Expressionism in Art & Drama :Expressionism in Art & Drama “Bringing the Inside Out”


Realism :Realism States or suggests that a piece of literature or art has verisimilitude Depicts in fiction and art those elements considered real in life. Things look “as they are”


Impressionism(France) :Impressionism(France) Unconcerned with depicting the total accuracy of the subject Concerned with the general impression of a subject on the viewer or listener, especially the effect of light or lack of light on the subject’s surface Attempts to capture the “feeling” of the moment Leans towards Realism, with slight abstraction.


Expressionism(Germany) :Expressionism(Germany) Unconcerned with accurate depiction of subjects Rejects general ideas of beauty and harmony Attempts to capture the inner reality / emotion / or psychological experience through distortion, exaggeration, symbols, and unnatural devices Leans toward abstraction


PsychologicalRealism :PsychologicalRealism Attempts to depict/capture the inner workings of the mind Analyzes thoughts and feelings In art, leans toward expressionism to depict inner turmoil In fiction, requires a character to “behave in character”


Slide 6:Elements of Expressionism in Drama and Film: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Directed in 1919 by Robert Wiene (German)


Element 1: ExploitationModern resources of stage design, lighting, and sound are manipulated to reflect psychological and emotional realities :Element 1: ExploitationModern resources of stage design, lighting, and sound are manipulated to reflect psychological and emotional realities


Element 2: Stylized ActingUse of unnatural movements that reflect inner psyche; actors use robotic movement, pantomime, masks, heavy make-up, etc… :Element 2: Stylized ActingUse of unnatural movements that reflect inner psyche; actors use robotic movement, pantomime, masks, heavy make-up, etc…


Element 3: Nonrealistic Plot StructureDistorted chronology; dreamlike sequence (stream of consciousness);flashbacks :Element 3: Nonrealistic Plot StructureDistorted chronology; dreamlike sequence (stream of consciousness);flashbacks


Element 4: SymbolismCharacters, actions, objects represent psychological realities. :Element 4: SymbolismCharacters, actions, objects represent psychological realities.


Slide 11:The story begins with Francis telling his story about what happened to his murdered friend Alan and his fiancée, Jane.


Slide 12:A symbol of purity, Jane is always dressed in virginal white. Apparently, Francis, too, has a crush on Jane.


Slide 13:FLASHBACK!!!! Alan asks Francis to go to the fair where they encounter Dr. Caligari and a sleepwalker who can predict people’s futures - Cesare.


“Behold! I give you Cesare!” :“Behold! I give you Cesare!”


Slide 15:Cesare awakens. . .


. . . and predicts Alan will be dead by the next morning. :. . . and predicts Alan will be dead by the next morning.


Alan is murdered that same night. :Alan is murdered that same night.


Dr. Caligari keeps Cesare in a coffin. :Dr. Caligari keeps Cesare in a coffin.


Slide 19:Francis becomes suspicious of Caligari and Cesare. Is Caligari hypnotizing Cesare and instructing him to kill?


Slide 20:BUT: Who was the killer in the shadows? Cesare? Or a jealous Alan?


Slide 21:Jane’s father goes missing. While looking for him, she runs into Dr. Caligari, who invites her into his tent to see Cesare.


Cesare becomes enamored with Jane, who finds Cesare strange and frightening. :Cesare becomes enamored with Jane, who finds Cesare strange and frightening.


Slide 23:Later, the police visit Caligari and Cesare for questioning - but Cesare is missing. They find a dummy in Cesare’s coffin.


Infatuated with Jane’s beauty, Cesare stalks her ... :Infatuated with Jane’s beauty, Cesare stalks her ...


Slide 25:…Kidnaps her ...


Slide 26:...Totes her around...


Slide 27:...Totes her around some more...


Slide 28:...AND exhausted, suffers a heart attack, drops Jane, and …


Slide 29:. . . dies.


Slide 30:Meanwhile, Francis chases Caligari into an insane asylum where Caligari, a mad scientist, serves as director of patient services!


Slide 31:Dr. Caligari is captured and inprisoned in his own institution.


Slide 32:But wait!!! Suddenly ...


Slide 33:The flashback ends. Francis is actually a patient in the asylum.


Dr. Caligari happens to be Francis’ psychiatrist. It was all a delusional dream! :Dr. Caligari happens to be Francis’ psychiatrist. It was all a delusional dream!


Slide 35:AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE . . .


Slide 36:Cesare, Allan, and Jane are all residents of Dr. Caligari’s asylum!


FINI! :FINI!


Let’s Review the Elements of Expressionism in Robert Weine’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari :Let’s Review the Elements of Expressionism in Robert Weine’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari


Element 1: ExploitationModern resources of stage design, lighting, and sound are manipulated to reflect psychological and emotional realities :Element 1: ExploitationModern resources of stage design, lighting, and sound are manipulated to reflect psychological and emotional realities


Slide 40:Exploitation of Stage Design Angular structures Overly bright backlighting


Exploitation: Lighting :Exploitation: Lighting


Element 2: Stylized ActingUse of unnatural movements that reflect inner psyche; actors use robotic movement, pantomime, masks, heavy make-up, etc… :Element 2: Stylized ActingUse of unnatural movements that reflect inner psyche; actors use robotic movement, pantomime, masks, heavy make-up, etc…


Slide 43:Stylized Acting: Pantomime


Stylized Acting: Heavy Make-up :Stylized Acting: Heavy Make-up


Element 3: Nonrealistic Plot StructureDistorted chronology; dreamlike sequence (stream of consciousness);flashbacks :Element 3: Nonrealistic Plot StructureDistorted chronology; dreamlike sequence (stream of consciousness);flashbacks


Element 4: SymbolismCharacters, actions, objects represent psychological realities. :Element 4: SymbolismCharacters, actions, objects represent psychological realities.


Jane symbolizes goodness. :Jane symbolizes goodness.


Angular walls, windows, ceiling represent danger and psychological instability :Angular walls, windows, ceiling represent danger and psychological instability