1. In the Arts

2.  “faithful representation of reality”  accurate, detailed, unembellished depiction of contemporary life  rejects imaginative idealization  generally deals with ordinary, middle-class life  characters are often more important than plot  may involve complex ethical choices

3.  anti-Romantic movement (esp. in Germany)  interest in the scientific method  rise of professional journalism  development of photography All contributed to interest in accurately recording contemporary life and society.

4.  emphasis on detachment, objectivity, and accurate observation  lucid but restrained criticism of social environment and mores  humane understanding underlies its moral judgments

5.  General movement in the later 19th century: texts and performances aimed at greater fidelity to real life.  Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg in Scandinavia and Anton Chekhov and Maksim Gorky in Russia

6.  rejected complex and artificial plotting  addressed themes and conflicts belonging to a real, contemporary society

7.  dispensed with poetic language and extravagant diction  action and dialogue looked and sounded like everyday behaviour and speech.  Replaced declamatory delivery with natural movement, gestures, and speech  used set designs that accurately reproduced ordinary surroundings