DRAM 115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Erwin Piscator, August Strindberg, Epic Theatre
Document Summary
Realistic plays, often so realistic that actors would be performing mundane tasks without paying attention to the audience. Dream plays, everything can happen, anything is possible and can happen. Realism captured a moment passively while expressionism captured a moment actively. Realism used objective reporting while expressionism used subjective interpreting. Expressionism is a direct contrast to realism. Did not include climaxes in his plays, he instead used a series of episodes. Stage was not ornately decorated and every set piece served a purpose. Strayed away from aristotelian plays, which seeked emotional catharsis achieved through a climactic structure. Created his own unique style of plays that reminded spectators they were watching play. (cid:862)i laugh when they weep, i weep when they laugh(cid:863) Confound expectations- distance them, make them feel estranged (alienation) Episodic structure- (cid:862)one thing after another(cid:863) not (cid:862)one thing out of another(cid:863) Music and songs that comment on action. Projected/written titles or text that reveal the action.
