Expressionism

__**Expressionism:**__ Expressionism in theatre- 'has it's roots in the German political movement that was philosophically against mass industrialisation and dehumanised mechanisation. in Expressionism, fantasy and symbolism are combined, as well as fragements of Realism and Naturalism, just as the dream sequences of the humand mind.' ( 'Acting in Person and in Style' by Crawford, Hurst, Lugering, Wimmer- 1995)

Derived from the rise of popular thought from the new age of Darminism and the movement of Existensialism.

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Go to 8.30 minutes in to this video and watch the scene from the movie 'Hitler- The rise of Evil or Greatness.' This will give you an idea of Expressionism in pre- WW2 Germany during the rise of Nazism. The Jewish performers were trying to get a message across to their audience about the brutality and prejudice of the Nazi party, and the reality of their rise to power in the mid 1930's.

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__Session 1-Research:__ Complete the research using the video and links above for your Task 3 below:
 * Week 1 - Term 2**



Information that will help with the above task : __Session 2- Investigation:__ Why did ‘Expressionism in Theatre’ evolve given the political climate of Europe in the early 20th century? With Fascism entering politics in Europe, people in countries like Germany tried to get their message across indirectly in the theatre for fear of persecution. Show the video above at 8.30 minutes in. It is a great comparison of Jewish theatre during the rise of Nazism in 1935. Task: Give examples of ‘Expressionism’ in the media today. • Ask the students to make a table on the board and copy in to their logbooks of… Column 1. Stereotypes of Politicians today worldwide- words to describe. Column 2. The reality of who are the politicians and what can be their motivation for power? Column 3. The parodies that occur today as a result of what is happening worldwide in politics? Performance Task: Devise and present their parody of your perception of modern politics verses the reality, and what you hear on the internet and TV? OR Devise a scene that shows a parody of one event in world current affairs? Dare to question the decisions that are being made and make a statement on something that affects yourself or people without power in the world.
 * Devise a table to make a comparison of the Realism and Expressionism
 * Expressionist playwrights and Practitioners- Breckt, Boal, Grotowski, Craig, Miller, Brooke, Strinburg, O'Neill. Each student chooses one of these and reports back to the class.
 * The Dirtector's vision. How did the Expressionist playwrights intend for thier play to be performed on stage.

__Session 3- Research:__ Look at these sites for some key points on the elements of Epic Theatre and why Brecht devised such a style of theatre given the place and period of time that he lived. __http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_theatre__ __http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertolt_Brecht__
 * __Bertolt Brecht and Epic Theatre__**

This film shows the techniques of Epic Theatre- isolate the specific techniques: media type="youtube" key="e3ih36zijZg" height="315" width="420"

Modern day Black Comedy- a new movie from actor Sasha Baron Cohen- 'The Dictator' A comment on the stereotype of a Middle Eastern dictator. This is the trailor below. As an example of modern parody of a current global issue- please be persecptive that the 'true message' that is being given here and the bias of the messengers. media type="youtube" key="cYplvwBvGA4" height="315" width="560"

Practical Task: Using the techniques of Epic Theatre- devise a piece on the topic a political issue that you feel strongly about?

__Session 1- Brecht- The Caucasion Chalk Circle excerpt__
 * Week 2- Term 2**

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Practical Task: What is happening in this scene? What is the issue explored? Which techniques of Epic theatre can you recognise are being used? Using the excerpt provided- reenact a part of the play recognising the acting style of Epic Theatre. Include these techniques to display your work: __Session 2- Elmer Rice- The Adding Machine excerpt__ Exploration of Expressionism in theatre....'The Adding Machine' by Elmer Rice. Look over the summary to decide on a scene to explore the issue on this play, (see handout below) [] Discussion of setting of play and themes: //Discussion of Expressionism- Techniques used in the play:// //Practical Exercises to emphasise the above techniques- in your groups for the//
 * Staging- fragments of scenery, single peice of furniture or set piece to represent a setting
 * Costuming- simple, suggestive
 * Lighting- simple- whole stage lit
 * Narration
 * Song
 * Movement- repetitive, styalised, unemotional,
 * Voice- simple, poetic, emotional contrasting with dissonant to produce alienation with audience, political messages, provocative
 * Main theme- //Dehuminisation of the world, in particular, the workplace//. The play was written in 1923 in USA- post WW1 and a time for renewed energy and changes both socially and economically. What happened in the USA at this time for Elmer Rice to want to make a comment on this theme? Who was influential at the time and may have influenced him to write this play? Why does he feel the need to write an Expressionistic play about 'dehumanisation of American society'- this was supposedly a free society in the USA in 1923- or was it? (E.g; see 'Industrial Revolution- Social Effects' at [] and 'Origins of McCarthyism' at [] as historical background- just to begin- branch out and find more reasons for writing such a play?)
 * Sub-themes are explored in each scene such as //the expectations of conventional society- marriage/ human behaviour/ workplace/ social norms and values/ individualism, understanding guilt/ The Afterlife (definition of Elysiam Fields- reference in Scene 7- [].) and expectations of human pleasure/ love.//
 * //Who is Elmer Rice- background in to the playwright himself. See []//
 * //Monologue used with no reaction from second character. Non speaking character becomes the reason for antagonism- unprovoked in monologue (detachment)//
 * //Robotic style- monotone voice and sharp movements or mechanical doll like statements- over pleasant and informative (dehumanisation)//
 * //Revelation of Sub- Conscious state- breaking the forth wall- character talks to audience about their inner feelings.//
 * //Symbolism and Exaggeration of situation to emphasise an issue- numbers instead of names, adding machine, zoo cage, food, graves,// //Afterlife- Limbo//
 * //Simple movements/ repetition//
 * //Simple stagecraft- bland costumes, simplistic sets- emphasis on acting and dialogue.//
 * //Transformation of place, time and objects//
 * //Follow school rules - robotic style//
 * //Monologue to a person ignoring you- "I'm frustrated with you......"//
 * //Revelation of sub- conscious - "I'm leaving.........."//
 * //Symbolism- exaggeration of a situation to make a point- "The Perfect Student'//

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//**Week 3 & 4- Boal workshop Preparation:**// Augusto Boal- an intoduction to a South American revolutionary in Theatre Theatre of the Oppressed Forum Theatre Workshops in the techniques of the Theatre of the Oppressed [] []
 * Week 5:** Preparation for **Assessment Task 4**- Boal Workshop with Year 10. This will occur in Exam week in Week 6.