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I was called up in the war and sent to a hospital. I dressed wounds, applied iodine, gave enemas, did blood transfusions. If the doctor ordered: “Brecht, amputate a leg!”, I would reply, “Certainly, Your Excellency!”, and cut off the leg. If I was told, “Perform a trepanning!”

Bertolt Brecht

The alienation effect in German epic theater is achieved not only through the actors, but also through music (chorus and song) andsets (transparencies, film strips, etc.). Its main purpose is to place the staged events in their historical context.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Art Epic Film History Purpose Song
People who fight may lose. People who do not fight have already lost.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Fighting May People
Even the most blockheaded bureaucrat, provided he loves peace, is a greater lover of the arts than any so-called art-lover who loves the arts of war.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Even Greater Love Lover Peace Provided War
Let nothing be called natural In an age of bloody confusion, Ordered disorder, planned caprice, And dehumanized humanity, lest all things Be held unalterable!
BERTOLT BRECHT

Confusion Humanity Nature
We need a type of theatre which not only releases the feelings, insights and impulses possible within the particular historical field of human relations in which the action takes place, but employs and encourages those thoughts and feelings which help transform the field itself.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Feelings Historical Theatre
Would it not be simpler If the Government dissolved the people and elected another?
BERTOLT BRECHT

Another Government People
War is like love, it always finds a way.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Life Love Military
The human race tends to remember the abuses to which it has been subjected rather than the endearments. What’s left of kisses? Wounds, however, leave scars.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Abuse Kissing Race
Something ignoble, loathsome, undignified attends all associations between people and has been transferred to all objects, dwelling, tools, even the landscape itself.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Dwelling Object People Tool
Here today we huddle tight As the darkest heathens might The snow falls chilly on our skin The snow is forcing its way in. Hush, snow, come in with us to dwell: We were thrown out by Heaven as well.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Fall Heaven Snow
As regards obstacles, the shortest distance between two points can be a curve.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Curves Distance Two
Though the rich of this earth find no difficulty in creating misery, they can’t bear to see it.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Bears Creating Earth
All the gang of those who rule us Hope our quarrels never stop Helping them to split and fool us So they can remain on top.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Fool Government Splits
General, your bomber is powerful. It flies faster than a storm and carries more than an elephant. But it has one defect: It needs a mechanic. General, man is very useful. He can fly and he can kill. But he has one defect: He can think.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Bother Carries Defect Faster General Man Storm
No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Demand Literature Long
Even hatred of vileness Distorts a mans features.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Features Hatred

I was called up in the war and sent to a hospital. I dressed wounds, applied iodine, gave enemas, did blood transfusions. If the doctor ordered: “Brecht, amputate a leg!”, I would reply, “Certainly, Your Excellency!”, and cut off the leg. If I was told, “Perform a trepanning!”

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I was called up in the war and sent to a hospital. I dressed wounds, applied iodine, gave enemas, did blood transfusions. If the doctor ordered: “Brecht, amputate a leg!”, I would reply, “Certainly, Your Excellency!”, and cut off the leg. If I was told, “Perform a trepanning!”

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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