What’s “Brechtian”?
February 17, 2006 | 6 Comments
Twice in the last month I’ve heard things referred to as “Brechtian”. I was curious the first time and read up on it. The second time it was buried in the bottom of a color coded “hilarity meter” on The Daily Show. I got to feel real cool when I knew the reference and could explain it to Sara. I figured everyone should be “smart” like me.
From the Wikipedia entry on Bertolt Brecht:
Brecht created an influential theory of theatre, the epic theatre, wherein a play should not cause the spectator to emotionally identify with the action before him or her, but should instead provoke rational self-reflection and a critical view of the actions on the stage.
For this purpose, Brecht employed the use of techniques that remind the spectator that the play is a representation of reality and not reality itself [...]. Such techniques included the direct address by actors to the audience, exaggerated, unnatural stage lighting, the use of song, and explanatory placards.
A perfect example of this is Dogville, starring Nicole Kidman.
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