms and the Man - this play is about reckless love and peace, it entails a man (a soldier) who loves and engaged woman (who leaves her husband to be, to be with the soldier). He inherits a large sum of money, he tells his love who says that she would prefer a poor "chocolate-cream soldier". He says that he is the same person, and the play ends with her exclaiming her love for him and him saying he will will return in two weeks to marry her. This play reacted to the war and reckless love of society.

Question 5

socio-political issues

Answer 5

• Darwin’s Origin of the Species; caused an enquiry in science favouring a critical and objective approach, this caused a change in theatre because people became more real and centralised behind the idea of life and emotions (which were portrayed more accurately through realism, no need to portray the romanticised version of life)
• The industrial Revolution; caused a huge flood of people to the cities, increasing poverty and crime, this with the combination of the increase in scientific enquiry causes people to try and portray more real topics and assess real life problems.

Question 6

set design

Answer 6

• box; created exits (windows / doors), living room setting, 3-dimensional, person 4th-wall.
• proscenium arch; wings as exits, scenic backdrops, 2-dimensional, proscenium forms 4th-wall.

Question 7

definitions for unities

Answer 7

• time; an ideal time frame of 24-48hrs, or in chronological order.
• place; same setting and same set
• action; cause and effect, 1 main story-line, narrators

Question 8

Orange exercise

Answer 8

- Stanislavski
. re-education
. naturalness and truth
. focus on the past to ignite experiences (turn inward)
. careful observation
. inner truth
. observing reality
. concentration and dedication