Epic theatre: experience and emancipation

Abstract

From the Aristotelian perspective, theater is conceived as an art that enables the emotional catharsis of the viewer, through their identification with the dramatic characters and the culmination in an emotional climax. On the other hand, Bertolt Brecht proposes à radical reconfiguration of the nature of theater, advocating for a form that, instead of seeking emotional empathy, promotes critical reflection in the viewer through distancing. This Brechtian approach challenges the traditional notion of Aristotelian catharsis, privileging wonder and reflexive consciousness over emotional purging. Such a dichotomy between both perspectives reflects a paradigmatic change in the understanding and function of theater in modern society.