Realism

Realist ideas and influence in Literature, Poetry, Music, and

Art

What is Realism?

• Artcyclopedia.com: – Straightforward– No idealization– Recounts things as they are

• method.vtheatre.net/dict.html:– For theater, Society, History, and personality

affect the characters actions

Background of Realism

• Started in France

• Moved to America

• Ended when Existentialism began

• Renewed interest in 1950’s to present day– Because of lessened interest in abstract art

• Industrial Revolution and Inventions

My Demonstrations of Realism

• “Going of Water” – by Robert Frost

• “Pictures at an Exhibition” – by Modest Mussorgsky

• “Breton Women at the Fountain” – by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot

• “A Raison in the Sun” – by Lorraine Hansberry

“Going for Water”

• Written by Robert Frost

• Description of an Autumn day

• Setting in a forest near a dry well

“Going for Water”and Realism

• Frost uses Realist ideals– Describes the scene as it is – Does not idealize or romanticize it– The scene is as straightforward as possible– Very similar to early realist landscapes

Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition: Movement #10

• Has two different characters– Samuel Goldenburg and Schmuyle

• Goldenburg is a rich man– Strings and woodwinds– Pompous or arrogant theme

• Schmuyle is a beggar– Opposite of Goldenburg (muted trumpet)

Pictures at an Exhibition and Realism

• Mussorgsky has a naturalist influence– Very similar to realism– focuses on the clash of the two men

• Has realist themes– Portrays the characters very straightforward– Does not idealize either character

Breton Women at the Fountain

• Painted by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot– From the Barbizon School of Art

• First realists from this school

– Similar to Millet and Rousseau – Painted mostly landscapes – Gradually moved to people

Breton Women at the Fountainand Realism

• The painting demonstrated Realism– No idealization of the women’s way of life– Corot paints the women as they are– A very straightforward painting

“A Raisin in the Sun”

• Written by Lorraine Hansberry in 1959

• Part of Contemporary Realism

• About an African American Family during this time

• Themes of dealing with racism and poverty

“A Raisin in the Sun and Realism

• Tell the story as it is– The main characters are impoverished– Hansberry does not leave out racism

• Society and History influences action– Racism in society

Speech from Act III

Works Sited

• http://www.wsu.edu:8080/%7Ebrians/hum_303/naturalism.html

• http://Artcyclopedia.com• http://Freedictionary.com• http://www.stmoroky.com/reviews/music/

pictures.htm• http://www.stmoroky.com/reviews/gallery/

pictures/hartmann.htm• http://method.vtheatre.net/dict.html