/lit/ - Literature

>>22193324


OP, Subtext was introduced in mainstream theatre thanks to Anton Chekov, in late 19th century.

It focuses less on the words said by the character and more on how he/she says it.

You can see a timeline of how Chekov develops his technique on 4 plays on which 1 Has the least subtext and 4 being the more complex

1: The seagull (Subtext is easy to catch, simple narrative, character hides is love etc.
2: The three sisters (different perspective on society on each character)
3: Uncle Vania (frustrated burgeoise)
4: The cherry Orchard (A literal clusterfuck where nothing happens, all ,«intern movement» happens in the minds of the characters)

From there subtext went to Europe with Ibsen's "Doll House" here psicology analisis was used to create the character. It goes well entangled with the birth of psychoanalysis as it was ported to US

In US, Tennessee Williams, Harold Pinter, and Arthur Miller used subtext to create characters, but showing different aspects. While Willliams used it to mold characters tormented by their past and fucked relations (Streetcar, Glass menagerie etc), Miller uses it to point out how society destroys it's citizens (Death of a salesman, crucible etc)

So one could say you need context to understand subtext. 20th century theatre happens to fall here.


Subtext is used nowadays for this argument:"You need to understand the political-sociological-religious-and cultural behaviour of redhead women in Bagdad during Mexican revolution to understand my poorly written play"

In well made plays, try to think if the character really want to say what she/he thinks, or if it something doesn't let them

TL;DR: Last paragraph + or maybe is just a bunch of actors making their best to give sense to a shitty play.

Cervantes didn't write Quixote, he just made the translation of an obscure author.

I read it somewhere and I don't believe it. But sounds cool.

Give me your 10 favorite writers or the crab knifes you. Bonus if you elaborate on why you like them or what books of their you enjoy in particular

What are the best English translations for these 3?:

Tasso
Ariosto
Michelangelo

Thanks in advance

>>21924547
Oh snab :D
You better keep reading or else