Naturalism

Flashcards reviewing the key elements of French Naturalism in theatre, including its characteristics, conventions, and influences.

Naturalism

A short-lived but influential style of theatre that explored realistic characters in relatable circumstances.

Naturalistic Plays

Regularly explore sordid subject matter previously considered taboo on the stage, such as suicide, mental illness, poverty, and prostitution.

Characters in Naturalistic Plays

Often considered victims of their own circumstances, behaving in certain ways due to their environment.

Scientific Determinism in Naturalism

Characters are shaped by their circumstances and controlled by external forces like heredity or their social and economic environment.

Three Unities

Naturalistic dramas normally follow rules set out by the Greek philosopher Aristotle: time, place, and action.

Naturalism Conventions

Heightened form of realism where stage time equals real time, often set in a single location within a day or a few hours.

Characters in Naturalism

Often lower or middle class, placed in realistic taboo situations.

Stage Settings in Naturalism

Often bland, with a realistic acting style and no breaking of the fourth wall.

Costumes, Sets, and Props in Naturalism

Historically accurate and very detailed, attempting to offer a photographic reproduction of reality or a 'slice of life'.

Emile Zola

Wrote the Naturalist Manifesto in 1867.