Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25797 in Books
• Published on: 1978-04-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 294 pages

Synopsis
This selection of Bertolt Brecht's critical writing charts the development of his thinking on theatre and aesthetics over four decades. The volume demonstrates how the theories of Epic Theatre and Alienation evolved, and contains notes and essays on the staging of The Threepenny Opera, Mahagonny, Mother Courage, Puntila, Galileo and many others of his plays. Also included is A Short Organum for the Theatre, Brecht's most complete statement of his revolutionary philosophy of the theatre.With over 32 pages of photographs of Brecht's productions and workshops, this is a key volume for Literature and Theatre Studies alike. "Admirably translated and annotated this book is a source of instruction, enlightenment, even fun" - New York Times

Customer Reviews

A vital set of tools, well selected
This book is a vital source for anyone with an interest in Brecht's work.

It is subtitled "the development of an aesthetic," but this phrase seems to reduce the socio-political motivation of Brecht's work, when in fact this volume is evidence of a constant tension between Brecht's didactic intentions, his own pleasure in writing and the demands of the audience.

The texts are arranged chronologically. The central piece here is "A short Organum for the Theatre", in which Brecht outlines many of the techniques that have since been appropriated by artists, filmakers, playwrights; but the methodology is here placed concretely in a Marxist context.

The notion that a revolutionary theatre should portray not simply events, but the way they are constructed in the social field, and that producers should perform their own attitudes as a part of the wider society, is still fresh and vital today.

The range of texts is good and thorough, and most facets of Brecht's complex character are represented. This book should have a wider readership than Brecht scholars and students: it offers us perceptual tools for understanding the capitalist ideology. Thoroughly reccomended, with a nice cover and a very useful index.

brecht on theatre
arrived as stated but not had chance to readproperly as studying for A levels , seems like a good resource

The best book for A Level Brecht people!
The synoptic paper at A Level is evil...but if you do well on the Brecht section, you have little to worry about. This book is superbly set out and its short chapters mean that even though challenging, it can become very manageable. The perfect supplement to the sometimes very vague drama and theatre studies red text book!