Anyone know anything about melodrama ??

Question

Anyone know anything about melodrama ??

Answer 1

My God, I don't!

(Collapses, sobbing)

Answer 2

its just like acting everything very exaggerated or emotional

Answer 3

♥ Melodramas conventionally include include fairly exagerated characters, but are often serious so shouldn't be confused with fairytales or pantomine.

♥ They usually include a hero, heroine and the typical 'baddie' as well as other characters who intergrate in the plot. Two examples of melodramas are 'Murder in the Red Barn' and 'Foiled Again'.

♥ I think melodramas also usually have a complete and positive ending, and a moral or over-riding lesson to the story. Example: good always wins.

Pretty much all I know, i'm afraid. xx.

Answer 4

Melodrama was the precursor to realism; it developed out of Victorian acting techniques. There were very precise motions that had to be taken when acting- for example, to call someone back to you or stop someone from leaving, it was canon to put right foot in front and extend one joint of your arm at a time until your hand was extended out, beckoning, and waggle it in the air after them. To faint, a person would swagger left to right and put their limp hand up to their forehead.

The whole genre was very stylistically dominated, with archetypical characters and actions.

Answer 5

The melodrama was the primary form of theatre during the 19th century, despite other influences, becoming the most popular by 1840. Melodrama is still with us today.

In the early 1800’s, most were romantic, exotic, or supernatural.

In the 1820’s, they became more familiar in settings and characters.

In the 1830’s, became more elevated: "gentlemanly" melodrama.

Characteristics of Melodrama:

Comes from "music drama". Music was used to increase emotions or to signify characters (signature music).

A simplified moral universe; good and evil are embodied in stock characters.

Episodic form: the villain poses a threat, the hero or heroine escapes, etc. with a happy ending.

Almost never five acts usually 2-5 (five acts reserved for "serious" drama).

Many special effects: fires, explosions, drownings, earthquakes.

Types of Melodrama:

Animals used (along with the Romantic concept of nature):

Equestrian dramas: horses, often on treadmills forerunners of the modern Western.

Canine melodramas: like Lassie

Nautical melodramas: interest in the sea.

Disaster melodramas.

Hope that helps :)