Regionalism amp Naturalism That man up there looks kind of scary dont he And dont look now but how many points are on that pitchfork And what does that pitchfork mean It aint really a pitchfork ID: 438034
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Slide1
American Realism (Regionalism & Naturalism)That man up there looks kind of scary; don’t he? And don’t look now, but how many points are on that pitchfork? And what does that pitchfork mean? It ain’t really a pitchfork!
1860-1920Slide2
Realism DefinedA faithful representation of reality in literature, also known as “verisimilitude”
Verisimilitude= The
suspension
of belief
Emphasis on development of believable characters
Written in natural vernacular, or dialect
Prominent from 1860-1890
Pssst
….That gal up there looks kind of creepy; don’t she? And what’s with these birds? Oh no! They’re eating my eyes!!!!Slide3
Causes of RealismThe Civil WarThe urbanization and industrialization of AmericaAs a reaction to RomanticismIncreasing rates of democracy and literacy
The emerging middle class
Upheaval and social change in the latter half of the 19
th
century
Hey! Don’t look now, but there’s a pterodactyl about 11 o’ clock, and I swear that thing is looking at me. Should I be afraid?Slide4
Defining RegionalismOften called “local color”
Focuses on characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features specific to a certain region (e.g. the South)
Coincided with Realism and sharing many of the same traits
This here is Popcorn Sutton. He
ain’t
a
livin
’ anymore, and it’s a shame, it is. I wish he were still here with us today.Slide5
Causes of RegionalismDual influence of Romanticism and RealismThe Civil War and the building of a national identityAn outgrowth of realism with more focus on a particular setting and its influence over charactersThis is
Brer
Rabbit and
Brer
Fox and
Brer
Bar. And this is my favorite Disney movie. It’s a shame they won’t release it. A travesty, it is. Slide6
Naturalism DefinedApplied scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to the study of human beingsInfluenced by Darwinism (natural selection) and psychology (Freud)Posited that men were governed by heredity and environment.Often depicts man in conflict with nature, society, or himself
Prominent from 1880-1920
Yes, this is Charles Darwin. Looks like a demented Santa Clause, don’t he?Slide7
Causes of NaturalismThe swell of immigrants in the latter half of the 19th century, which led to a larger lower class and increased poverty in the citiesThe prominence of psychology and the theories of Sigmund Freud
Pessimism in the wake of the Civil War and Reconstruction
Publication of Charles Darwin
’
s
Origin of the Species
You ever wonder why all of these finches beaks are different? I sure hope it
ain’t
for specialized devices of torture!!! Why are they looking at me like that? Why? Oh! Hey! They’re eating my eyes again!!!!!Slide8
Points to RememberRealism, Regionalism, and Naturalism are intertwined and connectedTheir influence has dominated most literature created since 1920, though the movement itself is dated to roughly that pointThey are truly American modes of writingTheme: The Aftermath of Destruction: Reconstructing the American DreamHey!!! Look out for that boat!!!
Pssst
…hey Jim, don’t look now, but I swear I just saw a giant octopus, heading right for us. Oh! Hey!! My eyes!! My eyes!!!!!!!!!!