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What is the difference between a type and an individual character in Baker (1919), when is a type enough, and what does he add to Archer's character-drawing versus psychology?

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Baker opens Chapter VII with a history: drama moves from abstractions through types to individualized characters, and he calls individualization the sign of developing art. His own claims: type characterization assumes one dominant trait can stand for a person, a premise he calls false; types last because they are easy to understand and imitate and suffice for farce and melodrama; individualization is harder for the audience and far harder to write. He quotes Archer's distinction between character drawing and psychology and applies it: most good drama draws character, only great work explores it. He allows a dramatist to select the traits his play needs (Cyrano), and says to judge by whether the author aims at a rounded figure or chosen aspects.

Baker opens Chapter VII with a history: drama moves from abstractions through types to individualized characters, and he calls individualization the sign of developing art. His own claims: type characterization assumes one dominant trait can stand for a person, a premise he calls false; types last because they are easy to understand and imitate and suffice for farce and melodrama; individualization is harder for the audience and far harder to write. He quotes Archer's distinction between character drawing and psychology and applies it: most good drama draws character, only great work explores it. He allows a dramatist to select the traits his play needs (Cyrano), and says to judge by whether the author aims at a rounded figure or chosen aspects. Curator qualifications: Type vs individual; Archer quotation kept as quoted_other_author. Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.
Structured fields
{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/36580/pg36580.txt",
      "note": "candidate evidence excerpts"
    }
  ]
}

Evidence claims

  • [sourced_fact] Baker opens Chapter VII with a history: drama moves from abstractions through types to individualized characters, and he calls individualization the sign of developing art. His own claims: type characterization assumes one dominant trait can stand for a person, a premise he calls false; types last because they are easy to understand and imitate and suffice for farce and melodrama; individualization is harder for the audience and far harder to write. He quotes Archer's distinction between character drawing and psychology and applies it: most good drama draws character, only great work explores it. He allows a dramatist to select the traits his play needs (Cyrano), and says to judge by whether the author aims at a rounded figure or chosen aspects. · locator: candidate evidence excerpts source

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