LitWiki - User contributions [en]

Melodrama

2013-11-13T01:57:56Z

KindWords1983:

[[File:Pygmalion.jpg|200px|thumb|right| Jean-Jacques Rousseau- Written in 1762. One of the first melodramas]]

"''''''Melodrama''''' [Gr.,=song-drama], originally a spoken text with musical background, as in Greek drama. The form was popular in the 18th cent., when its composers included Georg Benda, J. J. Rousseau, and W. A. Mozart, among others. Modern examples of the true music melodrama are found in Richard Strauss's setting of Tennyson's Enoch Arden, and in Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire. J. J. Rousseau's melodrama Pygmalion (1762; first performed 1770) helped create a vogue for stage plays in which the action was generally romantic, full of violent action, and often characterized by the final triumph of virtue. The common use of the term melodrama refers to sentimental stage plays of this sort. The leading authors of melodramas in the early 19th century were Guilbert de Pixérécourt of France and the German August von Kotzebue. The term was used extensively in England in the 19th century as a device to circumvent the law that limited legitimate plays to certain theaters. Melodrama was one of the most-popular of theatrical genres of the 19th century in England and America, its "tear-jerking" style easily made the transition to film, radio and television, where they are represented by the maudlin excesses and unbelievable coincidences of contemporary soap operas. The term is now applied to all scripts with overdrawn characterizations, smashing climaxes, and appeal to sentiment. Famous examples of stage melodramas include East Lynne by Mrs. Henry Wood and Ten Nights in a Barroom by W. W. Pratt. (Columbia)."

A reoccurring theme of melodramas are heroes, villains, and extenuating circumstances.

"'''mel•o•dra•ma''' / ˈmeləˌdrämə/

• n. 1. a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.

∎ the genre of drama of this type.

∎ language, behavior, or events that resemble drama of this kind: what little is known of his early life is cloaked in melodrama.

2. hist. a play interspersed with songs and orchestral music accompanying the action.

DERIVATIVES:
mel•o•dram•a•tist / ˌmeləˈdrämətist/ n.
mel•o•dram•a•tize / ˌmeləˈdräməˌtīz/ v. (Oxford)."

== Examples ==
[[File:UncleTomsCabin.jpg|100px|thumb|left|"Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852 Novel)]]

[[File:PhantomoftheOpera.jpg|100px|thumb|right|The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Film)]]

[[File:Manhattanmelodramamp.jpg|100px|thumb|center|Manhattan Melodrama, 1934)]]

"Uncle Tom’s Cabin" – the novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1852)

Arnold Schoenberg's ''Pierrot Lunaire [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrot_Lunaire]''-This is one of the most famous examples of melodrama. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-zW10__i4M] 

NBC's Soap Opera ''Passions''- Great example of stereotypical characters, and exaggerated emotions. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyzkcQnPpz0] 

“Manhattan Melodrama" ''-Melodramatic Film 1934. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT81gAiMSXU] 

"The Golden Girls"- Sitcom melodrama (1985-1992)

"The Phantom of the Opera"- By Peter Haining, September 1986. Book[http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/background/the-book], Musical[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AYTspeSbhs], Film[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL7D9eppEF4].

== External Links ==
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chp7mBhj09w] “The Genre of Melodrama”. 
[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/keyword/melodrama] Chicago Tribune 

== Works Cited ==
"melodrama." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Nov. 2013 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"melodrama." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2013. Encyclopedia.com. 8 Nov. 2013 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

[[Literary Terms]]

File:Pygmalion.jpg

2013-11-13T01:51:31Z

KindWords1983: KindWords1983 uploaded a new version of "File:Pygmalion.jpg"

File:Pygmalion.jpg

2013-11-13T01:49:37Z

KindWords1983:

File:UncleTomsCabin.jpg

2013-11-13T01:21:57Z

KindWords1983:

Melodrama

2013-11-13T01:07:55Z

KindWords1983: /* Works Cited */

[[File:Manhattanmelodramamp.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Manhattan Melodrama, 1934]]

"''''''Melodrama''''' [Gr.,=song-drama], originally a spoken text with musical background, as in Greek drama. The form was popular in the 18th cent., when its composers included Georg Benda, J. J. Rousseau, and W. A. Mozart, among others. Modern examples of the true music melodrama are found in Richard Strauss's setting of Tennyson's Enoch Arden, and in Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire. J. J. Rousseau's melodrama Pygmalion (1762; first performed 1770) helped create a vogue for stage plays in which the action was generally romantic, full of violent action, and often characterized by the final triumph of virtue. The common use of the term melodrama refers to sentimental stage plays of this sort. The leading authors of melodramas in the early 19th century were Guilbert de Pixérécourt of France and the German August von Kotzebue. The term was used extensively in England in the 19th century as a device to circumvent the law that limited legitimate plays to certain theaters. Melodrama was one of the most-popular of theatrical genres of the 19th century in England and America, its "tear-jerking" style easily made the transition to film, radio and television, where they are represented by the maudlin excesses and unbelievable coincidences of contemporary soap operas. The term is now applied to all scripts with overdrawn characterizations, smashing climaxes, and appeal to sentiment. Famous examples of stage melodramas include East Lynne by Mrs. Henry Wood and Ten Nights in a Barroom by W. W. Pratt. (Columbia)."

