Bertolt Brecht’s Adaptations and Anti-capitalist Aesthetics Today /
Squiers, Anthony,
Bertolt Brecht’s Adaptations and Anti-capitalist Aesthetics Today / Anthony Squiers. - 1 online resource (200 pages) : illustrations. - Consciousness, Literature and the Arts ; 61 Literature and Cultural Studies E-Books Online, Collection 2025 . - Consciousness, Literature and the Arts ; 61. Literature and Cultural Studies E-Books Online, Collection 2025. .
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Acknowledgements -- List of Figures -- 1 Why Brecht and Why His Adaptations? -- 1 Introduction -- 2 A Vexing Quirk in Brechtian Scholarship and the Weaponization of Art-Philosophy -- 3 A Lost Revolution -- 4 Weaponization -- 5 Objectives, Research Question, and Contribution -- 6 Overview of Book -- 2 Brecht’s Theory and Method of Adaptation -- 1 Brecht’s Politics -- 2 Marxism’s Impact on Brecht’s Work -- 3 Marxism’s Impact on Brecht’s Biography -- 4 Problems with the Bourgeois Theatrical Heritage -- 5 Brecht on the Bourgeois Ideology -- 6 Making Conscious Experience Possible -- 7 Conscious Experience and the Classics -- 8 The Fabel and Gestus -- 8.1 Gestus -- 8.2 Social Gestus -- 8.3 Gestus in Text -- 8.4 The Fabel and Adaptation -- 9 Adaptation and Estrangement Effects -- 10 Historicizing and Intertextual Discourse -- 10.1 Historicizing -- 10.2 Intertextual Discourse -- 11 Praxis and Experimentation -- 11.1 Praxis -- 11.2 Experimentation -- 12 Summary -- 3 Freedom and Alienation in Brecht’s The Tutor -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Synopsis of Lenz’s The Tutor -- 2.1 Act i -- 2.2 Act ii -- 2.3 Act iii -- 2.4 Act iv -- 2.5 Act v -- 3 Interpretive Summary of Brecht’s The Tutor -- 3.1 Prologue -- 3.2 Act 1 -- 3.3 Act 2 -- 3.4 Act 3 -- 3.5 Interlude -- 3.6 Act 4 -- 3.7 Act 5 -- 3.8 Epilogue -- 4 Summary -- 4 Conquest and Magical Thinking in Brecht’s Don Juan -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 A Transferable Method -- 1.2 Chapter Overview -- 2 Summary of Molière’s Don Juan -- 2.1 Act i -- 2.2 Act ii -- 2.3 Act iii -- 2.4 Act iv -- 2.5 Act v -- 3 Interpretive Summary of Brecht’s Don Juan -- 3.1 Act i -- 3.2 Act ii -- 3.3 Act iii -- 3.4 Act iv -- 4 Summary -- 5 Courage and Action in Brecht’s “Socrates Wounded” -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Summary of Plato’s Socrates at Delium -- 2.1 The Unity of the Virtues and Courage as Wisdom -- 2.2 Courage in the Laches -- 2.3 Courage in the Apology -- 3 Interpretive Summary of “Socrates Wounded” -- 4 Summary -- 6 War and Capitalism in Brecht’s Kriegsfibel -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 The Photos and Layout of the Kriegsfibel -- 1.2 Epigrams in the Kriegsfibel -- 2 Fabel in the Kriegsfibel -- 3 Estrangement in the Kriegsfibel -- 3.1 Cutting and Pasting as Estrangement -- 3.2 Estrangement in the Text-Pictorial Interface -- 3.2.1 The Verbal and the Visual -- 3.2.2 Elevated Poetic Diction and Prosaic Imagery -- 3.3 Estrangement through Visual Flow -- 4 Gestus in the Kriegsfibel -- 5 Kriegsfibel Analysis -- 5.1 Non-linear Narrative Structure -- 5.2 Ideological Underpinnings -- 5.2.1 Photo-Epigram 28 and the Gestus of Being Mesmerised -- 5.2.2 Photo-Epigram 51 and the Gestus of Being Blind -- 5.2.3 Photo-Epigram 8 and the Gestus of Keeping an Eye Out -- 5.2.4 Photo-Epigram 33 and the Gestus of Going up in Smoke -- 5.2.5 Photo-Epigram 15 and the Gestus of Fear -- 5.3 Material Interests -- 5.3.1 Photo-Epigram 5 and the Gestus of Shooting the Bird -- 5.3.2 Photo-Epigrams 37 