One idea that really struck me in "Brecht on Theatre" was the idea that education never ends. People are always learning new things and changing how they think, act, and behave based on what they see and experience. No one can ever have "seen it all" and there is always room for change. This idea gives me a lot of hope for society, because if people always have the capacity to change, than so does society. However, this also puts a burden on theatre and other catalysis for change. Responsibility comes with the ability to influence; responsibility to know what it is that is being portrayed and to strive to do good and not damage with the art that is being displayed.
One concept that I had trouble with is understanding how it is that the "A-effect" works. I don't understand how the appearance to the audience would differ as it is a "copy" and not just "regular" acting. The process that the actors must go through (of talking in the 3rd person, past tense, and reading stage directions aloud) in order to not fully become the character they are playing makes sense to me that it would work at least in the rehearsal, but how this would actually translate on to the stage as a spectacle for the audience is still very hazy for me.
Posted by brek0075 at March 1, 2005 9:46 AMI thought your comment about the "A-affect" was quite interesting. I completely agree with how you said that its confusing about how the actors talk in the third person, past tense, and reading stage directions out loud. I think we should bring this up in class, i am very curious on what everyone else has to say......like in brechts pieces, he uses these things and i think most of the confusion was from this point.
Posted by: emily hahn at March 2, 2005 6:37 PMI also found there to be some confusion on the A-effect, however, it was less confusion on how it works and more confusion on why it works. As I wrote in my blog, it was easy for me to understand addressing the audience directly, but the ideas of third person and and past tense just seemed odd...
Posted by: Andrew T at March 2, 2005 8:39 PMCome to think of it... I too had trouble with the A-effect. How would you use that effectively?
Posted by: Jacqui at March 2, 2005 10:59 PM