A reoccurring theme of melodramas are heroes, villains, and extenuating circumstances.

"'''mel•o•dra•ma''' / ˈmeləˌdrämə/

• n. 1. a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.

∎ the genre of drama of this type.

∎ language, behavior, or events that resemble drama of this kind: what little is known of his early life is cloaked in melodrama.

2. hist. a play interspersed with songs and orchestral music accompanying the action.

DERIVATIVES:
mel•o•dram•a•tist / ˌmeləˈdrämətist/ n.
mel•o•dram•a•tize / ˌmeləˈdräməˌtīz/ v. (Oxford)."

== Examples ==
[[File:PhantomoftheOpera.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)]]

Arnold Schoenberg's ''Pierrot Lunaire [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrot_Lunaire]''-This is one of the most famous examples of melodrama. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-zW10__i4M] 

NBC's Soap Opera ''Passions''- Great example of stereotypical characters, and exaggerated emotions. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyzkcQnPpz0] 

“Manhattan Melodrama" ''-Melodramatic Film 1934. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT81gAiMSXU] 

"The Golden Girls"- Sitcom melodrama (1985-1992)

"The Phantom of the Opera"- By Peter Haining, September 1986. Book[http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/background/the-book], Musical[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AYTspeSbhs], Film[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL7D9eppEF4].

== External Links ==
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chp7mBhj09w] “The Genre of Melodrama”. 
[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/keyword/melodrama] Chicago Tribune 

== Works Cited ==
"melodrama." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 6 Nov. 2013 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"melodrama." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2013. Encyclopedia.com. 8 Nov. 2013 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

[[Literary Terms]]

Melodrama

2013-11-13T01:02:52Z

KindWords1983:

File:PhantomoftheOpera.jpg

2013-11-13T00:54:28Z

KindWords1983:

File:Manhattanmelodramamp.jpg

2013-11-13T00:14:31Z

KindWords1983:

File:301505-apple-iphone-5-at-t.jpg

2013-11-09T15:12:01Z

KindWords1983: KindWords1983 uploaded a new version of "File:301505-apple-iphone-5-at-t.jpg"

File:301505-apple-iphone-5-at-t.jpg

2013-11-09T15:01:52Z

KindWords1983: KindWords1983 uploaded a new version of "File:301505-apple-iphone-5-at-t.jpg"

File:301505-apple-iphone-5-at-t.jpg

2013-11-09T15:00:08Z

KindWords1983:

What is “audience”?

2013-11-07T14:41:20Z

KindWords1983:

[[File:Audience.png]]

“'''Audience'''[[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/audience]]” refers to the reader in literary terms. When considering the audience, the writer should consider who would most benefit from the piece of literature being presented. By knowing your audience, you know how to address your subject.

“To be an effective writer, you must use language that is audience-centered, not writer-centered. In other words, transcend your own perspective and consider the needs and interests of your readers. Ask yourself: What do my readers know about the topic? Are my readers likely to have an emotional response to my work? What do I want my readers to do, think, or feel? (Moxley)”.

----

Aspects to consider when thinking about audience:
* Age
* Sex
* Education level
* Beliefs (religious, political, ethical, etc.)
* Interests (hobbies, predilections, enthusiasms)
* Biases (subjectivities, prejudices, leanings)
* Language (word choice, presentation, tone)
* Similarities (what do you have in common with your audience?)

Knowing the audience will assist the writer in making important decisions about what should be included in their writing. The structure and tone is also greatly influenced based on the type of audience the writer is trying to appeal to. It is important for the writer to think about all aspect of the audience before they begin to write.
----

[[Composition FAQ]]

== External Links ==

* "Consider Your Audience " was written by Joseph Moxley, University of South Florida
http://writingcommons.org/process/think-rhetorically/consider-your-audience

File:Audience.png

2013-11-07T14:11:26Z

KindWords1983:

File:Blog know your audience capture.jpg

2013-11-07T13:51:54Z

KindWords1983: KindWords1983 uploaded a new version of "File:Blog know your audience capture.jpg"

An image representing how to know your audience found on a readytalk.com blog