ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

American realism

American Realism is a way of writing stories that tries to describe the way things really are in the world, instead of making them seem fanciful or unrealistic.

Imagine you are playing make-believe with your friends, pretending to be astronauts exploring the moon. That's a fun game, but it's not real.

Now imagine you are watching a movie about someone who is struggling to make ends meet and pay their bills. That's a story that could really happen to someone in real life.

American Realism is like the movie story. It tells stories about everyday people and their struggles, without making things seem more exciting or dramatic than they really are. It also tries to show the consequences of people's actions, whether good or bad.

In American Realism, the characters are usually regular people, not superheroes or kings or queens. They might be farmers, factory workers, or office employees. And the stories often take place in real-world settings, like cities or small towns.

Overall, American Realism tries to show what life is really like for people, warts and all. It might not be the most exciting or glamorous writing style, but it can be very honest and reveal important truths about the world we live in.