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General, man is very useful. He can fly and he can kill. But he has one defect: He can think.

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
Only bad generals need heroes.
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General Hero Needs
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
What’s a joy to the one is a nightmare to the other.
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Joy Nightmare One Other
Oh! Moon of Alabama We now must say good-bye We’ve lost our good old mama And must have whiskey Oh, you know why!
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Alabama Bye Moon
You can make a fresh start with your final breath.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Breaths Finals Fresh Start
Firebugs dragging their gasoline bottles are approaching the Academy of Arts, with a grin. And so, instead of embracing them, let us demand the freedom of the elbow to knock the bottles out of their filthy hands.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Art Embrace Hands War
People remain what they are even if their faces fall apart.
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Faces Fall People
The storm that bends the birch trees Is held to be violent But how about the storm That bends the backs of the roadworkers?
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Storm Tree Violent
Those who take the most from the table, teach contentment. Those for whom the taxes are destined, demand sacrifice. Those who eat their fill, speak to the hungry, of wonderful times to come. Those who lead the country into the abyss, call ruling difficult, for ordinary folk.
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Contentment Country Sacrifice
For art to be ‘unpolitical’ means only to ally itself with the ‘ruling’ group.
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Allies Art Mean
A man who sees another man on the street corner with only a stump for an arm will be so shocked the first time he’ll give him sixpence. But the second time it’ll only be a three penny bit. And if he sees him a third time, he’ll have him cold-bloodedly handed over to the police.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Giving Men Police Six Street Time
For once you must try not to shirk the facts: mankind is kept alive by bestial acts.
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Alive Sex Trying
When the leaders speak of peace, the common folk know war is coming.
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Common Folk Leader War
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.
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Fool Government Splits
Fearful is the seductive power of goodness.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Fearful Goodness Seductive

General, man is very useful. He can fly and he can kill. But he has one defect: He can think.

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General, man is very useful. He can fly and he can kill. But he has one defect: He can think.

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Popular Authors

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