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    Modern Drama

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    Rangothri Sreenivasa Subramanyam
    This document provides an overview of modern drama from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. It outlines several key trends in modern drama including a focus on realism and addressing contemporary social issues (Ibsen, Chekhov), symbolism and psychological themes (Strindberg), socialism and political/economic reform (Shaw), epic theatre that provokes audiences (Brecht), and absurdism that presents the human condition as fundamentally absurd (Beckett). The document also summarizes some of the most famous plays and playwrights from different regions that helped establish modern drama as a means of insight and communal experience.

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    Modern Drama

    Uploaded by

    Rangothri Sreenivasa Subramanyam
    248 views15 pages
    This document provides an overview of modern drama from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. It outlines several key trends in modern drama including a focus on realism and addressing contemporary social issues (Ibsen, Chekhov), symbolism and psychological themes (Strindberg), socialism and political/economic reform (Shaw), epic theatre that provokes audiences (Brecht), and absurdism that presents the human condition as fundamentally absurd (Beckett). The document also summarizes some of the most famous plays and playwrights from different regions that helped establish modern drama as a means of insight and communal experience.

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    English Modern Drama

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    This document provides an overview of modern drama from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. It outlines several key trends in modern drama including a focus on realism and addressing contemporary social issues (Ibsen, Chekhov), symbolism and psychological themes (Strindberg), socialism and political/economic reform (Shaw), epic theatre that provokes audiences (Brecht), and absurdism that presents the human condition as fundamentally absurd (Beckett). The document also summarizes some of the most famous plays and playwrights from different regions that helped establish modern drama as a means of insight and communal experience.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    248 views15 pages

    Modern Drama

    Uploaded by

    Rangothri Sreenivasa Subramanyam
    This document provides an overview of modern drama from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. It outlines several key trends in modern drama including a focus on realism and addressing contemporary social issues (Ibsen, Chekhov), symbolism and psychological themes (Strindberg), socialism and political/economic reform (Shaw), epic theatre that provokes audiences (Brecht), and absurdism that presents the human condition as fundamentally absurd (Beckett). The document also summarizes some of the most famous plays and playwrights from different regions that helped establish modern drama as a means of insight and communal experience.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
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    Modern Drama

    An Intro for ENG4U

    Modern Drama: Setting the Stage


    Desire for Political, Social, and Economic Reform Growth of Nationalism and Imperialism Growth of Pragmatism

    Modern Drama: Setting the Stage


    Charles Darwin (1809-1882) Origin of Species (1859)

    Modern Drama: Setting the Stage


    Eugene Scribe (17911861) The well-made play Cause-to-Effect arrangement of incidents

    Modern Drama: Opening Night


    Henrik Ibsens Realism (1828-1906)
    Norwegian playwright who established the foundations of "realistic" drama, writing in prose and dealing with contemporary social problems, morality, and social institutions. Art should be a source of insights, a creator of discussion, a conveyor of ideassomething more than entertainment. Among his most famous plays are those we now call classics: A Doll's House (1879), Ghosts (1881), The Wild Duck (1884), Hedda Gabler (1890), and The Master Builder (1892)

    Modern Drama: Early Run


    August Strindbergs Symbolism (1849-1912)
    Swedish playwright dealing with forms of psychological and sexual strife between men and women often through a reaction in favour of spirituality, the imagination, and dreams. Among his plays are many we now call classics: Miss Julie (1888), The Creditors (1889), A Dream Play (1902), The Ghost Sonata (1907)

    Modern Drama: Russian Tour


    Anton Chekhovs Psychological Realism (1860-1904)
    Russian playwright known for the psychological realism of his plays and for their commentary on prevailing social conditions. Some of his plays which we now consider classics: The Seagull (1896), Uncle Vanya (1899), The Three Sisters (1901), and The Cherry Orchard (1904)

    Modern Drama: Across the Channel


    George Bernard Shaws Socialism (1856-1950)
    A socialist, who founded the Fabian Society, his plays were committed to exploring the social fabric of his contemporary culture - class structure, religion, economic and political reform, the status of women, and trade unionism are among the issues his plays tackled. Some of his plays which we now consider classics include: Mrs. Warren's Profession (1893), Man and Superman (1903),Major Barbara (1905), Pygmalion (1913), and Saint Joan (1923)

    Modern Drama: German Expression


    Bertolt Brechts Epic Theatre (1898-1956)
    Epic theatre is intended to provoke spectators into a heightened social and political awareness rather than involve them emotionally in a realistic or naturalistic situation. Brecht didn't want spectators to sympathize with his characters, so his plays deliberately seek to alienate audience from play and actors. Some of his plays are now considered classics: The Threepenny Opera (1928), Mother Courage and Her Children (1939), The Good Woman of Setzuan (1943), and The Caucasian Circle (1945)

    Modern Drama: French Surrealism


    Antonin Artauds Cruelty (1896-1948)
    Artaud expressed his admiration for Eastern forms of theatre, particularly the Balinese. He admired Eastern theatre because of the codified, highly ritualized physicality of Balinese dance performance, and advocated what he called a "Theatre of Cruelty". By cruelty, he meant not sadism or causing pain, but rather a violent, physical determination to shatter the false reality which, he said, lies like a shroud over our perceptions.

    Modern Drama: Italian Grotesque


    Luigi Pirandellos Subjectivity (1867-1936)
    Pirandellos plays usually turn upon a question of fact that cannot be resolved because each character has his own version of the truth. Thus, Pirandello raises doubts about the validity of the scientific approach to truth the direct observation of reality. He seems to suggest that truth is necessarily personal and subjective. Plays include: Right You AreIf You Think You Are (1916), Six Characters in Search of an Author (1921), Henry IV (1922), Naked (1922), and Each in His Own Way (1924).

    Modern Drama: Spanish Generation


    Garcia Lorcas Imagery (1898-1936)
    Blending poetic imagery with primitive passions and themes of love and honor. Plays include: Blood Wedding (1933), Yerma (1934), and The House of Bernarda Alba (1935)

    Modern Drama: American Ambassador


    Eugene ONeill (1888-1953)
    More than any other dramatist, O'Neill introduced the dramatic realism pioneered by Anton Chekhov, Henrik Ibsen, and August Strindberg into American drama, and was the first to use truly American vernacular in his speeches. His plays involve characters who inhabit the fringes of society, where they struggle to maintain their hopes and aspirations but ultimately slide into disillusionment and despair. Plays include: The Hairy Ape (1922), Desire Under the Elms (1924), The Iceman Cometh (1939), and Long Days Journey Into Night (1941)

    Modern Drama: Post-War Existentialism


    Samuel Becketts Absurdity (1906-1989)
    Theatre of the Absurd presents the human condition as fundamentally absurd - not open to understanding or knowledge on the part of humans, life is simply lived, acknowledging the inherent absurdity of existence. Beckett's plays feature illogical and purposeless activity in place of plot; dialogue that presents endless contradictions between language and action; a bare stage that defied conventional ideas about spectacle and special lighting or other effects. Beckett's purpose was to discover the limits of drama and to challenge audiences to move away from their comfortable complacent roles as spectators in the theatre. Plays include: Waiting for Godot (1952), Endgame (1957), Happy Days (1960)

    Modern Drama: Common Trends


    A Unified Production A Strong Director/Vision informing all elements Artistic Integrity: Theatre as a source of insight and inquiry and a place of communal gathering (tied to Greek roots)

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