Hey there!
Sorry if you've felt a bit alienated from this
due to my falling behind.
I've never opened a show December 1st while this
challenge was happening.
It's... overwhelming.
Anyway- let's REEXAMINE Verfremdungseffekt
or Alienation effect
"Brecht
saw that these audiences were manipulated by theater technology — beautiful,
realistic sets, cleverly naturalistic lighting, the imaginary fourth wall, and
most importantly, emotionally effusive acting techniques. He soon watched with
horror as the Nazi movement gained popular support in his country with its
racist, xenophobic demagoguery, relying on similar emotional manipulation.
Emotional manipulation was, to him, Enemy Number One of human decency.
It was in
this context that Brecht developed his theory of Verfremdungseffekt, also known
as V-effekt, alienation effect, or distantiation effect. (Important disclaimer:
there is compelling evidence that many of Brecht’s greatest ideas were
developed in uncredited cooperation with his artistic partners).
The
alienation effect attempts to combat emotional manipulation in the theater,
replacing it with an entertaining or surprising jolt. "
So like the
whole point of Western Cinema Blockbusters is usually the exact kind of thing
that Brecht would have hated- identifying with superheroes that have unlimited
power acting with questionable morality and without the consent of the populace
as an example.
ANYWAY
Let's
remember that in order for an alienation effect to be a VERB and not like...
just super boring theater with no emotional (and therefor no THEATRICAL arc)...
you need to pull people in! You need to have the puppy's head on the chopping
block ready to strike as you talk about the importance of self-determination in
politics... or whatever.
Formula:
hugely compelling moment that draws immediate and inherent investment-
INTERRUPTED to alienate and then deliver some other INTELLECTUAL message. Then
resolve the moment smartly in conjunction with the intellectual content.
Go for it.
************
And... one last chunk of
the Jeffrey/Duncan arc, reworked, and turned into something more like a real
scene to conclude their issues...
************
The wiccan supply store.
JEFFREY enters, finding DUNCAN behind the counter,
package in hand.
DUNCAN
As
promised, the last piece of the puzzle.
JEFFREY
What
do I owe you?
DUNCAN
You
left me your card, remember? It's taken
care of. Here's the receipt.
JEFFREY
Isn't
there supposed to be a delivery charge or something?
DUNCAN
Guy
owes me a favor.
JEFFREY
I
get the feeling a lot of people owe you.
DUNCAN
What
can I say? I'm a helpful guy.
JEFFREY
You
said no one likes being second choice.
DUNCAN
We
don't have to do this now.
JEFFREY
What
can I say? I owe you. So - ?
DUNCAN
No
one should settle for being second choice.
Or
settle *for* their second choice, not if there's someone else they really want
instead.
JEFFREY
But
what if that person isn't an option.
DUNCAN
Then
hopefully you can let them go.
JEFFREY
Nobody
gets their first choice though, not really.
I
mean, sure, some people settle down with their childhood sweetheart but very
very few.
DUNCAN
You
saying they only call it first love because there's a second?
JEFFREY
Kind
of.
DUNCAN
You're
dodging the issue.
You
shouldn't have to talk yourself into liking someone.
JEFFREY
I
think you're selling yourself short.
DUNCAN
(introducing the pot to the kettle it's
calling black)
Pot,
Kettle. Kettle, Pot.
JEFFREY
Duncan
-
DUNCAN
I've
been burned before. OK? A lot. I'm trying to develop a better
self-preservation instinct.
JEFFREY
Which
is admirable.
But
we all go through a lot of people, a lot of choices, some of whom are good for
us, some of whom aren't.
But
they all help make us who we are, for better or worse.
So
hopefully you've made enough mistakes by the time the right person comes along
that you can appreciate them when they're standing right in front of you.
And
you can convince them you're the right person for them, too.
Look,
neither of us is the other's first, or fourth, or even 20th choice -
DUNCAN
Just
how many people have you dated?
JEFFREY
Shut
up, I'm trying to be romantically realistic here.
DUNCAN
OK,
continue.
JEFFREY
You're
not my first. But would you like to take
a shot at being my last?
DUNCAN
You're
getting better at this.
JEFFREY
That
mean a kiss is in my future?
DUNCAN
I
have to tell you everything?
JEFFREY
No.
DUNCAN
Well?
They kiss.
DUNCAN (cont'd)
Finally.
JEFFREY
You
could just ask, you know.
DUNCAN
Chemistry
lessons? You need chemistry lessons, as
well as the wiccan/pagan lessons?
JEFFREY
Apparently.
DUNCAN
If
I'm standing this close to you -
JEFFREY
Yeah.
DUNCAN
Which,
in my capacity as a store employee, is clearly unprofessional -
JEFFREY
Yeah.
DUNCAN
So
far inside your personal space as to be uncomfortable -
JEFFREY
Yeah.
DUNCAN
That
probably means I want to lay hands on you.
JEFFREY
Oh.
DUNCAN
So,
you would be within your rights to kiss me.
JEFFREY
I
see.
DUNCAN
Unless
I tell you not to.
JEFFREY
Are
you telling me not to?
DUNCAN
No.
JEFFREY
Good
to know.
They kiss again.
DUNCAN
Teaching
you how to be less socially awkward is going to be frustrating.
JEFFREY
But
it's kinda fun, so far, right?
DUNCAN
Don't
push your luck.
They kiss again.
DUNCAN
I
can help you.
JEFFREY
Yes,
we've established that.
DUNCAN
I
mean, with the magic.
JEFFREY
And
I'm grateful, I really am. We'd be so
screwed if you weren't -
DUNCAN
I
don't mean just with this particular incident.
JEFFREY
Oh.
DUNCAN
I
mean, if you want to learn.
The
pagan stuff, the Wiccan stuff.
I
can help.
I've
been there.
I
remember what it was like to be the newbie.
It
wasn't that long ago.
JEFFREY
Yeah. That'd be -
DUNCAN
And
you don't need a love spell.
With
me.
I
see you.
JEFFREY
Oh.
DUNCAN
If
you want.
JEFFREY
Yes. Absolutely.
I mean, I see you, too.
DUNCAN
Good.
I'll
try to keep the bossy mentor stuff and the boyfriend stuff separate.
JEFFREY
Love's
hard enough -
DUNCAN
Yeah.
(to be continued)
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