Benjamin what is epic theatre

Like the audience, the actors were to be observers of action. This was a specific technique which incorporated not only the physical actions of the character but also a social attitude or judgment intertwined with their portrayal. There is a delicate balance between classification without critical judgment and judgment without classification.

It is pivotal that:. In this way his performance becomes a discussion about social conditions with the audience he is addressing. It creates a multilevel representation of the on-stage action and makes it accessible to the critical audience. The importance of these gestuses in the epic theater as they relate to the critical message of the play and its characters cannot be overstated. It is verbal and physical exchanges which provide the basis for criticism, discussion, and alteration.

The social constructs stimulated by gender and socio-economic class surround a character and when understood on the level of social relevance, they give greater meaning to his or her interactions.

In order to accomplish this greater understanding, the epic theater employs the use of various mediums. The audience becomes unfamiliar with the theater, and in turn the play at hand, when outside media are used within it.

This alienation of the theater production and demystification of the audience enables the epic theater, for Brecht, revolutionize theater. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Brecht, Bertolt. Brecht on Theatre: The Development of an Aesthetic.

John Willett. London: Methuen Drama, Marx, Karl and Freidrich, Engels. The Marx-Engels Reader. Second Edition. New York: W. Reynolds Roberto Kutcher W. Users can use, reuse and build upon the material published in the journal but only for non-commercial purposes. Users are allowed to link to the files, download the files, distribute the files on a local network preferably by links , upload the files to local repositories if their institutions require them to do so, but not republish the files without proper agreements with the journal and the author.

References Benjamin, Walter. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, Benjamin, Walter. Cambridge, Mass. Jennings, Howard Eiland and Gary Smith. Jennings, Howard Eiland and Gary Smith, vol. Forgot your password? Don't have an account? Sign up here for discounts and quicker purchasing.

The relationship between philosopher-critic Walter Benjamin and playwright-poet Bertolt Brecht was both a lasting friendship and a powerful intellectual partnership. Having met in the late s in Germany, Benjamin and Brecht both independently minded Marxists with a deep understanding of and passionate commitment to the emancipatory potential of cultural practices continued to discuss, argue and correspond on topics as varied as Fascism and the work of Franz Kafka.