realism+assignment

Please note that I am just now posting a written assignment for Oct. 12 and 14. I made a hasty verbal assignment on Oct. 10 but perhaps it was unclear to some if not all of you.

From the schedule page you simply click on the Oct. 12 button concerning realism and find links to youtube videos that illustrate the use of realism in playwrighting, acting, and staging. You are to see all the videos and write your reflections on how they illustrate the use of realism in dialogue, subject matter, and staging (design elements like scenery, costume, sets, lights). Obviously, the chapter on realism helps to establish what the general features of realism happen to be. The videos should enlarge and enliven that perspective for you. The videos are arranged beginning with older European playwrights like Checkov, Ibsen, and Strindberg and continue to American playwrights like O'Neill, Miller, and Williams. Note: all these are dead white playwrights. The language of these playwrights is a major clue to understanding this older brand of realism.

From the schedule page you simply click on the Oct. 14 button which takes you to contemporary playwrights who have transformed realism through their particular use of language and staging such as Mamet, Shephard, and Wilson. You are to see all these videos and write your reflections on how they illustrate realism in dialogue, subject matter, and staging (design elements like scenery, costume, sets, lights). There are some obvious differences, as well as similiarities, to the older generation of playwrights.

I advise that you treat this as one writing assignment and create a page from your profile page like I would do using first and last initials of your name and the word realism, ie. for me that would be frrealism. Obviously, since this is posted so late, you have the remainder of the week to develop and post your responses.