''To call for the overthrow of the existing order May seem a terrible thing But what exists is no order. To seek refuge in violence May seem evil. But what is constantly at work is violence And there is nothing special about it. Communism is not the extreme outlier That only in a small part can be realized, and until it is not completely realized, The situation is unbearable Even for someone who is insensitive. Communism is really the most minimal demand What is nearest, reasonable, the middle term. Whoever is opposed to it is not someone who thinks otherwise It is someone who does not think or who thinks only about himself It is an enemy of the human species who, Terrible Evil Insensitive And, in particular, Wanting the most extreme, realized even in the tiniest part, Plunges all humankind into destruction.''
Was he right? Is this still applicable today? Also, general comments on Brecht and his works welcome.
The translation doesn't really do it justice, it sounds much more poetic in german.
Grayson Peterson
The Interrogation of the Good
Step foward: we hear That you are a good man. You cannot be bought, but the lightning Which strikes the house, also Cannot be bought. You hold to what you said. But what did you say? You are honest, you say your opinion. Which opinion? You are brave. Against whom? You are wise. For whom? You do not consider personal advantages. Whose advantages do you consider then? You are a good friend Are you also a good friend of the good people?
Hear us then: we know You are our enemy. This is why we shall Now put you in front of a wall. But in consideration of your merits and good qualities We shall put you in front of a good wall and shoot you With a good bullet from from a good gun and bury you With a good shovel in the good earth.
Slave, who is it that shall free you? Those in deepest darkness lying. Comrade, only these can see you Only they can hear you crying. Comrade, only slaves can free you. Everything or nothing. All of us or none. One alone his lot can’t better. Either gun or fetter. Everything or nothing. All of us or none.
You who hunger, who shall feed you? If it’s bread you would be carving, Come to us, we too are starving. Come to us and let us lead you. Only hungry men can feed you. Everything or nothing. All of us or none. One alone his lot can’t better. Either gun or fetter. Everything or nothing. All of us or none.
Beaten man, who shall avenge you? You, on whom the blows are falling, Hear your wounded brothers calling. Weakness gives us strength to lend you. Come to us, we shall avenge you. Everything or nothing. All of us or none. One alone his lot can’t better. Either gun or fetter. Everything or nothing. All of us or none.
Who, oh wretched one, shall dare it? He who can no longer bear it. Counts the blows that arm his spirit. Taught the time by need and sorrow, Strikes today and not tomorrow. Everything or nothing. All of us or none. One alone his lot can’t better. Either gun or fetter. Everything or nothing. All of us or none.
Jaxon Lopez
Song of the Stormtrooper
From hunger I grew drowsy, Dulled by my belly’s ache. Then someone shouted in my ear, Germany awake.
Then I saw many marching Toward the Third Reich, they said. Since I had naught to lose I followed where they led.
And as I marched, there marched Big Belly by my side. When I shouted “Bread and jobs,” “Bread and jobs” he cried.
The leader wore high boots, I stumbled with wet feet Yet all of us were marching To the selfsame beat.
I wanted to march leftward, Squads right, the order was. I blindly followed orders For better or for worse.
And toward some new Third Reich, But scarcely knowing whither, Pale and hungry men And well-fed marched together.
They gave me a revolver And said: now shoot our foe. But as I fired on his ranks I laid my brother low.
It was my brother, hunger Made us one, I know, And I am marching, marching With my own and my brother’s foe.
So I have lost my brother, I wove his winding sheet. I know now by this victory I wrought my own defeat.
Easton Sanchez
Hollywood Elegies
1
Under the long green hair of pepper trees, The writers and composers work the street. Bach’s new score is crumpled in his pocket, Dante sways his ass-cheeks to the beat.
2
The city is named for the angels, And its angels are easy to find. They give off a lubricant odor, Their eyes are mascara-lined; At night you can see them inserting Gold-plated diaphragms; For breakfast they gather at poolside Where screenwriters feed and swim.
3
Every day, I go to earn my bread In the exchange where lies are marketed, Hoping my own lies will attract a bid.
4
It’s Hell, it’s Heaven: the amount you earn Determines if you play the harp or burn.
5
Gold in their mountains, Oil on their coast; Dreaming in celluloid Profits them most.
Brecht is especially timely, with all the MAGA chuds running around trying to shut down plays. Nazis shut down Brecht's plays too.
Gavin Watson
What do the hushes heard on those pieces showing workers labouring say?
Jace Anderson
Repost from previous Godard thread discussing that very same webm: He wants to put emphasis on the real life images and he does this by shooting them in color, and without sound, in a way underlining that it has been freed from any distraction (traffic sounds, noises of work, and most importantly the commentary which in "original" would dominate the segment). This opens up the possibility of experiencing the muffled voices ("organize! wild cat strike! unite!") as "natural" or inbuilt narrative of the economic system itself, the original narrative of capitalism otherwise manipulated and silenced by the commentator.
Owen Bailey
Yet how to begin? How to show The living together of men That it may be understood And become a world that can be mastered? How to reveal not only yourselves and others Floundering in the net But also make clear how the net of fate Is knotted and cast, Cast and knotted by men? […] only he who knows that the fate of man is man Can see his fellow men keenly with accuracy.
Aaron Jackson
...
Justin Foster
I believe I watched this video around a year ago, I think, and read a post which said more or less what you say, now it makes sense. Спасибо.