Realism / Naturalism 1860-1900

What does it mean?? --Stephen Crane 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 Naturalism 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!! Mark Twain Stephen Crane Kate Chopin Frank Norris

Questions???