George Bernard Shaw: Influence
“Most of the time, just as one man’s meat happens to another man’s poison, so also one age’s longing could be another’s age’s loathing.” - George Bernard Shaw
Believed to be second in England to William Shakespeare himself, George Bernard Shaw dominated English drama for sixty years as a writer, actor, director, and producer of plays.
He was an advocate of social justice and righteousness and a proponent of the intellectual enlightenment of people. Shaw encouraged intellectuals to think for themselves and compelled to concern issues of life with an open mind. He was on a mission to bring social reform through his work. He felt it was his destiny as an artist to educate Londoners. Teaching is the center of the passion of Shaw’s plays. He thought that mastering new ideas enabled you to harness and express communication with society and the world through artistic means. Shaw made valiant attempts to educate playgoers by questioning already established ideas, ones that no one has ever questioned or doubted before. He wanted to alter the nation’s opinions on all social and ethical matters, based on his own beliefs. Shaw wrote to change the world.
Shaw thought that the author of the play is the most necessary to direct it. This philosophy can be seen in his stage directions, as they serve many purposes. They created intense background settings and enriched the play with numerous subtle and artistic details. He also indicated costumes and the characters appearance, Shaw often created characters with the personalities of living performers in his head.
Through his artistic approach the way his dramas were presented onstage, he created social awareness in the existing society and the theatre He wanted to express his inner most thoughts on all subjects, with the ability to create an intellectual push that fascinated the audience. Shaw tackled basic issues with basic questions. He regarded the theater as a place to educate the audience, not just entertain them. He understood that the majority of his audience was in the lower classes of society, he believed they preserved the innocence of the theatre.
Shaw never had English influences affect his plays, he believed the typical Englishman only preferred politics and church going and doesn't bother with romantic ideas. While he saw that many in the public preferred not to go to the theater to think, some craved more than just being entertained. He also believed people could only go to the theater when it allowed them to forget themselves. To appeal to all these personalities, Shaw made an effort to cater to the many diverse interests of people through thought, from different ages and classes.
Believed to be second in England to William Shakespeare himself, George Bernard Shaw dominated English drama for sixty years as a writer, actor, director, and producer of plays.
He was an advocate of social justice and righteousness and a proponent of the intellectual enlightenment of people. Shaw encouraged intellectuals to think for themselves and compelled to concern issues of life with an open mind. He was on a mission to bring social reform through his work. He felt it was his destiny as an artist to educate Londoners. Teaching is the center of the passion of Shaw’s plays. He thought that mastering new ideas enabled you to harness and express communication with society and the world through artistic means. Shaw made valiant attempts to educate playgoers by questioning already established ideas, ones that no one has ever questioned or doubted before. He wanted to alter the nation’s opinions on all social and ethical matters, based on his own beliefs. Shaw wrote to change the world.
Shaw thought that the author of the play is the most necessary to direct it. This philosophy can be seen in his stage directions, as they serve many purposes. They created intense background settings and enriched the play with numerous subtle and artistic details. He also indicated costumes and the characters appearance, Shaw often created characters with the personalities of living performers in his head.
Through his artistic approach the way his dramas were presented onstage, he created social awareness in the existing society and the theatre He wanted to express his inner most thoughts on all subjects, with the ability to create an intellectual push that fascinated the audience. Shaw tackled basic issues with basic questions. He regarded the theater as a place to educate the audience, not just entertain them. He understood that the majority of his audience was in the lower classes of society, he believed they preserved the innocence of the theatre.
Shaw never had English influences affect his plays, he believed the typical Englishman only preferred politics and church going and doesn't bother with romantic ideas. While he saw that many in the public preferred not to go to the theater to think, some craved more than just being entertained. He also believed people could only go to the theater when it allowed them to forget themselves. To appeal to all these personalities, Shaw made an effort to cater to the many diverse interests of people through thought, from different ages and classes.
For biographical information:
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1925/shaw-bio.htm
http://www.biography.com/people/george-bernard-shaw-9480925
For more information:
Reddy, P. Sreenivasulu. "George Bernard Shaw - Drama Of Ideas." Language in India 12.4 (2012): 427-435. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 5 Nov. 2013 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=75339082&site=ehost-live