Realism

Definition

Realism is a philosophical and artistic movement that emerged in the 19th century, emphasizing the accurate and unbiased representation of the everyday, ordinary world and human experience. It rejects romanticized or idealized depictions, instead focusing on the objective portrayal of reality as it is.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Realism emerged as a reaction against the romanticism and idealization of the earlier 19th century, seeking to depict the world as it truly is.
2. Realist artists and writers focused on the everyday lives of ordinary people, often from the working or middle classes, rather than the elite or heroic.
3. Realist works often addressed social issues and inequalities, challenging the status quo and advocating for reform.
4. Realism emphasized empirical observation and the scientific method, aiming to present an objective and impartial representation of reality.
5. Realist literature often featured complex, multi-dimensional characters who faced moral dilemmas and struggled with the harsh realities of life.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Realist movement emerged as a reaction against earlier 19th century artistic and literary trends.
  • The Realist movement emerged in the mid-19th century as a reaction against the romanticism and idealization that had dominated earlier 19th century art and literature. Realists sought to depict the world as it truly was, rather than through a lens of romanticism or idealization. They rejected the glorification of heroic figures and the focus on the extraordinary, instead turning their attention to the everyday lives and experiences of ordinary people from the working and middle classes. This shift represented a desire for a more objective, unbiased representation of reality and a challenge to the status quo.
• Describe the key characteristics and goals of Realist artists and writers.
  • Realist artists and writers were focused on accurately and objectively depicting the everyday world and human experience, rather than romanticizing or idealizing their subjects. They employed empirical observation and the scientific method in their work, aiming to present a faithful representation of reality as it is. Realist works often addressed social issues and inequalities, challenging the status quo and advocating for reform. Realist literature in particular featured complex, multi-dimensional characters who grappled with moral dilemmas and the harsh realities of life, rather than the heroic figures and extraordinary events common in earlier 19th century literature.
• Analyze the relationship between Realism and the broader social and intellectual currents of the 19th century.
  • Realism emerged within the broader context of 19th century social, scientific, and intellectual developments. The rise of empiricism, the scientific method, and positivist philosophy all contributed to the Realist emphasis on objective observation and the accurate representation of reality. Additionally, the social upheaval and growing awareness of class divides and inequalities in industrializing societies influenced Realist artists and writers to address these issues in their work, often from a critical perspective that challenged the status quo. Realism can be seen as both a reflection of and a response to the changing intellectual and social climate of the 19th century, as artists and writers sought to document and grapple with the realities of the modern world.

Related terms

Naturalism:

A literary and artistic movement that depicts reality in an objective, scientific manner, often emphasizing the impact of social and environmental factors on human behavior and experiences.

Objectivism: A philosophical perspective that holds that reality exists independently of human consciousness and that the purpose of knowledge is to accurately represent that reality.

Verisimilitude: The appearance of being true or real, the quality of seeming to be authentic or plausible.