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Development of Realism
Realism, which was first recognized during the 1850s, believed a person's character was shaped by both environment and heredity, therefore emphasizing the setting more than previous periods. Realism was focused with scientific outlook and understanding human behavior that way. Realists often wrote highly controversial plays about contemporary subjects that dealt with unsavory subjects such as poverty, prostitution, and illegitimate children to encourage social change. (Brockett et al 152) -
The Origin of Species
Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species which incited great controversy. Darwin argued evolution and natural selection, and influenced other beliefs that heredity and the environment affect human behavior and society needed to accept responsibility for learned behavior in individuals. This influenced such theatre periods as realism and later, naturalism. (Brockett et al 151) Darwin's theory also inspired artistic works of prehistoric life and human ancestry (YaleNews). -
Development of Naturalism
Naturalism, first recognized during the 1870s, was a more extreme version of Realism. However, unlike realism, naturalism had limited success in the theatre. This was likely because it was more extreme and rigid in its demands for "truth in art" and the impact of heredity and environment on the person. Some naturalist advocates argued that realism was concerned more with theatrics than the truth and that people should think of a play as a "slice of life." (Brockett et al 152, 156) -
Wagner's Theatre Building
Richard Wagner set his dramas similarly to musical scores. He attempted to make a "master work", and to help accomplish this, he created a new kind of theatre building which opened in Bayreuth in 1876. It was the first in the western hemisphere to get rid of the box, pit, and gallery arrangement. Instead, for a more "democratic" configuration, the seats were laid out in a fan-shape to better accommodate all everyone. This design influenced many 20th century theatres (Brockett et al 157-158). -
A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen was a realist playwright whose plays caused worldwide controversy due to the endings of his plays often defying accepted values. One such play is A Doll's House. The protagonist, Nora, forges her father's signature to help her dying husband, Torvald. This leads to them being blackmailed and Torvald blaming her. However, he tries to go back to their previous relationship when the matter is resolved. In the end, Nora leaves him and their children. (152-153) -
Rejection of Realism and Naturalism
By the late 1880's artists increasingly rejected the premise of realism, and by extension, naturalism which was to showcase human behavior and the world around them. Instead they began to substitute their own visions of their work which often included some degree of abstraction or was distorted (Brockett et al 162-163). This might also be due to reasons, such as Brecht's, that it lulled people instead of inciting action, like many playwrights were trying to accomplish (Heath). -
Electricity
After the 1880's, electricity became common which opened a lot of new opportunities. This included opportunities for the theatre. One of these opportunities was that they were able to stage horse and chariot races with electric motors and treadmills (Brockett et al 143). This was not all, however, limelight footlights helped to better illuminate the stage and the actors. Limelight also allowed theatres to create more intense lighting focus indoors (Brockett et al 148). -
Launch of Symbolism
Symbolism was the first art movement that rejected representationalism. It argued that truth is beyond objective examination and it could only be intuited and not expressed. This was in contrast to realism which stated that it was to be found through the five senses. Symbolism focused on subjects from the past, the realm of fancy, or the mysterious present. It avoided dealing with social problems and environmental forces and tended to be vague and mysterious (Brockett et al 163) -
The First Independent Theatre
In the early 1880's naturalists and realists had trouble getting theatres to produce their work. This lead to the first independent theatre, the Theatre Libre, being founded in Paris in 1887 by Andre Antoine. This loophole also allowed them to get past censorship because it was considered a private performance. They were only available to subscribing members. These little theatres established the uniting of new drama with new staging technology (Brockett et al 159). -
Symbolism Largely Ceased
Theatres were even less likely to produce symbolist plays than naturalist plays. It was so different to what audiences at the time were used to that it caused spectators to become confused and was considered incomprehensible. Many symbolists had to use independent theatres to produce their work and even then, by the 1900's symbolism had largely ceased (Brockett et al 163-164). Despite this, it still had large influence on later movements such as expressionism and surrealism (Ducksters).