Faith in the supernatural is a viable subject matter for realistic theatre. Realistic theatre’s goal is to bring real life to the stage, so why should the subject of the supernatural be withheld from a real life representation? People throughout the world of all different religions believe that a supernatural power is existent in the natural world. The supernatural world may not be tangible, but it is still a valuable subject in reality and on the stage. Faith in the supernatural is an everyday topic to many humans. Why would a true representation of life withhold that subject? Faith in the supernatural presence of God is a practical subject in realistic theatre because it is a common part of true, everyday life, it connects with the “inner truth” teachings of Stanislavsky, and because it is represented through characters of Anton Chekhov, a prominent realism writer.
Realism uses sensitive issues like hypocrisy or failing marriages to show audiences true life. It sought to make morality and immortality indistinguishable, and dramatize touchy subjects like religion and beliefs (Wilson & Goldfarb 416). Realism is an invitation for the topic of the spiritual world because these subjects could not be addressed without bringing issues of faith and the supernatural God onto the stage. Even when scrutinizing the subject, it is still creating a place for it in realistic theatre.
The teachings of Stanislavski, a pioneer of the realism movement in theatre, in a sense, promote faith and the supernatural. The book The Living Theatre, by Edwin Wilson and Alvin Goldfarb is a history textbook that investigates many important movements in theatre such as realism. When discussing Stanislavski’s goals for actors it states that an ac...
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...e a part of reality to many characters in realist theatre. There is a place for God in realistic theatre, among characters and actors and scripts. It is an important aspect of realism because faith in a supernatural God is an aspect of humans and their everyday life. For a theatre that mirrors “true life, it is unthinkable to not incorporate faith in the supernatural.
Works Cited
Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich. Uncle Vanya. Google Books. Forgotten Books. Web. 03 Feb. 2011.
http://books.google.com/books?id=iOZDV49DMYcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=unclevanya&hl=en&ei=V4BLTbGZBcP38AbS0qT2Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=bookthumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6wEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
The Bible. New Living Translation. Web. 03 Feb. 2011. .
Wilson, Edwin, and Alvin Goldfarb. Living Theatre: a History. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print.
...Acting teacher, Sandy Meisner, described a technique of living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. To do so is to apply Burke’s pentad to an aesthetic performance completely.
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the mindset of those in the play. Shakespeare uses supernatural actions to keep the reader
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in by those who would cloak themselves in, and manipulate with, those beliefs. The play is
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