TH2 Midterm

The Enlightenment

A movement towards rational thought and progressive social values in the eighteenth century.

Transnational

Extending across national boundaries.

Racism

Prejudice or discrimination against individuals based on their race, often accompanied by the belief that one race is superior to others.

Bourgeois Theater

A form of theater that reflects and promotes the values of the middle class.

Scientific Inquiry

The ongoing process of discovery in science, which involves testing theories and gathering evidence.

Ideals

Principles or standards of perfection that one aims to achieve.

White Supremacism

The belief that white people are superior to those of all other racial backgrounds.

Class

A system of ordering society whereby people are divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status.

Melodrama

A dramatic genre characterized by exaggerated emotions, plot twists, and clear distinctions between good and evil.

Stereotype

A generalization, often exaggerated or oversimplified, that is used to describe or distinguish a group.

Modernity

A specific historical epoch characterized by a set of cultural, social, political, and economic conditions emerging from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century.

Modernism

An artistic response that sought to break away from traditional forms and to represent the complexities of modern existence.

Avant-Garde

A movement in the arts that challenges traditional forms and promotes radical experimentation in expression.

Expressionism

An artistic style that seeks to convey emotional experience rather than physical reality.

Naturalism

A theatrical and literary movement that aims for a detailed, realistic portrayal of life.

Realism

An approach that attempts to represent life accurately without idealization.

Crisis of Modernity

A period of uncertainty and questioning of the values and assumptions of modernity.

Individualism

A social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.

Dramatic Reversals of Fortune

A hallmark of melodrama where the characters' situations drastically change, often at the end of an act.

Spectacle

An event or play featuring exciting visual effects intended to stimulate an audience's emotional response.