Sam Beyda Writ 015 Brecht and Twilight Los Angeles 1992: Rough Draft
”The performance’s origins lie in an incident that can be judged one way or another, that may repeat itself in different forms and is not finished but is bound to have consequences, so that’s this judgement has some significance”(Bertolt Brecht 5). The ultimate goal of Bertolt Brecht’s “Epic Theatre” is to portray a socially relevant event objectively in order to induce an audience’s objective thoughts about that critical topic. Brecht would be proud upon reading/listening to Anna Devere Smith’s dazzling Twilight Los Angeles, 1992(book and film) which proves to be brilliant works that function as a modern form of Brechtian theatre. Smith’s works attempt to humanize …show more content…
Similar to the constant page breaks and different chapters/titles, the use of real-footage acts as a means to get plot moving, while also gives us background information and a breathe of fresh air of non-Ann Devere Smith impersonations. Moreover, these non-Smith impersonations (we see the actual Queen Malkah, Maxine Waters, and a roundtable full of important characters) provide a distinct contrast to the Smith portrayal of these people. By being able to see actual counterpart of people behind the performance, us (as the audience) are able to accentuate the differences between the two, and always have the consciousness that we are looking at Smith and a social film, not a movie theatre …show more content…
We first witness this with regards to the death of Latasha Harlins (17:00-20:38). Smith first performs as Charles Lloyd (who acts as defendant for liquor store owner), then morphs into Queen Malkah (who launches a diatribe against the cowardliness of Charles Lloyd, and eventually Joo Wang Yang (a former liquor store owner). Throughout the entire two-minute scene, all Smith does to change characters is a different tone, and maybe a hat/earing change. This abundance of perspectives from all angles gives the audience ample resources to come to their own conclusion (which is the goal of epic theatre). In addition, This form of “mashups” also appears with regard to Daryl Gates’ seemingly lack of empathy to riots(Smith portrays Gates, Steinbaum, and Mrs. Park, 34:00-36:00), and the role of Latino Community during this tumultuous period(Smith portrays Federico Sandoval, Rueben Martinez, 36:00-38:00). Nevertheless, while it is not necessary that we delve into specifics, it’s imperative we note that again and again Anna Devere Smith’s objectivity is clear as she never pushes a single opinion down our throat, letting us be the jurors. Whether it be the book or the film, Smith uses different modes to achieve the same outcome of
”The performance’s origins lie in an incident that can be judged one way or another, that may repeat itself in different forms and is not finished but is bound to have consequences, so that’s this judgement has some significance”(Bertolt Brecht 5). The ultimate goal of Bertolt Brecht’s “Epic Theatre” is to portray a socially relevant event objectively in order to induce an audience’s objective thoughts about that critical topic. Brecht would be proud upon reading/listening to Anna Devere Smith’s dazzling Twilight Los Angeles, 1992(book and film) which proves to be brilliant works that function as a modern form of Brechtian theatre. Smith’s works attempt to humanize …show more content…
Similar to the constant page breaks and different chapters/titles, the use of real-footage acts as a means to get plot moving, while also gives us background information and a breathe of fresh air of non-Ann Devere Smith impersonations. Moreover, these non-Smith impersonations (we see the actual Queen Malkah, Maxine Waters, and a roundtable full of important characters) provide a distinct contrast to the Smith portrayal of these people. By being able to see actual counterpart of people behind the performance, us (as the audience) are able to accentuate the differences between the two, and always have the consciousness that we are looking at Smith and a social film, not a movie theatre …show more content…
We first witness this with regards to the death of Latasha Harlins (17:00-20:38). Smith first performs as Charles Lloyd (who acts as defendant for liquor store owner), then morphs into Queen Malkah (who launches a diatribe against the cowardliness of Charles Lloyd, and eventually Joo Wang Yang (a former liquor store owner). Throughout the entire two-minute scene, all Smith does to change characters is a different tone, and maybe a hat/earing change. This abundance of perspectives from all angles gives the audience ample resources to come to their own conclusion (which is the goal of epic theatre). In addition, This form of “mashups” also appears with regard to Daryl Gates’ seemingly lack of empathy to riots(Smith portrays Gates, Steinbaum, and Mrs. Park, 34:00-36:00), and the role of Latino Community during this tumultuous period(Smith portrays Federico Sandoval, Rueben Martinez, 36:00-38:00). Nevertheless, while it is not necessary that we delve into specifics, it’s imperative we note that again and again Anna Devere Smith’s objectivity is clear as she never pushes a single opinion down our throat, letting us be the jurors. Whether it be the book or the film, Smith uses different modes to achieve the same outcome of