Podcast

The podcast episode is about naturalism, a literary movement that emphasizes scientific observations of life without idealism or avoidance of the ugly. It was first proposed by French novelist Emile Zola and inspired many writers. Zola's writings focused on characters living in a mediocre environment and struggling to survive. Naturalism originated in France during the Civil War in America in the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. It was influenced by scientific studies and theories from Charles Darwin. The movement spread to America, Argentina, and Brazil. Naturalism is still recognized and practiced today. Hello fellow teens, welcome to this next episode of Naturalism. I, Marissa, Dana, Braxton, and Raphael are going to inform you about the ins and outs of Naturalism. So, let's explore and let me pass it on to my classmate, Dana. Hey guys, today we will be answering the most asked questions on Naturalism. What's up guys? I'm Braxton and I'm here with my friend and classmate, and my bestie, Raphael Cheeky. YOLO! Okay, why'd you have to make that so awkward? Alright, anyways, we as a team, along with Dana and Marissa, have gathered info or information on the literary period of Naturalism. So, let's get rolling on this Naturalist adventure. So, what exactly is Naturalism? Naturalism is a philosophy first proposed by Emile Zola, a French novelist. Naturalism has inspired many writers throughout its time period. With inspiration, it brought many books and opinions out to the world for others to ponder. According to Zola, Naturalism is a theory and literature emphasizing scientific observations of life without idealism or avoidance of the ugly. Naturalism is the focus on the natural over the supernatural. Through nature, we transcend the world to discover a higher spiritual meaning, which is the nature that brings us closer to God. So, can you provide more info on Emile Zola? Fine, I'll do the best I can. So, Zola wrote an essay called The Experimental Novel. The essay was the first of Naturalism. Emile's essay became the new best thing because the writing was so unique and no one had ever heard it before. Zola focused his writings on character, situations, and explanations of the natural rather than on supernatural and spiritual. Zola's book focused on the characters living in a mediocre environment and characters would have to struggle to survive. Americans viewed Zola as a role model and wanted to participate in his work to research more and more about the topic of naturalism. Okay, now I have a good sense of who he was. Thank you for that. But now, I have a question for Mariah Braxton. Yeah, what is it? So, when and where did naturalism come about? It came from a giant sea monster. Really? No, no. I'm just kidding. It actually comes from France during the Civil War in America from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. The idea sprung from scientific studies and theories from the big dogs, Darwin and Zola. Many would look for escapes to get away from all the violence going on at the time here in America. Oh, wow. Then it must have been like a real life video game. Who knows? Maybe. All in all, these two novelists brought together ideas for those to be entertained and informed. And that's where naturalism comes about. Darwin? You mentioned Darwin, right? Yeah, why? That name sounds familiar to my ears. Wasn't he a wizard? Um, not quite. I think you're thinking about Harry Potter. Darwin was the scientist who pointed out that not only are we descended from the apes, but also that all species develop as a result of a natural process called evolution. Wow. Darwin was the one who inspired naturalist authors to apply his ideas. Naturalist authors depicted characters as products of their social environment, just as Darwin depicted animal species in their social environment. That is so interesting. I want to know more. So, why was the naturalist time period so significant? The time period was significant because it was like a zombie apocalypse. Are you serious, bro? No, silly. It was actually significant because people around the world, specifically Americans, could relate to the writings of naturalism. Because the Civil War was taking place during this time period, many authors wrote about the tragedies of America due to this war. When people read the novels, they knew they were not alone. Hope was found, and faith in God was endured. How interesting. Next question. If naturalism has spread, what places has naturalism spread to? Naturalism has spread to America from France and even in Argentina and Brazil with all of the exotic animals, like monkeys and lions. Bro, what? You really think monkeys and lions know what naturalism is? No, but it was worth a shot. Monkeys are really super duper smart, you know. Quiet down, Godzilla. Sorry, that's my monkey's name, by the way. He's kind of a loud one. You own a monkey? Yes, I imported him from Brazil or Argentina, I don't really remember, along with his intelligence on the philosophy of naturalism. Duh. But isn't that illegal? Anyways, monkeys are smart, I guess. Guys, guys, that's cool and all, but let's get back to it. The next question is, what are some events that happened during the naturalist time period? During the naturalist time period, Charles Darwin published a novel on the origin of species, which created a scientific idea for many to research. The idea was that humans have descended from monkeys or apes. The Civil War was also going on, which is a huge factor in the naturalist movement and its belief in the crisis in the world, specifically in America. So you're telling me that I came from the same family as my pet monkey, Godzilla, that has the intelligence of naturalism? Based on the evidence Darwin introduced in his novel, we very likely could be. That is so cool! I