Realism / Naturalism

1860-1900

What does it mean??

A man said to the universe:  "Sir, I exist!"  "However," replied the universe,  "The fact has not created in me  A sense of obligation."

--Stephen Crane

It’s Defined as… Realism

representation of life as it REALLY was According to William Dean Howells, "Realism is nothing

more and nothing less than the truthful treatment of material“

Naturalism An extension of Realism Recognition of the environment/land Determinism

a person's fate as the product of blind external or biological forces: relationship to their surroundings

Affect of the environment on the people

The Environment The years following the Civil War (1861-

1865) A time of “healing and rebuilding”

Immigrants from all over the world Crowded urban cities due to opportunities

Growth of investigative journalism Rise of the muckrakers

Journalists/novelists: exposed corruption in big business and government

Economic, Social, and Political changes!!

Politics and Economics Civil War

North vs. South: Slavery

Industrial Revolution Standardization Mass production of goods Streamlined channels of distribution

Gettysburg Address (1863)

President Andrew Johnson Impeachment (1868) he refused to cooperate or compromise over black rights and

the reconstruction of Southern state governments. Senate failed by one vote—9 months left to term

What about lifestyle? People left rural homes for opportunities in

urban cities Overpopulation Pollution Disease Poverty

Modernization Lots of changes

people feared local folkways/traditions would be forgotten

Newfound fascination with the camera Capturing realities

Jacob Riis “How the Other Half Lives”

“The Other Half”

“The Other Half” (cont.)

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/R/riis/riis_waiting_for_lodging_full.html

Lifestyle (cont.) Social class

became very important One’s fashion identified

his/her class Surge of women’s

magazines 50 new titles between

1870-1900 alone

Increased advertising and consumerism

Jobs/Employment No longer solely agriculture and farming

Factory Production New machinery and equipment Factory workers Steel mill workers

Transcontinental Railroad Railroad workers

Finally, the literature! Literary Civil War

Between Realists/Naturalists and Romantics

Avoids sensationalism, dramatic elements & symbolism of Romanticism

Character representations in relation to external world

How much control man has over his own destiny

Genre American Authors

Individual Perceived

as…

Romantics Ralph Waldo Emerson

God

Realists Henry James

Mark Twain

W. D. Howells

Simply a person

Naturalists Stephen Crane

Frank Norris

A helpless object

Literature (cont.) Concentrated on select groups/subjects

Factory workers Black life Women and marriage roles

Very regional Authors set stories in specific American Regions Preserve “local color” Incorporated dialects and extensive dialogue

Connected with the public

Literature (cont.) Drew upon grim realities of everyday life

Breakdown of traditional values Plight of the new urban poor

Character is more important than action/plot Class is important!!

Kate Chopin

Mark Twain Stephen

CraneFrank Norris

Questions???