Melodrama, Realism & Naturalism
Melodrama (Romanticism)
Suspenseful plots lead to a moral lesson
A virtuous protagonist, an evil villain, a heroic rescue
Much use of scenic spectacle, often using stock scenery assembled for each production
Scenes of local color, often with music, costumes, and accents
Usually underscored with music
Unequivocal moral tone
Often about distant lands or exotic subjects
Good threatened by evil, good wins
Realism
Plots are carefully crafted toward a specific theme, usually with social overtones
Characters developed “scientifically”—behavior is shaped by environment/ cause and effect
Truth is verifiable through the experience of the senses
Settings are three dimensional and are acted in, rather than in front of; are specific to story.
Stories are centered around contemporary subjects and characters
Often depicts poverty, disease, corruption, prostitution
Moral values relative rather than absolute; characters poses both “good” and “bad” characteristics
Naturalism
Extreme version of realism
Chief proponent Emile Zola believed naturalism was medicine, “Discover the disease and treat it”.
Tries to avoid obvious dramatic structure, “slice of life” drama
Extremely realistic settings—perhaps even actual buildings