Theater/Acting

[ElectricSheep1203]

what is the communist view on theater, such as broadway, or just acting in general?

i ask this only because a few people i know think that theater can be used to transmit messages to the masses or what not. I see it as a way to THINK that one is doing soemthing important when really they have nothing to contribute to anything. in other words, i just see it as a waste of time.

Your thoughts comrades?

[Invincible Summer]

Although I don't want to denigrate those who love theatre/acting and are passionate and maybe even good at it, I don't think it should be a primary occupation for anyone, in capitalist or post-capitalist society. At least not until a post-scarcity scenario is sustainable

[The Feral Underclass]

Both awesome! Just wished it was collectively owned.

[which doctor]

Berltolt Brecht is the most notable Marxist playwright. He also wrote a great deal on aesthetics and theory. He pioneered a style called Epic, or Dialectical, Theatre, and one of his goals was to show the audience how something once thought natural and enduring, was actually historically constructed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertolt_Brecht
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_theatre

[ElectricSheep1203]

Although I don't want to denigrate those who love theatre/acting and are passionate and maybe even good at it, I don't think it should be a primary occupation for anyone, in capitalist or post-capitalist society. At least not until a post-scarcity scenario is sustainable
i can see it as a past time event, like a group of pals getting together and making shows for others for plain entertainment purposes, but nothing like it is today where we have societies dedicated solely to theater and taking it way too seriously. i just see it as people thinking they are doing something worth while, and thinking they are making an impact/statement, but really it affects no one. like dont get me wrong, i can see how someone can feel inspired by a play/movie, but those are the people who are probably going to be working towards a good cause; however, there are those who rely so heavily on the acting industry for profit so they create this image or message to appeal to who ever is willing to pay.

it's just as corrupt as any corporation. they appeal to two groups, those who have money, and those with the greatest numbers in population.

know what im trying to say?

[Vendetta]

I used to be in a theater class, and I did this project on 'mass theater' or something like that, which was created & used to try and promote social change. I forgot what it was called though.

Edit: Theatre of the Oppressed! That's the name. Look it up.

[ElectricSheep1203]

I used to be in a theater class, and I did this project on 'mass theater' or something like that, which was created & used to try and promote social change. I forgot what it was called though.

Edit: Theatre of the Oppressed! That's the name. Look it up.
see that looks cool, cause its interactive in the sense where people can say "okay, this is wrong because of this..." and it allows others to see "well thats whats going on in my life, and now i know where i can improve :) "

its this sort of helpful theater/acting that i find motivational and actually contributes something to someone.

[The Vegan Marxist]

I acted out in plays before, & always had a great time with it as well. The main thing about it was that I never did it for the money, given that they were free benefits haha, but I did it because acting is really fun & it's enjoyable to be able to entertain people with the way that I act in front of them.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Berltolt Brecht is the most notable Marxist playwright. He also wrote a great deal on aesthetics and theory. He pioneered a style called Epic, or Dialectical, Theatre, and one of his goals was to show the audience how something once thought natural and enduring, was actually historically constructed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertolt_Brecht
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_theatre

He also wrote plays that were performed by striking workers - I think this shows that struggle and entertainment don't need to be counter to eachother. The United Farm Workers also had an acting troupe that would perform skits about fighting the bosses and hired thugs - in addition to being a creative way to get ideas out there, it also helped to ease some of the language barriers since many of the farm workers were immigrants from different parts of the world.

I think right after a revolution, one of the first things workers and revolutionaries would want to do is shorten working hours as quickly as possible. This would bring full employment, open jobs to people who previously did jobs that are no longer needed (salespeople and telemarketers, for example) and have the immediate impact of allowing people to actually enjoy their time for once. So things like theater - community to bigger productions I think do not necessarily have to wait. A worker's revolution should be about us taking back control over our lives and I think this means giving ourselves the free-time to do plays, paint, go back to school, have picnics, or play PlayStation 4 for hours on end if we want.

[Code]

what is the communist view on theater, such as broadway, or just acting in general?

i ask this only because a few people i know think that theater can be used to transmit messages to the masses or what not. I see it as a way to THINK that one is doing soemthing important when really they have nothing to contribute to anything. in other words, i just see it as a waste of time.

Your thoughts comrades?

I didn't read the rest of the thread cause I'm lazy so sorry if this was forementioned but look up the Yippies and the diggers from the American 60s. Guerilla theater!

[JAH23]

what is the communist view on theater, such as broadway, or just acting in general?

i ask this only because a few people i know think that theater can be used to transmit messages to the masses or what not. I see it as a way to THINK that one is doing soemthing important when really they have nothing to contribute to anything. in other words, i just see it as a waste of time.

Your thoughts comrades?

The performing and visual arts are extremely vital in post revolutionary society. Art allows people to expand their minds to new ideas and get inspiration. It is a mental escape from the real and often mundane world. I see theatre as no different than the importance of an art gallery, and surely, you do not believe that Art is a "waste of time"?