Social RealismSocial Realism

By the GuysBy the Guys

What is it?What is it?

Social Realism is an artistic Social Realism is an artistic movement that depicts the movement that depicts the daily struggles of the daily struggles of the working class.working class.

It developed as a reaction It developed as a reaction against Romanticism.against Romanticism.

History of Social RealismHistory of Social Realism

It was introduced in It was introduced in England by George England by George Eliot.Eliot.

Originally people Originally people were outraged by it.were outraged by it.

In Scandinavia, it In Scandinavia, it was started by the was started by the Danish writer Georg Danish writer Georg Brandes.Brandes.

Romanticism: DefinitionRomanticism: Definition

Romanticism – Philosophical Romanticism – Philosophical movement of the 19movement of the 19thth century. century.

It was a reaction to the It was a reaction to the Enlightenment.Enlightenment.

Involved belief in the power of Involved belief in the power of the human spirit and emotions.the human spirit and emotions.

Romanticism VS Social RealismRomanticism VS Social Realism

Showed the strength Showed the strength of humanityof humanity

Beauty and Power of Beauty and Power of naturenature

Very grand art styleVery grand art style Believed that we are Believed that we are

all connected by a all connected by a great transcending great transcending spiritspirit

Human flaws in Human flaws in societysociety

Cruelty of human Cruelty of human naturenature

Art includes more of Art includes more of individual people and individual people and small settingssmall settings

Believed the rich Believed the rich isolated themselves isolated themselves from the poorfrom the poor

SocialismSocialism

Socialism is a political philosophy in Socialism is a political philosophy in which the government controls the which the government controls the core of the economy.core of the economy.

Wealth and property are monitored Wealth and property are monitored and regulated by the Government.and regulated by the Government.

Provides many benefits for the poor Provides many benefits for the poor classes.classes.

Socialism 2Socialism 2

Many of the artists and writers were Many of the artists and writers were socialists or were thought to be socialists.socialists or were thought to be socialists.

They often supported movements to help They often supported movements to help the working class.the working class.

Was the only kind of art allowed in Soviet Was the only kind of art allowed in Soviet Russia.Russia.

Social Realism in ArtSocial Realism in Art

The art portrayed the poor working The art portrayed the poor working conditions of the Industrial Revolution.conditions of the Industrial Revolution.

Some famous artists in England were Some famous artists in England were William Sickert and Frank Holl.William Sickert and Frank Holl.

They “recorded the conditions of the time”They “recorded the conditions of the time” Gave voice to ordinary people.Gave voice to ordinary people. Was a popular form of art during the Was a popular form of art during the

Great Depression.Great Depression.

ExamplesExamples

Social Realism in LiteratureSocial Realism in Literature

Laid the groundwork for contemporary Laid the groundwork for contemporary tragedy.tragedy.

An experimentation with the social An experimentation with the social works.works.

It was determined to discover It was determined to discover hypocrisy and manipulation of the hypocrisy and manipulation of the upper class.upper class.

In “A Doll’s House”In “A Doll’s House”

““A Doll’s House” showed how hardship has A Doll’s House” showed how hardship has aged/changed Christine.aged/changed Christine.

Torvald and Rank (the rich) look down on Torvald and Rank (the rich) look down on more desperate people such as Krogstad.more desperate people such as Krogstad.

Nora did not empathize with Christine’s Nora did not empathize with Christine’s troubles.troubles.

Ending showed the wife separating herself Ending showed the wife separating herself from the husband… not a happy ending.from the husband… not a happy ending.

In “A Doll’s House” (cont.)In “A Doll’s House” (cont.)

Showed women’s suffering through Nora Showed women’s suffering through Nora and Christine. and Christine.

Revealed the true impact of people such Revealed the true impact of people such as Torvald. as Torvald.

Showed the lack of serious relationships in Showed the lack of serious relationships in marriages. marriages.

Showed how appearances were more Showed how appearances were more important than substance. important than substance.

SourcesSources

Wikipedia for general knowledgeWikipedia for general knowledge www.norway.org.uk/ibsen/realism/realismwww.norway.org.uk/ibsen/realism/realism

.htm.htm arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1760arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1760

561,00.html561,00.html Victoriaartinbritain.co.ukVictoriaartinbritain.co.uk Artencyclopedia.comArtencyclopedia.com www.thinkism.org/asp/movements/SocialRwww.thinkism.org/asp/movements/SocialR

ealism.aspealism.asp