know, right? But anyways, more about the topic of Emily Zola. So, Emil Zola published many of the key novels in the naturalist period. The Civil War was also a major event that occurred during the naturalistic period. Alright, alright. Let's take a break to get up and move, stretch our legs, maybe go to the bathroom, because I know Godzilla has to because he's going crazy over here. Oh my gosh, be quiet over there. You sound like you're dying. Let's hear from one of our sponsors and the most reliable, Hoosiers Automotive. Hey party people, you ready to go to the party this weekend? Wait, don't you need a car though? Well come on down to Hoosiers Automotive. We got brand new cars, deals on trucks, SUVs, vans, and so much more. Get a brand new Jeep for just one penny down. Yes, you heard me. You can get a brand new Jeep for one penny down. When other dealers say no, we say yes. Here at Hoosiers Automotive, we don't care about your credit or past mishaps. As long as you got the cash, we'll get you out fast. Here at Hoosiers, we'll let you pick how much you want to pay per month. Because we believe that the best deal comes from you. We're located at 37234 West Naturalist Avenue. Again, that's 37234 West Naturalist Avenue. Right next to the Grub Restaurant on the intersection of Highway 69. Or call 388-9898. Again, that's 388-9898. Don't forget, you can have a car for just one penny down. Can't wait to see you guys here soon. When we're back, well kinda. The boys have to go to the bathroom, so it's just us girls. So for now, we're going to play some trivia. Our trivia tonight will be Disney things. You will have five seconds to answer each question. Let's get started. The first question is... What foot did Cinderella fall off of at the ball? Is it A, left foot, or B, right foot? And the answer is... The left foot. Pat yourself on the back if you got it right. If you got it wrong, don't feel bad. Because you only had a 50-50 chance. Question two is... Which Disney princess attended Elsa's coronation day in Arendelle? Is it A, Cinderella, B, Jasmine, C, Merida, or D, Rapunzel? The answer is... Rapunzel. Question three... How many brothers does Quentin Tarantino have in the movie Frozen? Is it A, 10, B, 6, C, 12, or D, 3? The answer is... 12. Question four... How long can Elastigirl in The Incredibles stretch herself? Is it A, 98 feet, B, 102 feet, C, 50 feet, or D, 40 feet? The answer is... 102 feet, C, 50 feet, or D, 164 feet? And the answer is... A, 98 feet. Question five... What is the name of the little girl from the movie Masterpiece? Is it A, Gabby, B, Riley, C, Lily, or D, Mary? The answer is... Sorry guys, that took a while. We're back now though. Braxton, you interrupted our trivia. Oh, my bad. Anything. The answer is... B, Mary. Oh, whoopsie daisies. My bad. Oh, come on, Raphael. We're on live. My bad. I guess I forgot to do one in the bathroom. It's a habit. Oh my goodness gracious. Well, since the words are back now, we can get started. Let's hope they have prepared themselves for these next questions. Question one, part two. Who or what were the main influences of the Nationalist Movement? Well, as we mentioned before, along at the beginning of our podcast, Civil War, Emil Zola, and Charles Darwin are the huge influencers of the Nationalist Movement. The Civil War was a big influence because it paralyzed Americans due to all the hardship, urbanization, and destruction it caused. That'd be bad to live in this time. From here, naturalist authors began to write about naturalist beliefs and the existence of darkness in nature. Emil Zola, being one of them, Zola wrote many essays and novels focusing on reality and the bad things within our reality. Charles Darwin wasn't exactly a naturalist, but he was a genius man who led others to follow in his footsteps by creating On the Origin of Species. Okay, sounds like you know what you're talking about. Next question. This one is similar to the one we had earlier. Are you guys ready? Yes. Uh, yes, I guess. Okay. Has nationalism spread from where it has first began? No, it has not. Bruh, are you even listening to the question? We basically already answered this earlier. Come on now. Wait, what do you mean? Oh, wait, what was the question again? Oh my goodness. Has nationalism spread from where it first began? Oh, yeah. It spread to America, Argentina, and Brazil, I think. Very good. The next question would be, is nationalism still recognized or practiced today? That's crazy that you said that. That's crazy that you said that. Because me and my buddy here, Braxton, were just talking about this. We were? Yes, Braxton. Are you even listening to me? Yeah, yeah. I get it. Anyways, back to answering the question. Naturalism is still practiced today. Naturalism has been especially prominent throughout the 20th century. And its influence is spread to all philosophies. Naturalism has led to various movements and books that have changed the way the world looks at different situations. This eventually led up to the number of people it inspired throughout the years. Wow, I'm surprised. We teens aren't practicing the naturalist belief in our daily lives. And this is maybe because the episode of our fellow teens. We will be able to understand and practice naturalism more and more clearly. Our next question will be based on the authors' appeal of naturalism. Here we go. What authors have contributed their thoughts, information, and options to the naturalist movement? Well, we all know, as we mentioned above, Milos Zola contributed many of his thoughts, information, and opinions to naturalism itself. So let's talk more about an author we aren't as familiar with. An American novelist, Frank Norris, introduced a new view on naturalism to America. Norris moved to San Francisco and attended the University of California where he was