America-In-Realism

AmericainRealism(1865-1914)AnimportanttransitionalperiodinAmericanhistoryInaWord•Romanticism—expression(表达）•Realism—reflection（反思）•Modernism—refraction（折射）TheRomanticWriters1)aprofoundloveofnature;2)afocusontheselfandtheindividual;3)afascinationwiththesupernatural,themysteriousandthegothic;4)ayearningforthepicturesqueandtheexotic;5)adeep-rootedidealism;6)Apassionatenaturalism-loveofcountryTheMostImportantEventHistoryoftheTime•PostCivilWar•Rapidgrowthin–Ratesofdemocracy–Literacy–Industrialization–Urbanization•Expandingpopulationduetoimmigration•RiseinMiddleClassRealism—ASliceofLife•Realismisnothingmoreandnothinglessthanthetruthfultreatmentofmaterial.—WilliamDeanHowells•areactionagainstsentimentalityofmostromanticfiction;•faithfulrepresentationofreality;•a“veryminutefidelity”tothecommoncourseofordinarylife;•aninsistenceuponanddefenseof“theexperiencedcommonplace”;•asarealizationofdemocracyTruthfulness-1•Selectionofmaterial•Cameraslie.•Presentationofmaterial•Words-arbitrarysignifiersofreality-culturally-locatedelementsofmeaningTruthfulness-2•Realismreveals.(reflect)•Physicalreality•--theartofdepictingnatureasitisseenbytoads(TheDevil’sDictionary,1911)•--thecommonplaceactivitiesofacommonplacegrasshopper（W.D.Howells)Truthfulness-3•“letfictionceasetolieaboutlife;letitportraymenandwomenastheyare.”(Howells,CriticismandFiction,1891)•PsychologicalReality(HenryJames)RealismasaRebelagainstRomanticism•Nomore:–Romanticadventures–Courageousactsanddaringescapes–Idealizedescapesintonature–ImaginativedescriptionsoftheevilofthehumansoulREALISMis…•Selectiverepresentationofthereality•Analyticalobservation&exactportrayal•Psychologicalreality•Writerascriticandinterpreteroflife•Ontheimmediate•Onthehereandnow•Onthespecificaction•OntheverifiableconsequencesAmericanRealism-AnIntroduction1)Asaliterarymovementrealismcameinthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcenturyasareactionagainst“thelie”ofromanticismandsentimentalism.Itexpressedtheconcernfortheworldofexperience,ofthecommonplace,andforthefamiliarandthelow.2)TheAmericanrealistsadvocated“verisimilitudeofdetailderivedfromobservation,”theefforttoapproachthenormofexperience—arelianceontherepresentativeinplot,setting,andcharacter,andtoofferanobjectiveratherthananidealizedviewofhumannatureandexperience.CharacteristicsofRealistLiterature•1.ThephilosophyofRealismisknownas“descendental”ornon-transcendental.Thepurposeofwritingistoinstructandtoentertain.Realistswerepragmatic,relativistic,democratic,andexperimental.•2.ThesubjectmatterofRealismisdrawnfrom“ourexperience,”-ittreatedthecommon,theaverage,thenon-extreme,therepresentative,theprobable.•3.ThemoralityofRealismisintrinsic,integral,relativistic-relationsbetweenpeopleandsocietyareexplored.•4.ThestyleofRealismisthevehiclewhichcarriesrealisticphilosophy,subjectmatter,andmorality.Emphasisisplaceduponscenicpresentation,de-emphasizingauthorialcommentandevaluation.Thereisanobjectiontowardstheomniscientpointofview.CharacteristicsofRealistLiterature•Plot–Drewonthegrimrealitiesofeverydaylife•Themiddleclassandtheurbanpoor–Complexethicalchoices–Eventsareplausible•Avoidedsensationalordramaticelements•Setting–Closetoreality–ComprehensivedetailCharacters•Charactersaremoreimportantthanactionorplot–Haveanimportantethicaldecisiontomake•Charactersappearinrealcomplexityoftemperamentandmotive–Relationtonature,toeachother,totheirsocialclass,andtotheirownpast•Classisimportant–Usuallymiddleclassorpoor•Charactersspokeinregionaldialectand/ordictionRealisticTechniques•Settingsthoroughlyfamiliartothewriter•Plotsemphasizingthenormofdailyexperience•Ordinarycharacters,studiedindepth•Completeauthorialobjectivity•Responsiblemorality;aworldtrulyreportedThecitiesThecountrysideIndustrializationandurbanizationTheforcesthatwerebehindthecity-wardmovementwerechancestochange,whichisconsideredasakindofhumanandsocialevolution.OuragedhomeofmillionsofyearsThisistheplacewherewecanfindourroots.ThegreathumanmigrationfromthecountrysidetocitiesThisisournewhome,wherewehavetodevelopourownidentity.ThenewpeopleinthecityThegrowingcity,anewphysicalandspiritualenvironmentNewhumanrelationsNewworkingrelationsandconditionsNewwaysoflife(loveandmarriage)NewlookatthepastandthefutureMoneyAprocessofbeinguprootedScienceandtechnologyAnewsystemofsocialandculturalvaluesANewliterature•1.NomoreRipvanWinkle(anewidentity)•2.NomoreNattyBumppo(acivilizedwhitesavage)•3.NomoreHester(awomanstrugglingforpersonal•freedomofloveandidentity)•4.NomoreAhab(adoomedstruggleagainstnature•andGod)•5.NomoregrassySongofMySelf•6.Nomorebutterfliesandbeesintheyard•7.MorescienceandtechnologyandfactoriesRealistAuthors•HenryJames•WilliamDeanHowells•MarkTwainLiteraryTerms•Verisimilitude(逼真，写实）-anothertermusedforrealism•Localcolor-detailsthatshowspecifickindsofdress,customs,andwaysofspeakinginaparticularculture•Regionalism-emphasizesaspecificgeographicsettingbyusingthespeechandmannerisms’ofaparticulargroup