Precis--Sarah Knoth

Brecht has some very interesting thoughts on the position and function of theater and opera in the world of art. The main driving force in this piece is that of the apparatus in that opera is the apparatus through which art is created. Brecht says, “the apparatus goes on fulfilling its function with or without them [avant-garde]” (35). This is interesting because, even though opera is an old-timey tradition, the ultra-modernists will never be able to get in the way of opera’s function. He says that they will be able to “rejuvenate” it but they will never be able to change it. I like the idea that Brecht thinks that this kind of art will never truly change and that its “apparatus” will always bring pleasure. Brecht says, “it is a purely hedonistic approach” (36). Opera’s function, music’s function is to bring pleasure to those involved. He continues to say, “the process of fusion extends to the spectator, who gets thrown into the melting pot too and becomes a passive (suffering) part of the total work of art” (38). I think it’s safe to say that this particular sentence agrees with Aristotle’s view of catharsis. The audience is apart of this “melting pot” of plot, music, and with these, emotion. Opera is the apparatus that allows the viewers to take part in the action of the story. Art is active and art is pleasurable in that you get something out of it.