INTG LA387 Revolutionary Theater of Berthold Brecht
This course will examine Brecht's remarkable dramatic contributions, such as his experiments in Expressionist drama, his concept of Epic Theatre and the 'alienation' effect, his innovative incorporation of multimedia effects, and his musical collaborations with composers like Kurt Weill. We will also place Brecht's artistry in his ever-changing socio-historical contexts: the post-WWI generation in Europe, the influence of Marxist ideology, the rise of European Fascism, his American exile and confrontation with McCarthyism, and his ambiguous relationship with Cold War Europe. One of the central themes of Brecht's life and work-and one for all ofus to consider on a personal level as well-is the question "How is it possible as citizens ( or artists) to maintain humane values and ideals in a world which requires one to compromise those ideals in order to profit or simply to survive? In workshops throughout the semester, students will also have the opportunity to engage Brecht's work aesthetically, creating musical/ theatrical/multimodal responses to his plays and lyrics. In the spirit of Integrative Learning, the course is also thus an opportunity for students to challenge themselves to reconsider their identities as musicians, exploring aspects of their musicianship in ways they might not have done before. 3 credits, distributed as follows: Students earn 2 (two) Liberal Arts/General Education credits and 1 (one) free elective credit upon successful completion of this course.