and the Gestus of Lusting After -- 5.3.3 Photo-Epigram 44 and the Gestus of Remembering the Dead -- 5.4 What Happens Next? -- 5.4.1 Photo-Epigrams 58 & 64 and the Gestus of Hanging Your Head in Defeat -- 5.4.2 Photo-Epigram 69 and the Gestus of Fascism -- 5.4.3 The Gestus of Learning and Historicizing -- 6 Summary -- 7 Brecht’s Theory and Method of Adaptation and Anti-capitalist Aesthetics Today -- 1 Summary -- 2 Making Brecht Whole -- 2.1 Contribution to Brechtian Scholarship -- 2.2 Contribution to Adaptation Studies Scholarship -- 2.3 Contribution to Anti-capitalist Aesthetics Today: Is Brecht Still Useful? -- 2.3.1 Utility of Gestus -- 2.3.2 Utility of Estrangement Effects and Historicizing -- 2.3.3 Utility of Fabel -- 2.3.4 Utility of Brecht’s Theory and Method of Adaptation -- 2.3.5 Utility of Theory-Praxis -- 3 Conclusion -- 4 In(conclusion) -- Index.
This book examines Brecht’s theory and method of adaptation. It first reconstructs it into a single framework using four key Brechtian concepts: Fabel, gestus, estrangement effects, and historicizing. It then uses that framework to analyse four Brechtian adaptations: The Tutor , Don Juan , “Socrates Wounded,” and Kriegsfibel . It argues that adaptation occupies a previously unrealised central place in Brecht’s thought, demonstrating that he provides us with a unique way to think about adaptation—as material transformation. It concludes by describing how Brecht is useful for anti-capitalist aesthetics today because through him one can foster a new consciousness which enables better social conditions to be created. This book is practical for both theatre practitioners and artists as well as theorists.
English
9789004721876
10.1163/9789004721876 DOI
2024057776
Brecht, Bertolt, 1898-1956.
Literature--Adaptations.
PT2603.R397
832/.912
Bertolt Brecht’s Adaptations and Anti-capitalist Aesthetics Today / Anthony Squiers. - 1 online resource (200 pages) : illustrations. - Consciousness, Literature and the Arts ; 61 Literature and Cultural Studies E-Books Online, Collection 2025 . - Consciousness, Literature and the Arts ; 61. Literature and Cultural Studies E-Books Online, Collection 2025. .
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Acknowledgements -- List of Figures -- 1 Why Brecht and Why His Adaptations? -- 1 Introduction -- 2 A Vexing Quirk in Brechtian Scholarship and the Weaponization of Art-Philosophy -- 3 A Lost Revolution -- 4 Weaponization -- 5 Objectives, Research Question, and Contribution -- 6 Overview of Book -- 2 Brecht’s Theory and Method of Adaptation -- 1 Brecht’s Politics -- 2 Marxism’s Impact on Brecht’s Work -- 3 Marxism’s Impact on Brecht’s Biography -- 4 Problems with the Bourgeois Theatrical Heritage -- 5 Brecht on the Bourgeois Ideology -- 6 Making Conscious Experience Possible -- 7 Conscious Experience and the Classics -- 8 The Fabel and Gestus -- 8.1 Gestus -- 8.2 Social Gestus -- 8.3 Gestus in Text -- 8.4 The Fabel and Adaptation -- 9 Adaptation and Estrangement Effects -- 10 Historicizing and Intertextual Discourse -- 10.1 Historicizing -- 10.2 Intertextual Discourse -- 11 Praxis and Experimentation -- 11.1 Praxis -- 11.2 Experimentation -- 12 Summary -- 3 Freedom and Alienation in Brecht’s The Tutor -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Synopsis of Lenz’s The Tutor -- 2.1 Act i -- 2.2 Act ii -- 2.3 Act iii -- 2.4 Act iv -- 2.5 Act v -- 3 Interpretive Summary of Brecht’s The Tutor -- 3.1 Prologue -- 3.2 Act 1 -- 3.3 Act 2 -- 3.4 Act 3 -- 3.5 Interlude -- 3.6 Act 4 -- 3.7 Act 5 -- 3.8 Epilogue -- 4 Summary -- 4 Conquest and Magical Thinking in Brecht’s Don Juan -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 A Transferable Method -- 1.2 Chapter Overview -- 2 Summary of Molière’s Don Juan -- 2.1 Act i -- 2.2 Act ii -- 2.3 Act iii -- 2.4 Act iv -- 2.5 Act v -- 3 Interpretive Summary of Brecht’s Don Juan -- 3.1 Act i -- 3.2 Act ii -- 3.3 Act iii -- 3.4 Act iv -- 4 Summary -- 5 Courage and Action in Brecht’s “Socrates Wounded” -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Summary of Plato’s Socrates at Delium -- 2.1 The Unity of the Virtues and Courage as Wisdom -- 2.2 Courage in the Laches -- 2.3 Courage in the Apology -- 3 Interpretive Summary of “Socrates Wounded” -- 4 Summary -- 6 War and Capitalism in Brecht’s Kriegsfibel -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 The Photos and Layout of the Kriegsfibel -- 1.2 Epigrams in the Kriegsfibel -- 2 Fabel in the Kriegsfibel -- 3 Estrangement in the Kriegsfibel -- 3.1 Cutting and Pasting as Estrangement -- 3.2 Estrangement in the Text-Pictorial Interface -- 3.2.1 The Verbal and the Visual -- 3.2.2 Elevated Poetic Diction and Prosaic Imagery -- 3.3 Estrangement through Visual Flow -- 4 Gestus in the Kriegsfibel -- 5 Kriegsfibel Analysis -- 5.1 Non-linear Narrative Structure -- 5.2 Ideological Underpinnings -- 5.2.1 Photo-Epigram 28 and the Gestus of Being Mesmerised -- 5.2.2 Photo-Epigram 51 and the Gestus of Being Blind -- 5.2.3 Photo-Epigram 8 and the Gestus of Keeping an Eye Out -- 5.2.4 Photo-Epigram 33 and the Gestus of Going up in Smoke -- 5.2.5 Photo-Epigram 15 and the Gestus of Fear -- 5.3 Material Interests -- 5.3.1 Photo-Epigram 5 and the Gestus of Shooting the Bird -- 5.3.2 Photo-Epigrams 37 and the Gestus of Lusting After -- 5.3.3 Photo-Epigram 44 and the Gestus of Remembering the Dead -- 5.4 What Happens Next? -- 5.4.1 Photo-Epigrams 58 & 64 and the Gestus of Hanging Your Head in Defeat -- 5.4.2 Photo-Epigram 69 and the Gestus of Fascism -- 5.4.3 The Gestus of Learning and Historicizing -- 6 Summary -- 7 Brecht’s Theory and Method of Adaptation and Anti-capitalist Aesthetics Today -- 1 Summary -- 2 Making Brecht Whole -- 2.1 Contribution to Brechtian Scholarship -- 2.2 Contribution to Adaptation Studies Scholarship -- 2.3 Contribution to Anti-capitalist Aesthetics Today: Is Brecht Still Useful? -- 2.3.1 Utility of Gestus -- 2.3.2 Utility of Estrangement Effects and Historicizing -- 2.3.3 Utility of Fabel -- 2.3.4 Utility of Brecht’s Theory and Method of Adaptation -- 2.3.5 Utility of Theory-Praxis -- 3 Conclusion -- 4 In(conclusion) -- Index.
This book examines Brecht’s theory and method of adaptation. It first reconstructs it into a single framework using four key Brechtian concepts: Fabel, gestus, estrangement effects, and historicizing. It then uses that framework to analyse four Brechtian adaptations: The Tutor , Don Juan , “Socrates Wounded,” and Kriegsfibel . It argues that adaptation occupies a previously unrealised central place in Brecht’s thought, demonstrating that he provides us with a unique way to think about adaptation—as material transformation. It concludes by describing how Brecht is useful for anti-capitalist aesthetics today because through him one can foster a new consciousness which enables better social conditions to be created. This book is practical for both theatre practitioners and artists as well as theorists.
English
9789004721876
10.1163/9789004721876 DOI
2024057776
Brecht, Bertolt, 1898-1956.
Literature--Adaptations.
PT2603.R397
832/.912