evolution of the 4 th wall?
DESCRIPTION
Evolution of the 4 th Wall?. Ch 10. Denis Diderot October 5, 1713 – July 31, 1784. Denis Diderot October 5, 1713 – July 31, 1784. Europe adhered to neoclassicism, but new forms were evolving Diderot -chief editor of and contributor to the creation of the Encyclopédie - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Evolution of the 4th Wall?
Ch 10
![Page 2: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Denis DiderotOctober 5, 1713 – July 31, 1784
![Page 3: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Denis DiderotOctober 5, 1713 – July 31, 1784
• Europe adhered to neoclassicism, but new forms were evolving
• Diderot -chief editor of and contributor to the creation of the Encyclopédie
• wrote and championed new genre - drame– Middle class tragedy/domestic tragedy– A serious play that didn’t fit neoclassical definition
of tragedy
![Page 4: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Diderot
• Wanted greater realism on stage– Acting and scenery
• "When you write or act, think no more of the audience than if it had never existed. Imagine a huge wall across the front of the stage, separating you from the audience, and behave exactly as if the curtain had never risen.“
• Developed the concept of the fourth wall
![Page 5: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Diderot’s Paradox of Acting
• Best actor invoke strong emotions in an audience through calculation and craft, not by experiencing these emotions themselves
• The studied actor is better than the one who relies on inspiration and feeling the part
![Page 6: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Dumesnil and Clairon
![Page 7: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Dumesnil and Clairon
• Both actresses at Comedie Francais• Dumesnil 1713-1803 – natural abilities but
sometimes erratic. • Wore expensive contemporary fashions for all roles played. • Clairon – more studied actress• Interested in historical accuracy, • Less declamatory.
![Page 8: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Acting in England• Rehearsal were about 3 hours a day for two
weeks• In England actors were mainly contracted,
rehearsals run by the actor-manager. • French actors in government theatres were part
of a sharing plan. Comedie Francaise was democratic, actors voted.
• Shows started at 5 or 6pm, a whole evening of entertainment (musical performance, full length play, entertainments between acts, afterpiece, sometimes a short one act.
![Page 9: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
James Quinn, actor (1693-1766)
![Page 10: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Charles Macklin
![Page 11: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
David Garrick
• Started as an actor, played Richard III in 1741 in Goodman’s Fields, an unlicensed theatre.
• Noted for having a natural style, based his action on observation
![Page 12: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Garrick
• Became actor-manager of Drury Lane• Made actors rehearse longer and to
performance standards• Established penalties for not following rules• Gave actors direction• Worked with designer and inventor Philip
James de Loutherbourg
![Page 13: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Garrick
• Placed lights behind scenery• Introduced local color, did away with stock
scenery• Shortened the apron• Did not allow actors to use the stage doors• Removed seating on the stage
![Page 14: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Johan Wolfgang von GoetheWeimar Court
• Rules for Actors• Stage German (RP in UK)• Oversaw staging and costumes• Believed in historical accuracy• Audience reactions should be limited to
applause or no applause.
![Page 15: Evolution of the 4 th Wall?](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032415/568139e5550346895da19d75/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Goethe’s Three Questions
• What was the artist trying to do?• Was he/she successful in doing it? • Was it worth doing?