Question

german theater practitioner bertolt brecht (1898 - 1956) believed that theater should elicit an intellectual rather than an emotional response from audiences, provoking them to consider social and political realities that extend beyond the characters and events depicted onstage. brechts influence can be seen in english playwright caryl churchills 1979 play cloud 9: although the play sometimes invites empathetic reactions, it primarily works to engage audiences in an interrogation of patriarchy and colonialism, which it does by placing audiences at a distance, thereby encouraging them to _______
which choice most logically completes the text?
choose 1 answer:
a reflect on social and political phenomena not directly related to patriarchy and colonialism.
b focus on the characters beliefs about social and political issues as revealed by the characters actions.
5 of 30

Explanation:

The text states that Brecht's influence is seen in Cloud 9, which engages audiences in interrogating patriarchy and colonialism by placing them at a distance. This aligns with Brecht's aim of provoking intellectual responses about social and political realities beyond the onstage events. Option A reflects this as it involves reflecting on social and political phenomena (even if not directly related to the specific topics in the play, it's in line with the broader intellectual engagement with such issues). Option B focuses on characters' beliefs, which is more about the onstage elements rather than the broader social - political reflection Brechtian influence implies.

Answer:

A. reflect on social and political phenomena not directly related to patriarchy and colonialism.