Romanticism broke away from the strictures of the neoclassical era preferring instead the Medieval/Gothic periods. The Romantic notion of finding beauty and humanity in the ugly is epitomized by Quasimodo in Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The movement rejected Enlightenment, scientific rationalism, and the Industrial Revolution; rather, it embraced intuition and emotion over reason. On one hand, the tail end of neoclassicism led to the well-made play. On the other hand, the emphasis on emotion led to melodrama and an artificial declamatory acting style.
Standards Addressed
National Core Arts Standards
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 6
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 7
TH:Pr4.1.7.a - Consider various staging choices to enhance the story in a drama/theatre work.
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Proficient
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Accomplished
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Advanced
Perceive and analyze artistic work - Grade HS Advanced
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work - Grade 6
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work - Grade 7
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work - Grade 8
TH:Re8.1.8.b - Analyze how cultural perspectives influence the evaluation of a drama/theatre work.
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Proficient
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade HS Proficient
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Accomplished
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Advanced
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 6
TH:Pr6.1.6.a - Adapt a drama/theatre work and present it informally for an audience.
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade 6
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 7
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 7
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade 7
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 8
TH:Pr6.1.8.a - Perform a rehearsed drama/theatre work for an audience.
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
TH:Pr6.1.HSI.a - Perform a scripted drama/theatre work for a specific audience.
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade HS Proficient
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade HS Advanced
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