BRECHT AND PERFORMANCE I

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BRECHT AND PERFORMANCE - I

• VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• This is a big German word with a very big
  meaning.
• It is made up of three parts
• A noun,
• An adjective, and
• A prefix.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• The noun
• Effekt is exactly the same as the English word
  effect, something which produces a result.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• The adjective
• Fremd is the German for strange, alien,
  foreign.
• The prefix
• Ver- is the German prefix which denotes great
  strength or very much.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• Thus the whole word means
• Something which makes things we take for
  granted look very strange, as if from another
  land or time.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• As a Marxist Brecht considered much of our
  everyday understanding of how the world works to
  be an obstacle to creating an ideal, peaceful,
  equal, naturally human society.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• He wanted his theatre to make people notice and
  question the assumptions they carry around with
  them.
• He wanted them to think as well as feel so that
  they could understand the injustices in the world
  around them and then take action.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• This is not what we normally expect from an
  audience so we need to use certain effects to
  make them sit up, take notice and prepare to take
  action.
• Hence the Verfremdungseffekt.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• Brecht used this idea at every level of making
  and performing a play from constructing the
  action to choice of costumes and props from the
  way actors use their voices to where a
  performance takes place.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• Many of these ideas are now part of our normal
  theatre practice but, when they were introduced
  by Brecht, they were originally thought of as
  radical and dangerous.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• Let us look at some contrasts between normal,
  Dramatic Theatre techniques and Brechts uses
  of the V-effekt to help establish his idea of
  Epic Theatre.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• Most plays try to submerge you in their world and
  unfold the action to draw you ever more deeply
  into believing what is happening before you and
  feeling strong or enjoyable emotions.

• Brecht decided to break up the action into
  contrasting episodes which reveal the forces
  working on the characters.
• This is Epic Theatre (see the separate
  powerpoint presentation).

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• Most theatres are special places which demand a
  special type of behaviour and even dressing up
  on the part of the audience who sit in silence
  while the actors do their magic art in front of
  but apart from, them.

• Brecht wanted to take the theatre to the people,
  wherever they are. He wanted them to be as
  engaged in the show as an audience at a boxing
  match, questioning, feeling close to the
  performers as fellow workers doing their job.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• The sets in most theatres are made to look as
  realistic as possible so that you can believe in
  the reality of the illusion presented before you.

• Brechts sets are there purely to give you the
  information you need to understand the action,
  not to distract you with unnecessary detail.
• If a sign will do, he uses it.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• The props are part of the set design and must be
  made to look as realistic as possible to fit the
  overall design concept.

• Only props which are to be USED are needed.
• Props to be used must be the actual thing so that
  the real action performed by them can be seen
  clearly.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• The actor hides him/herself so that the audience
  concentrates on the truth of the character in the
  story.
• The actor stays in role.

• The actor is a performer whose job it is to
  reveal and explain the forces which make the
  action unfold.
• The actor becomes a narrator whenever necessary,
  using direct address to an audience or sung
  narrative to tell parts of the story.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• Lighting is used to convey realistic information
  and subtle moods.
• It is part of the magic so an audience should
  be as unaware of it as possible.

• Lighting is a tool of theatrical work.
• We are all workers together.
• Let us be proud of the tools we use, only the
  rich try to hide work because they find it
  embarrassing.
• So, show the tools. Show the lights.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• In Dramatic Theatre every part is blended
  seamlessly into one perfect whole.

• In Epic Theatre the parts are shown as
  separate. They have frames around them made by
  the v-effekt.
• This lets the audience concentrate on the ways in
  which they interact.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• In Dramatic Theatrethe art is to hide the
  artifice.

• In Epic Theatre the artifice is the product of
  workers and should be seen to have been made.

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VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT

• There are many more ideas and examples you can
  use and find.
• Learn the word.
• Apply the concept.
• Refine the techniques and use them whenever you
  have a point to make.