American Realism and Social Naturalism emerged in the late 19th century as artistic styles that depicted everyday life and the experiences of ordinary people in a realistic or naturalistic manner. Realism sought to represent reality objectively while Naturalism applied scientific principles to the study of human behavior. These styles reflected the social realities of their time, including racial segregation and discrimination that Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting in 1957 as described in the document.

1. American Realism and Social Naturalism

2. What was happening at
the time?
1957

3.  Martin Luther King Jr heads nationwide resistance to
racial segregation and discrimination in the US
 FederalTroops sent to Arkansas to enforce anti
segregation laws
 The National Guard on the order of Governor Orval
Faubus is used to prevent nine African American
students from entering Central High School in Little
Rock on September 4th and shortly after Federal
troops charge defiant protesters with fixed bayonets
to ensure nine African American Students can attend
Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas

4.  The House for Un-AmericanActivities
Committee (HUAC) convicts a number of
writers and playwright's for Un-American
Activities / Communist party membership
 Ghana Gains Independence From Great
Britain

5. A style in art, music and literature that
depicted contemporary social realities and
the lives and everyday activities of ordinary
people.The movement began in literature in
the mid-19th century, and became an
important tendency in visual art in the early
20th century.

6.  The term naturalism describes a
type of literature that attempts
to apply scientific principles of
objectivity and detachment to its
study of human beings.

7. How are these themes
reflected in the film and
did they resonate with
the audiences of the
time?

8.  Look out for the techniques used by
the director to tell the story and
guide the audience through the
story using angles, framing, music
and composition to manipulate the
emotional responses of the
audience.

9.  What questions does the film ask?
 How does the film make you feel about the
themes raised?
 What kind of reaction do you think audiences
of the time might have had given the social
attitudes of the time?
 How have attitudes changes if at all?
 Are these themes still relevant
today?