Chapter Two: Realistic and Nonrealistic Darama 

 

Realism: Realism in the arts may be generally defined as the attempt to represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic conventions, implausible, exotic and supernatural elements. The term originated in the 19th century, and was used to describe the work of Gustave Courbet and a group of painters who rejected idealization, focusing instead on everyday life.

Gustave Courbet (1819 – 1877)

 

Otto Griebel’s “The International”

 

Sir George Clausen (1852 – 1944)

 

Realism: Main Features

1. Truthful representation in art (e.g. literature & painting), of contemporary life and manners

2. Scientific method: Objectivity & observation in representation

3. Middle class art

4. The personality of the author was to be suppressed, or was at least to reduce into the background, since reality was to be seen “as it is”

 

Nonrealistic Conventions in Drama

-Chorus: a group of actors speaking in unison, often in a chant, while going through the steps of an elaborate formalized dance.
 
-Narrator: a person who tells the story
a) First Person
b) Third Person (Omniscient & Limited Omniscient)
c) Objective
 
-Fantasy and Supernatural Characters