Bertolt Brecht
Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht was a German playwright, poet, and theater director who revolutionized 20th-century drama.
A lifelong Marxist, he developed "epic theater" to explore political ideas through a critical aesthetic of dialectical materialism.
Brecht's work combined popular themes with avant-garde experimentation, creating a modernist realism distinct from psychological and socialist varieties.
He emphasized collective and collaborative methods, working with numerous artists throughout his career.
Brecht's influence extends beyond theater to film and literature.
His opposition to fascism is evident in his most famous plays, written during his exile.
Brecht's theories and techniques continue to impact contemporary theater, film, and cultural criticism.