🎙️ New Episode | THE ARTISTS Podcast
"Brecht and Dialectical Thinking"
with Anthony Squiers, author of Bertolt Brecht’s Adaptations and Anti-Capitalist Aesthetics Today

In an age dominated by doomscrolling and passive viewing, what does it mean to create art that wakes us up instead of lulling us into consumption? In this rich and urgent conversation, scholar Anthony Squiers joins us to re-examine Bertolt Brecht’s radical vision of theatre, adaptation, and aesthetics—and why it matters now more than ever.

Drawing from his book Bertolt Brecht’s Adaptations and Anti-Capitalist Aesthetics Today, Anthony explores how Brecht’s theatrical techniques—rooted in disruption, distance, and dialectics—are tools for reshaping not just art but consciousness.

We cover:


Brecht in the Age of Doomscrolling – How Epic Theatre holds up against passive digital aesthetics.


Brecht’s Techniques and Innovations – From Gestus to the Alienation Effect, and how they work today.


Filmmakers Who Echo Brecht – Cinema that resists identification.


Brecht vs. Stanislavski – Emotional immersion vs. critical distance.


Art That Effects Consciousness – Why Brecht wanted you to think, not feel.


Aristotelian vs. Brechtian Plot Structures – Neat catharsis or jagged provocation?


Sartre and Brecht – Political art as philosophical ground.


Adaptation as Intervention – Brecht’s irreverent, purpose-driven approach to classic texts.


Dialectical Thinking as Creative Tool – Ways to think in tension, contradiction, and complexity.


Epic Theatre in 2025 – What does radical performance look like now?


Instagram Reels & Passive Aesthetics – What does it mean to consume without questioning?


Gestus in Performance – The body as a site of political storytelling.


Shakespeare vs. Brecht – Poetic psychology vs. historical materialism.

💭 “The proof of the pudding is in the tasting.”
Let this episode be your first bite into Brecht’s theatrical revolution.

 

🎙️&nbsp;New Episode | THE ARTISTS Podcast "Brecht and Dialectical Thinking" with&nbsp;Anthony Squiers, author of&nbsp;Bertolt Brecht&rsquo;s Adaptations and Anti-Capitalist Aesthetics Today
In an age dominated by doomscrolling and passive viewing,&nbsp;what does it mean to create art that wakes us up instead of lulling us into consumption?&nbsp;In this rich and urgent conversation, scholar&nbsp;Anthony Squiers&nbsp;joins us to re-examine&nbsp;Bertolt Brecht&rsquo;s radical vision of theatre, adaptation, and aesthetics&mdash;and why it matters now more than ever.
Drawing from his book&nbsp;Bertolt Brecht&rsquo;s Adaptations and Anti-Capitalist Aesthetics Today, Anthony explores how Brecht&rsquo;s theatrical techniques&mdash;rooted in disruption, distance, and dialectics&mdash;are tools for reshaping not just art but&nbsp;consciousness.
We cover:
<ol>
<li>
Brecht in the Age of Doomscrolling&nbsp;&ndash; How Epic Theatre holds up against passive digital aesthetics.
</li>
<li>
Brecht&rsquo;s Techniques and Innovations&nbsp;&ndash; From Gestus to the Alienation Effect, and how they work today.
</li>
<li>
Filmmakers Who Echo Brecht&nbsp;&ndash; Cinema that resists identification.
</li>
<li>
Brecht vs. Stanislavski&nbsp;&ndash; Emotional immersion vs. critical distance.
</li>
<li>
Art That Effects Consciousness&nbsp;&ndash; Why Brecht wanted you to think, not feel.
</li>
<li>
Aristotelian vs. Brechtian Plot Structures&nbsp;&ndash; Neat catharsis or jagged provocation?
</li>
<li>
Sartre and Brecht&nbsp;&ndash; Political art as philosophical ground.
</li>
<li>
Adaptation as Intervention&nbsp;&ndash; Brecht&rsquo;s irreverent, purpose-driven approach to classic texts.
</li>
<li>
Dialectical Thinking as Creative Tool&nbsp;&ndash; Ways to think in tension, contradiction, and complexity.
</li>
<li>
Epic Theatre in 2025&nbsp;&ndash; What does radical performance look like now?
</li>
<li>
Instagram Reels &amp; Passive Aesthetics&nbsp;&ndash; What does it mean to consume without questioning?
</li>
<li>
Gestus in Performance&nbsp;&ndash; The body as a site of political storytelling.
</li>
<li>
Shakespeare vs. Brecht&nbsp;&ndash; Poetic psychology vs. historical materialism.
</li>
</ol>
💭&nbsp;&ldquo;The proof of the pudding is in the tasting.&rdquo; Let this episode be your first bite into Brecht&rsquo;s theatrical revolution.
&nbsp;

THE ARTISTS podcast started in 2019 with a focus on creators and filmmakers, but, gradually realizing that Artists and Entrepreneurship are two sides of the same coin. Also, realizing that mental health is an important aspect for Artists to thrive. Hence, the gamut of knowledge and inspiration has gone beyond just creating to also building , balancing, sustaining and catapulting. The Artists Podcast endeavors to push and inspire Artists to bloom in all areas of their life by conversing with the best Artists globally.

THE ARTISTS podcast started in 2019 with a focus on creators and filmmakers, but, gradually realizing that Artists and Entrepreneurship are two sides of the same coin. Also, realizing that mental health is an important aspect for Artists to thrive. Hence, the gamut of knowledge and inspiration has gone beyond just creating to also building , balancing, sustaining and catapulting. The Artists Podcast endeavors to push and inspire Artists to bloom in all areas of their life by conversing with the best Artists globally.

The Artists: Arts, Culture, and Cinema with Suchita Bhhatia

A profession where Murphy's law is at its best!

In this podcast, we decipher the journey of the makers in the business of making films and unravel the challenges of being in this profession.

These candid conversations are also a reality check to millions out there who want to be in this very sort out and considerably glamorous profession.

New episode every Friday/ Saturday

Curated & Hosted by Suchita Bhhatia 
Brought to you by Metaphysical Lab & Ep.Log Media 

A profession where Murphy's law is at its best!
In this podcast, we decipher the journey of the makers in the business of making films and unravel the challenges of being in this profession.
These candid conversations are also a reality check to millions out there who want to be in this very sort out and considerably glamorous profession.
New episode every Friday/ Saturday
Curated &amp; Hosted by Suchita Bhhatia Brought to you by Metaphysical Lab &amp; Ep.Log Media

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