THEA 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Silent Film, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Melodrama
Document Summary
The most popular form of theater in the late 19th century. Most of the population worked 6-7 days a week, 12 hour days in horrible conditions. Drama in which many exciting events happen and the characters have very strong or exaggerated emotions. When one accuses a person of being melodramatic, one is saying that person is overacting or overreacting. This is because the style of acting was over the top, what we would call. Prescribed acting poses that were used in melodrama so the audience always knew exactly what the character was feeling. Used a prescribed set of hand gestures and body movements to convey emotions. Vocal style of the actors would fit the movements (loud and declamatory) Arose in europe and then moved to america. The most popular play was uncle tom"s cabin by aiken and based off the. Constant music underscoring and intermittent songs throughout.
