AMrealism

All of the scenes of the plays/movies of realism are similar in that they have quite realistic settings (though some much more grand and intricate than others), very natural dialogue/acting that is not as dramatic as most theatre performances are, and colloquial usage of words that is relevant and accurate to the time period being represented. There seem to be two general themes in all of these examples of realism: financial struggles and/or internal conflict about identity and self.

In __The Cherry Orchard__ the theme of financial struggle is introduced. One women comments about how if only she were able to marry off the other to a rich husband, then all her worries (about losing her property) would disappear. They also speak of marriage and of other social interactions such as the conversations they’ve had with other women. The issues are tangible and relatable, though set in a different time period. Everything they discuss is quite ordinary when compared to plays of different genres. The creation of the set is very in keeping with the period and is quite elaborate. There are multiple entryways and a vast collection of furniture all set in a complete-looking home.

The set in __Hedda Gabbler__ was even more extensive and detail oriented than __The Cherry Orchard.__ There was a working fireplace, a staircase, many decorations, and furniture that matched the entire house in its intricacy. The set even goes so far as to add trees and what seemed like an entire yard outside of the windows. This adherence to reality made the discussion of letting in fresh air believable without having to imagine anything. In this piece it is very different from other nonrealistic plays in which an actor maintains some sort of forward orientation to the audience; indeed, at several points the audience is viewing the back of the actors. This piece also focuses on financial burden from which an elderly woman is suffering.

In __Miss Julie__ the set is an intimate house in which an engaged man and woman are discussing, very realistically, the faults of other people. The great number of soft lights in the house added to the warmth, in addition to the scene taking place in the kitchen, the hearth of the home. The acting, again, is not overly dramatic and the set very realistic. There is edible food, a well stocked kitchen, and even a patio type structure outside. I am not exactly sure, but this was so realistic in its setting and acted in such a daily life type way that it seems as if it is a movie rather than a play.

The most dramatic (least realistic) acting of all the clips was from __Iceman Cometh.__ This clip seems to deviate greatly from the previous and latter clips. There is an extremely dramatic monologue, and an emotionally tense setting with downtrodden, sad looking people. The subject matter, though seeming to center on love, was also very financially based in that the main actor recalled how he waited until he had money before marrying the woman he loved. He seems lost and upset. The emotions the man expresses are very raw, but not overdone in the way that some plays portray emotion. His diction, colloquial speech, and incorrect grammar add a more realistic element to the monologue so that it loses some of its grandeur.

Edmund’s speech in __A Long Day’s Journey__ was the most emotionally stirring, to me anyway, but was very understated in its portrayl. This scene centers on the inabilities of a man to find his purpose in life, and live it fully. This idea of loss of self is very realistic in that many people face the same seemingly unsolvable dilemma about their purpose of existence. The setting is an intimate but highly furnished living room where two men are sitting on chairs (one rocking) and smoking. The acting is very believable and, though the topic is of great gravity, is very typical of general conversation.

__Death of a Salesman __cannot be described by its setting, only by the acting. Even so, the realism of the topic and exasperated nature of the conversation between a husband and wife is very typical of real life. Again we see themes of money issues (Willy may lose his job) and self struggle (Biff not being able to “find himself.”)

The last of the “Older Realism” clips is that of __The Glass Menagerie__ which also deals with money and identity crisis. In this scene we see that Tom is dissatisfied with the factory life he is forced to live in order to help pay for his family. The set is a house with many walls and furniture that is obviously supposed to be realistic. The nagging and demanding mother is believable and, I’m sure to many in our class, relatable.

The next few discussed clips are of more contemporary realism. In these it is clear that in many of these the focus is less on creating a completely accurate and realistic space, the emotions are the grounding points. That being said however, the sets were also realistic, though some were more sparse.

In __Oleana__ there are multiple segmented scenes of an exchange between a college students and a professor. The entire set has not been designed, instead the central action taking place in an office is shown by having a cluttered desk littered with the professor’s things, and the chair in which a student would sit to meet with said professor. Their outfits are very modern, and they could walk onto any school campus and become one of the masses. Their acting, though it seems a bit sub-par quite honestly, attempts to express an emotion that many students feel-exasperation. At such an integral turning point in one’s life, a student must decide his/her future but often there is confusion and misunderstanding. This play was similar to the Older Realism clips in that the actors did not make an effort to face the audience or acknowledge them in any way. They were caught up in their own world.

The clip of __Glengarry Glen Ross__  was strange and confusing. The scene was gritty and rough feeling, though not by the surrounding elements since none of those were ever really scene, but from the attitude of the actors and their manner of speaking. The smoking, swearing, and discussion of money were all very realistic and typical of rough character types.

__True West __ had the strangest collection of acting and setting. The extremely rough, dirty looking man is in a friendly looking, suburban environment in which animals and children can be heard outside. This contrast was obviously intentional since he is discussing his life in a serious fashion.

 In __Fences with James Earl Jones__, realism is represented through the emotional dialogue rather than the minimal setting. The accents of the two actors are very southern and their diction/wordchoice and grammar are quite stereotypical. The nature of their conversation is extremely serious and deals with the complex relationship between father and son. Though the setting is sparse, it is clear that the father is a working man due to his rolled up sleeves, pieces of wood he is holding, and his intense dialogue where he teaches his son about responsibility.