What’s “Brechtian”?

// February 17th, 2006 // My Stuff

Dogville 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.

theater, theater, brechtian, “bertoldt brecht”, “the daily show”, “nicole kidman”, dogville

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5 Responses to “What’s “Brechtian”?”

Alycks says:

April 26, 2010 at 11:52 pm

your pretty pathetic, you are nto smart, you have no life.
Okay, soo I think yeah if you wanna share knowledge, share it.
stop acting superior you tosser, maybe list some of Brecht’s techniques to give people a better understanding, hey.
Zachary Tirrell says:

April 27, 2010 at 7:33 am

Yeah, so… nope. Wasn’t feeling superior at all. I happened to look up the definition, found it interesting, and decided to share. I don’t know or claim to know more than what’s written here.
Sammy says:

May 26, 2010 at 6:36 pm

A. Wow, that guy was a douchebag. B. Nice explanation, but I think the Daily Show was actually going for an alternative take on “Brechtian” like the second definition in a dictionary. Brecht was occupied with what would now be called “meta-commentary” but the substance of his work had definable features as well including jarring and acid commentary on society and politics. Further, the tone of his work frequently used tragic and comic circumstances at once and I think it is that which the Daily Show was referring to.
Rey says:

June 27, 2010 at 10:31 am

Wow, Alycks. Anyone who uses such improper capitalization, grammar, spelling, and punctuation has no business calling anyone else’s intelligence into question. Project much?
Cole says:

August 14, 2010 at 6:58 pm

Hey Alycks!….you tosser…”your” should be you are or you’re…”nto”…never heard of that word unless yo were trying for snot…and in the article he referenced it stated…” Such techniques included the direct address by actors to the audience, exaggerated, unnatural stage lighting, the use of song, and explanatory placards.” Go tell your mommy to change your diapers.