Realism and Beyond

Genres and Movements in 20th Century American Drama

Genres and Movements 1900-1965 (an overview)

1. Realism

2. Poetic Realism

3. Expressionism

4. Social Realism

5. Theatre of the Absurd

6. Surrealism (antirealism)

Realism• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th

century.

Realism• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th

century.

• Gives the illusion that the audience is “looking in” on the action, as if we’ve just happened upon this scene.

Realism• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th

century.

• Gives the illusion that the audience is “looking in” on the action, as if we’ve just happened upon this scene.

• Often focuses on the commonplace, the ordinary.

Realism• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th century.

• Gives the illusion that the audience is “looking in” on the action, as if we’ve just happened upon this scene.

• Often focuses on the commonplace, the ordinary.

• Leaves loose ends that can be interpreted multiple ways.

Realism• Reacts against the well-made play of the 19th century.

• Gives the illusion that the audience is “looking in” on the action, as if we’ve just happened upon this scene.

• Often focuses on the commonplace, the ordinary.

• Leaves loose ends that can be interpreted multiple ways.

• Is preoccupied with verisimilitude.

Poetic Realism• Blends characteristics of realism with a

heightened sense of aestheticism

Poetic Realism• Blends characteristics of realism with a

heightened sense of aestheticism

• Draws attention to the representational aspects of the set and atmosphere.

Poetic Realism• Blends characteristics of realism with a

heightened sense of aestheticism

• Draws attention to the representational aspects of the set and atmosphere.

• Characters often have their “last chance at love,” but are disappointed

scene from the Murfreesboro Metropolitan Theatre’s Glass Menagerie

Poetic Realism• Blends characteristics of realism with a heightened

sense of aestheticism

• Draws attention to the representational aspects of the set and atmosphere.

• Characters often have their “last chance at love,” but are disappointed

• Has some of the trademarks of expressionism, but does not distort reality in quite the same way.

Expressionism• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological

truth by distorting reality.

Expressionism• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological

truth by distorting reality.

• Speech is either heightened or clipped

Expressionism• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological

truth by distorting reality.

• Speech is either heightened or clipped

• Characters are often “types” rather than fully developed

Expressionism• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological

truth by distorting reality.

• Speech is either heightened or clipped

• Characters are often “types” rather than fully developed

• Dramatizes the spiritual awakenings and/or sufferings of the protagonist

Expressionism• Seeks to represent an emotional or psychological truth by

distorting reality.

• Speech is either heightened or clipped

• Characters are often “types” rather than fully developed

• Dramatizes the spiritual awakenings and/or sufferings of the protagonist

• Often dramatizes the struggle against middle-class values and established authority/institutions

Social Realism

• A subset of realism that is sometimes called “kitchen-sink” drama

Social Realism• A subset of realism that focuses on realistic, often

domestic situations

Social Realism

• A subset of realism that focuses on realistic often domestic situations, sometimes giving it the term “kitchen-sink drama”

• Politically aware; overtly presses for change.

Theatre of the Absurd(1950s-1960s)

• Emerges from the philosophy of existentialism

Theatre of the Absurd(1950s-1960s)

• Emerges from the philosophy of existentialism

• Expresses the idea that the human situation is devoid of purpose, and therefore futile and absurd

Theatre of the Absurd(1950s-1960s)

• Emerges from the philosophy of existentialism

• Expresses the idea that the human situation is devoid of purpose, and therefore futile and absurd

• Little plot or logical structure

Theatre of the Absurd(1950s-1960s)

• Emerges from the philosophy of existentialism

• Expresses the idea that the human situation is devoid of purpose, and therefore futile and absurd

• Little plot or logical structure

• However frantic the action, it often comes to nothing.

Surrealism

• Sometimes referred to as antirealism

Surrealism

• Sometimes referred to as antirealism

• Resembles expressionism, but draws its material from the subconscious (dreams, repressed memories, etc.)

Expressionism vs. Surrealism

Surrealism

• Sometimes referred to as antirealism

• Resembles expressionism, but draws its material from the subconscious (dreams, repressed memories, etc.)

• Highly theatrical and highly poetic

Surrealism• Sometimes referred to as antirealism

• Resembles expressionism, but draws its material from the subconscious (dreams, repressed memories, etc.)

• Highly theatrical and highly poetic

• Plots are often non-linear or even circular

Genres and Movements 1900-1965 (a recap)

1. Realism

2. Poetic Realism

3. Expressionism

4. Social Realism

5. Theatre of the Absurd

6. Surrealism (antirealism)