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Artaud and Brecht

Antonin Artaud (1896-1948)


certifiable
1931 the Balinese dancers
Theatre of Cruelty
text and language devalued
return to ritualistic origins
theatre as overwhelming sensory experience
a cleansing plague
The Theatre and its Double
mention Glam Rock concerts, multi-media

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

Epic Theatre
political, instructional, theatre
audience engaged intellectually, not emotionally
if emotionally involved, thinking is ruined
cite Hamlet example
how? VERFREMDUNG, making things strange,
distancing, alienation
to remind audience that always viewing a play
Techniques
highly presentational narration
historification
geographical distance
design (scene titles, lighting)
music (cite Kurt Weill, Mack the Knife, Pirate Jenny,
Army Song)
Caucasian Chalk Circle, Mother Courage,
Threepenny Opera, Mahagony
Berliner Ensemble

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