under the influence of the French writer, Milos Zola. Dang, they must have been besties or something. Norris wrote the novel With a Purpose, which recognized that injustice, crime, and inequality do exist. Alright, this will be our last question until a commercial break. This is a lot of information to take in. And I'm sure I, Dana, need a break and so does the rest of the team. So with that being said, here is our question. What are the main slash core beliefs of naturalism given by different naturalist authors? Okay, so the naturalist movement includes social Darwinism, objectivity, determinism, and the indifferent natural world. Social Darwinism is the idea that certain people are powerful in society due to the fact that they are naturally better. Objectivity is where no one favors one opinion over another. So no one is biased, basically. Determinism is the philosophy that all situations in the universe are inevitable. Like Thanos. Naturalism, overall, is the harshness of nature. It could range from Death Valley to the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no raft. Whatever comes to mind that is bad in the natural world is what naturalism is all about. This is why the Civil War had such a huge impact on naturalism. Dang, that was a lot. Anyway, let's take a break. Here's an ad. Are you craving a snack? Are you a lover of spicy snacks? You want something that will make your mouth go numb from the heat? Well, go on down to your local supermarket and pick up a bag of Takis Fuego. Mmm, can't you just hear that clench in your mouth? Takis are designed to fill you up, making it the perfect snack food. After many years of research, we here at Takis Incorporated have found out that the cylinder shape fits perfectly into your mouth. What does that mean? It means that it's the perfect bite-sized food. Now here's a real question. Can you handle the heat? We are not responsible for any harm or conditions that may come to you from consuming our product. Be at your own risk. Call 488-FIRE. That's 488-FIRE for any question. Again, we are not responsible for any harm or conditions that may come to you from consuming our product. Be at your own risk. Call 488-FIRE. That's 488-FIRE for any question. That was some good stuff right there, let me tell you. Now, I'm hungry for some Takis. Only a few more questions to go. That's right. The next one up is, how does literature during the time of naturalism affect other aspects of life? Naturalism is meant to illustrate the dominance of environmental conditions in human life and on individual characters. So, with that being said, many authors based their writings on the conditions of an individual or the group in an environment. Those who read these novels and essays could relate to them. We gotta get this episode rolling, guys. It's almost lunchtime and we don't want to miss that or who knows how cranky Raphael will be. Guys, I'm super hungry right now. I could eat a whole whale. Anyway, next question is, what do people today think about naturalism? Today, people think about naturalism as one of the oldest sciences or philosophies that remain. We are completely inclined to the natural world and most would agree with the beliefs of naturalism. This is so true. We are natural, not supernatural. So, it is accurate to believe that most people agree with naturalism itself. Our last question also has something to do with people's opinions about naturalism, but instead of people today, I want to know what people during the naturalism time period thought of naturalism. Alrighty, so it's kind of obvious that the authors of the naturalist period agreed with the naturalist beliefs because they wrote about naturalism and added to its beliefs. Well, that's obvious. However, we aren't as familiar with what normal American people thought of naturalism. Well, it is hard to tell exactly what Americans thought because an individual civilian didn't have much voice. But, as a whole, Americans had positive feedback to the writings of naturalist authors during the naturalist period. Well, that was our last question. Thank you, Braxton and Raphael, for informing us about the development of naturalism. And thank you all for watching. We hope you have a wonderful day and consider the ways of naturalism. Now let's go get some chicken nuggets. Why can't we get pizza with Takis on top of it? Or like maybe a nice cold soda? Maybe, uh... Maybe let's just eat chicken nuggets. Yeah, I was about to say, pizza with Takis on top of it? That sounds disgusting. Anyways, bye. See ya. Peace. See ya on the flip side. Sike! You guys actually saw it? You guys are so dumb. Anyways, I got a personal question for the people here, our staff. So that's Braxton, Dana, and Marissa. What are your opinions on naturalism? Personally, not knowing too much about naturalism before we started this whole podcast and research, I wasn't really sure about it, but now after getting to know the topic and learning more about it, and learning about its authors and where it came from, I really enjoyed it and I love talking to you guys and informing you guys more about it. So here's Dana on her opinions. Well, I think that overall the topic has been a little confusing, but after a while, I can see that the impact it had on the people, and learning about each creator and author that was involved, it gave me a different perspective on the impact the world, like the Civil War and nature and everything superficial has on humans and civilians. So let me pass it on to Marissa. Yeah, naturalism is kind of dope, but at the same time it's kind of weird looking at the evil things, you know, evil of the world. Yeah, so yeah, here's Raphael. Alright guys, so I guess it's circled back to me, but personally, I just got the script and I just read it. So anyways, this is for real now. Goodbye guys.