Expressionism In Drama: The Soul Of Dramatization

Expressionism in drama helps to create such a gesture of emotion that helps the view of a drama to understand the intensity of emotion more deeply. Expressionism is an art and literary movement that was started in the 20th century in Germany. Defamiliarization of subjects, and objects, and nullifying classicism;

at the same time classifying the emotions of a character and the situation. Before Expressionism, the essence of dramas was lacking some emotions. But, it wasn’t the main thing of dramas to capture the emotions more than the story; Expressionism revolutionized the main things of a drama and made the emotions of a drama more important than the story.

The Presence Of Expressionism In Drama

The presence of Expressionism in drama can be found by seeing some simple reflections on the drama. Expressionism in drama is a movement that developed mainly in Germany in the early 20th century. It was then popularized in the United States, Spain, China, the U.K., and all around the world.

Expressionist theatre utilized theatrical elements and scenery with exaggeration and distortion to deliver strong feelings and ideas to audiences.

Here are some key characteristics of expressionism in drama:

• Atmosphere In Expressionist Drama: The atmosphere in expressionist plays is often vividly dreamlike and nightmarish. The atmosphere is kept intentionally like that to keep the focus of the viewers on the plot’s emotions.
• Settings Of An Expressionist Drama: Settings avoid reproducing the detail of naturalistic drama, and create only those starkly simplified images the theme of the play calls for.
• Plot and Structure Of Expressionist Drama: The plot and structure of the play tend to be disjointed and broken into episodes, incidents, and tableaux, each making a point of its own.
• Characters: Characters lose their individuality and are merely identified by nameless designations, like The Man, The Father, and The Son.
• Dialogue: The dialogue, unlike conversation, is poetical, febrile, and rhapsodic.
• Style of Acting: The style of acting is a deliberate departure from the realism of Stanislavsky.

Expressionism in drama is often used to create a more intense and intimate experience for the audience. It allows the audience to feel the characters’ emotions more deeply. Expressionism is often used in modern drama to create a more intense and intimate experience for the audience.

What Are Some Examples Of Expressionist Plays?

In the upper paragraphs; we have discussed Expression in dramas and what are the reflections you can find to understand the e presence of Expressionism in Drama. And, here are  giving some examples of expressionist plays that you can see for your self:

• The Adding Machine By Elmer Rice

• Bonbons and Roses for Dolly By Dorothy Hewett

• Bury the Dead By Irwin Shaw

• The Chapel Perilous By Sir Thomas Malory

• A Dream Play By August Strindberg

• The Emperor Jones By Brutus Jones

• From Morning to Midnight by Georg Kaiser

• The Ghost Sonata By  August Strindberg

• The Great Highway By August Strindberg

• The Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neill

• Hoppla, We’re Alive! By Ernst Toller

• Katie Roche by Teresa Deevy

• Machinal by Sophie Treadwell

• Murderer, the Hope of Women by Oskar Kokoschka

• Pandora’s Cross By Dorothy Hewett

• Rapid Transit (play) by Lajos Egri

• The Silver Tassie (play) By Seán O’Casey

• The Son (Hasenclever play) By Walter Hasenclever

• To Damascus By August Strindberg

These plays are known for their vividly dreamlike and nightmarish atmospheres, disjointed and episodic structures, and characters that lose their individuality to show the intensity of the emotional aspects.

What Are The Effects Of Expressionist Dramas?

We have already told you that Expressionist dramas are oddly satisfying dramas that take you deeper into the thoughts of a plot.

Expressionist dramas have a profound impact on both the audience and the broader field of drama. Here are some of the effects:

• Intense Emotional Experience: Expressionist plays use language to express the inner emotions of the characters rather than to describe the actions of the play. This allows the audience to feel the characters’ emotions more deeply.
• Provocative: Expressionist theatre often seeks to provoke strong reactions in its audience. It can be didactic in its intent.
• Critique of Society: Commonly, Expressionist theatre critiqued the government, big business, the military, family structures, and sexism.
• Visual Impact: The mood in Expressionist plays is often vividly dreamlike and nightmarish. The decor was often made up of bizarre shapes and sensational colors.
• Influence on Other Art Forms: Expressionism in the theatre had influences on other art forms as well. Music was also an important component of expression. Dissonant and other jarring techniques were frequently employed by expressionists to evoke a strong emotion.
• Global Influence: Expressionism was a movement in drama that principally developed in Germany in the early decades of the 20th century. It was then popularized in the United States, Spain, China, the U.K., and all around the world.
• Influence on Modern Drama: Expressionism is often used in modern drama to create a more intense and intimate experience for the audience

So, these are the discussions about Expressionism in Drama. We have tried to put up every single aspect of Expressionism in drama; the influences, the presence, and how expressionism came to dramas. Hope it was a pleasant reading experience for you and be sure to visit our Collection of Books to have more to read!