The spelling of the word "neorealist" can be broken down into its individual sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable of "neo" is pronounced /nioʊ/, with the "n" sound followed by a diphthong of "i" and "o". The second syllable "re" is pronounced /ri/, with a pure "r" sound followed by a short "i". Finally, "alist" is pronounced /əlɪst/, with a schwa sound followed by "l", "i", "s", and "t". Neorealist refers to an Italian film movement from the 1940s and 1950s.
Neorealist refers to an artistic, literary, or cinematic movement that emerged in the mid-20th century in various art forms, especially in film and literature. Rooted in the Italian neorealist cinema of the 1940s, neorealism sought to depict reality in a raw and truthful manner, often focusing on the lives of ordinary people and their everyday struggles.
In film, neorealism rejected the conventions of Hollywood and instead chose to film on location with non-professional actors, aiming to capture the authentic atmosphere of a specific social, economic, or political context. The neorealist movement was characterized by its emphasis on humanist values, social issues, and the harsh realities of life, and often explored themes like poverty, post-war trauma, and the effects of societal changes. Filmmakers like Vittorio De Sica, Roberto Rossellini, and Luchino Visconti are considered pioneers of neorealism.
In literature, neorealism similarly rejected the idealized representations prevalent in traditional literature. Instead, it focused on portraying reality as it is, with a focus on ordinary individuals and their struggles within social and political contexts. Neorealist literary works often expressed the disillusionment, anxieties, and alienation experienced by individuals in post-war society, and were marked by their attention to detail and psychological depth.
Overall, neorealism is a movement that aimed to present a more genuine, unadorned portrayal of reality, challenging traditional narrative structures and reflecting the complexities of the human experience.
The term "neorealist" is derived from the combination of two words: "neo", meaning new or modern, and "realist", denoting a person who holds a realistic or practical view of things. In the context of artistic and cinematic movements, the term "neorealism" emerged in the 1940s and 1950s to describe a post-World War II Italian film movement that focused on depicting the everyday lives and struggles of ordinary people. The neorealist filmmakers sought to represent reality as truthfully as possible, often using non-professional actors and real locations. Over time, the term "neorealist" extended beyond cinema and spread to various fields like literature, art, music, and politics, referring to movements or tendencies that reflect a revived interest in realism or a contemporary adaptation of realist principles.