(79) Zola, France, Realism, and Naturalism: Crash Course Theater #31

Introduction to French Theater Movements

Focus on the transition from Neoclassicism to Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism in French theater.
Mention of key themes: murder, romance, tuberculosis, rebellion.
Overall significance of each movement in reflecting life and culture.

Victor Hugo: Author and playwright known for "Les Misérables" and his play "Cromwell" (1827).
- Advocated against the strict rules of Neoclassicism.
- Emphasized the representation of life’s grotesqueness and beauty.
- Hugo’s influential preface of "Cromwell":
  - Argued for a departure from classical rules, embracing nature and truth.
  - Suggested drama should focus more on intensity and emotional depth than merely reflecting nature.
"Hernani" (1830):
- Hugo’s play that defied traditional unities and utilized a blend of genres.
- Centered on a tragic love story ending in double suicide.
- Notable for its bohemian audience provoked a riot at the premiere, showcasing the cultural tensions.
- Hugo orchestrated applause to ensure its success, reflecting the theatrical scene’s tumultuous nature.

Post-Hugo, attempts were made to align theater closer to everyday life.
Eugène Scribe:
- Developed the well-made play formula, focusing on domestic drama with conservative values.
- Emphasized entertainment over realism; promoted fiction instead of truth.
- Created tension between entertainment and realistic representation in plays.
Other playwrights like Georges Feydeau and Victorien Sardou also contributed significantly.
Critique from playwright George Bernard Shaw, who dubbed Sardou's work as "Sardoodledom."

Realism in the 1850s:
- The term emerged highlighting the desire for accurate portrayals of mundane life.
- Alexandre Dumas fils: Advocated that playwrights should merely reflect reality rather than invent stories.
- Represents the discomfort with melodrama continuing to infiltrate realistic narratives.
- His famous play, "La Dame aux Camélias," demonstrates a contradiction of realism through sensational plot.

Naturalism:
- Presented by Émile Zola, suggesting plays should explore human life scientifically.
- Aimed for a detailed genetic and environmental analysis of characters’ actions.
- Zola’s dramatic approach is more experimental, treating theater as a laboratory.
- Critique from Hugo’s supporters against Zola's radical style, revealing the tensions of artistic expression.
Zola's "Thérèse Raquin" (1873):
- Explores the destructiveness of an adulterous affair; an experimental approach showcasing psychological complexities.
- Story arcs reflect Zola’s theories on environment and hereditary influences on behavior.
- Acknowledgment of the sensationalism still present in terms of drama and character development.

Realism and naturalism offer reflections of life that remain prevalent in modern theater today.
Realistic conventions persist despite the challenging aspects of staging true-life scenarios.
Upcoming focus will be on the evolution of acting and the increasing importance of directors in theater.
Final note on the complexities of accurately depicting life through art, questioning the balance between reality and theatricality.