V-effect

     Research on the techniques of political theatre

V-effect

Political theatre wouldn’t be what it is today if it the v-effect wasn’t utilised. Verfremdungseffekt also known as the v-effect was created by Bertolt Brecht. The purpose of the concept it to alienate the audience so that they do not get an emotional connection with the characters and focus on what messages are being displayed. The v-effect is created through a variety of different mediums such as:

placards: This is in the form of a banner or poster and has text that clarifies a scene. It’s relevance is the fact that it can deeper the meaning or even be a double endre.

Song/ dance: It is very unnaturalistic as the song doesn’t have to be about the scene/ play at all. It can be funny but also creepy. If a relationship argument was taking place but the song “All of me”- by John legend came on people would be amused and not sympathetic.

direct address: This breaks the 4th wall and makes the audience feel like they are actually being spoken to by the character. This technique also makes the audience lose faith in the play for any sort of reality that they can escape to.

gestus- This is the one that I think is used most as when acting you most likely use gestures so when brechtian acting I can imagine using gestus. This is when all of your gestures are exaggerated not to create emotion or sympathy like melodrama but to clarify a message. This is so everyone can understand it as it is in a way a universal language.

tickle and slap- This technique is my favourite as it has worked on me countless times. Laughing at a moment then realising what actually happened is not amusing. This happens because the laugh triggers the moment to be outlined and is automatically in your thoughts. For example, You laugh at someone dying from a heart attack because of the characters obesity. The only reason you laugh is because the actors sing, use gestus, placards or even direct address. Once you stop laughing you realise someone just died from obesity why do we humans do nothing to stop this problem in today’s society.