Reflection Journal 8 (8/10/12)

20^th century Presentation

Futurism - Jeanne

Expressionism - Shahidah and Shehana

Dadaism - Joanne

Symbolism - Carmen

Orientalism - Jasmine (Me)

Surrealism - Faeezah

American Realism - Ernst

My thoughts

I felt that throughout these few presentations, I was more informed of the various styles of the ‘ism’ involved in the 20^th century theatre Avande Garde movement. They differ in concepts, perspectives, styles and techniques from each other. They may oppose each other; some were influenced by one another. Example, the Dadaism gave birth to Surrealism. Because there were so many ‘isms’, I felt that it was a great idea to share knowledge about the 20^th century theatre through the individual study of each different ism, and then presenting it to the whole class. That way, more time was spent on exploring the different plays of the different isms. (eg, Doll House, Waiting for Godot, etc.) It was a good exposure and privilege to be able to work out those plays.

However, 15 min for each ism is quite short because I felt that I did not have time to elaborate though I wanted to. I missed a few key points and my videos were not shown. I missed out the last segment where I wanted to touch on Orientalism on other forms of Art.

I emailed Dr Jane, regarding a question between my presentation and Faeezah’s presentation because I realized that Faeezah said that theatre of cruelty came from surrealism, but my research (Pronko's book on western and eastern perspectives on theatre and 'artaud on theatre' by Schumacher) stated that he moved away from surrealism. Dr Jane reassured that I did fine and she was pleased with the material that I use and the face that I address such an important topic that particularly concerns the people in Singapore, as Singapore is a country between the East and West.  I felt comforted that my content of the presentation was well because I did not want my classmates to absorb the wrong information. Also, I was afraid my topic is out of topic.

What interests me the most is futurism. I think if I were an audience who has to choose an ism down a row of theatres, each offering a different ism, then I will choose to go for the futurism theatre, because it is very engaging in an entertaining way. I love how the actors could make audience laugh. However, it no matter which ism I like, it still depends on which one I want to watch. It depends on my mood also. For example, if I want to have a good laugh, I will go for a futurist play. If I want to make my brains work a little, it would surrealist or symbolist play, plays that are thought-provoking and deep enough to make my brains go on fire or to make me think for many days. 

Brief info for each ism

Futurism

-       Came about in relation to velocity. The swiftness of pictures just zooming by.

-       Did not like to be related to the past/history themes. Even sort to demolish historical museums and artifacts. Emphasized on the future.

-       Dynamism of fake.

-       The Variety of Manifesto, 1913 – money vs inspiration. Money for the tickets was randomly picked by throwing dice.

-       Manifesto of synthetic theatre, 1915 – brevity.

-       Neo futuristic - 2 min per play. 20 min, 20 people reduced to 2 min.

-       Non-illusionary theatre - Audience interaction, all characters as themselves.

-       Dislike naturalism. More engaging and entertaining.

Expressionism

-       Emphasis on Conscious & Sub-conscious mind

-       German.

-       Dramatic forms, emotional effect in order to evoke moods. Objective reality but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in him

-       Georg Buchner, 1813 – 1837.

-       Stringberg – more than 70 plays.

-       Meyerhold

-       Bizarre shapes and colours. Broken episodes. Disjointed tabloids. Characters as figures. Grotesque

-       Intense colour. Staccato telegraphy

-       Deliberate departure from realism of Stanislavsky

-       Atheletic, Physical control. Biomechanics. Prepare for next action + middle of act + reaction of action.

-       ‘Woyzeck’ play and ‘Spring awakening’.

Dadaism

-       Against any cultural intellectual conformity. French Avant Garde movement.

-       Rejects reason and logic

-       Negative and illogical

-       Destruction = creation

-       Hugo Ball, who is like Artaud, was quite mad.

-       Cabaret Voltaire – spoken word, dance and music in the night club by Hugo Ball.

-       No clear name.

-       Spontaneity, shouting and growling.

-       Acomapanied by music, dance, theory, poems paintings, masks and costumes.

-       Abstract minds

-       Not linked to reality.

-       Simultaneism.

Surrealism

-       Emphasis on Sub conscious mind and conscious mind. The Human dreams and their desire.

-       Does not follow any logic form

-       Andre Breton (1896 – 1966)

-       Surprise, attractive, abstract, unexpected, humour

-       Element of cruelty in sex, love, violence and insanity.

-       Metaphysical. Physically, mythological. World of dreams. Shatter reality. Realization of worse nightmares and fears

-       Disjointed structure

-       Truth that they did not want to see.

-       Led to ‘theatre of Absurd’

-       Literary, artistic and revolutionary movement.

-       Source of truth

-       Liberation and exploration of soul and body

American realism (1865 – 1915)

-       Contemporary

-       Hardships. Tests actors and actresses.

-       Normal people in everyday life – portray life as it is.

-       Marked by end of civil war.

-       2 literary movements: Realism (Norwegian Henrik Ibsen) & Naturalism (German Anton Chekhov)

-       Lab performance. Public theater.

-       Provoking moral and social questions.

-       Removing of fourth wall – relating to past and present. Imagery wall

IIt is really interesting to have knowledge about these isms. I am really excited to see what is in store for us next week. =)