Expressionist Theater: Crash Course Theater #38

Join us here, in the darkness. Our theater journey takes us into the heart of expressionism today, as playwrights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries explored the limits of human beings' tolerance for a mechanized, industrial world. Spoiler alert: those playwrights didn't think humans fared very well in the industrialized world. They EXPRESSED that concern about modernity through some pretty dark plays, with pretty dark sets, and pretty dark content.

Thanks to the following Patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:

Sam Buck, Mark Brouwer, James Hughes, Kenneth F Penttinen, Trevin Beattie, Satya Ridhima Parvathaneni, Erika & Alexa Saur, Glenn Elliott, Justin Zingsheim, Jessica Wode, Eric Prestemon, Kathrin Benoit, Tom Trval, Jason Saslow, Nathan Taylor, Brian Thomas Gossett, Khaled El Shalakany, Indika Siriwardena, SR Foxley, Sam Ferguson, Yasenia Cruz, Eric Koslow, Caleb Weeks, Tim Curwick, D.A. Noe, Shawn Arnold, Malcolm Callis, Advait Shinde, William McGraw, Andrei Krishkevich, Rachel Bright, Mayumi Maeda, Kathy & Tim Philip, Jirat, Ian Dundore
--

Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[thebeatisdead]

Expressionist theater, the goth of the drama world.

[RangerRuby]

The person who decided to make Crash Course theater should get the world's most awesome nerd ever award!

[thehopeofeden]

The real question is how this series gets me emotionally attached to a strung-up fake skull.

[Beryllahawk]

I recall watching the opera Wozzeck.
Scary stuff.

From the way I see it, Expressionism was like the echo of all the screams of the dying in the first World War.

[TheHillDragon]

every episode:
*Me:* _ooh, that's interesting_
*Mike:* _... but, we're saving that for [another time]_

[RariettyC]

Wow, perfect upload timing. I have an essay on expressionist film due at the end of this weekend for my university film history course that I've been suffering with writer's block towards, but this gave me tons of inspiration. Time to go write a killer introductory paragraph.

[Hattipillar]

this course has given more more information on the history of theatre than my theatre degree so far... big love

[thehopeofeden]

Ahhh. Mike is always here to make my Theatre Elective heart soar, even when I feel awful!

[jennieivins]

Watching these each week is one of my favorite parts of Friday night. :)

[silentserenity]

I love the way he shoots out facts like bullets lol like a machine gunn

[dylanlundsten]

I've never been so interested in theatre before. Thanks crash course

[linnetwiddershins]

I’m sorry but “sentient skulls” is probably the best term for humans that I’ve ever heard.

[ShawnRavenfire]

I know this is theater and not movies, but I notice a style overlap between this and the silent film "Metropolis."

[ChessMasteryOfficial]

*You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.*

[ariannamonson]

"Uggh, reality. Have you seen reality? Why bother."

Same

[kmglasgo]

"Curtain...but a weird one!"

[superdark]

Example of expressionist acting today: Nicholas Cage! He cites it as his number 1 inspiration.

[ms.rstake_]

YASSS! THANK YOU!! Thanks for not letting us wait😊☺‼❗

[bf]

When are you getting to Brecht and epic theater? Can’t wait for that episode!

[sceptre]

loved the chair creek in the intro, nice touch.