Rosa Luxemburg, Bertolt Brecht and the problem of Workers’ Enlightenment
Abstract
The paper presents an exploration of Rosa Luxemburg's ideas on mass enlightment (Aufklärungsarbeit) and Bertolt Brecht’s on the distancing effect (Verfremdungseffekt) within his framework of epic theatre. This contribution highlights three key ideas: (1) the pivotal role of critical thinking of the masses; (2) the nature of the relationship between the individual and society as inferred from their propositions; and (3) the unpredictability of the outcomes stemming from such processes. By scrutinizing their texts through these lenses, the discussion underscores the coherence between their ideologies, emphasizing the significance that both figures attribute to historical processes of democratization and the cultivation of a politically engaged citizenry. These aspects within their oeuvre serve as both the driving force and the ultimate goal of the socialist revolution.
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