Wikipedia:Peer review/Epic theatre/archive1

Epic theatre

This peer review discussion has been closed.
I've listed this article for peer review because… I would like feedback as to what exactly, a reader, would like to learn about Epic Theatre. I have deleted the sub header "Dialectical" Theatre because I thought it was redundant. And I have added more about why Epic Theatre came about. I would like to know where else I should add substance.

Thanks, Marisela Grajeda Gonzalez (talk) 18:31, 11 April 2015 (UTC) Marisela Grajeda Gonzalez

Hi Marisela. Here is my feedback:

• Your lead section is a bit lengthy. I think you can turn some of the content into additional section, particularly the last paragraph on what Brecht was rupturing from.
• As to organization, you might consider using sub-headings under Techniques, so that your readers might better navigate to certain techniques of interest.
• Your use of notes and sources confuses me a bit. I'm not sure that how you cited is standard for Wikipedia or not. You may want to consult Amy. I just use the reference maker and it gives me the numbers like your notes section has.
• To answer your question about content, you cover the basics well. I think you could add information on the epic theatre practices of others you list in the lead, particularly Piscator. Did his theatre differ from Brecht's? If so, how? I also think gestus needs to be explored at least a bit in your techniques section, even though you list it in the lead and direct to its own page.
• Your readability is is excellent. It was very easy to understand what you were discussing and you incorporated quotes nicely.

Keep up the good work! Jcbjaw12 (talk) 14:00, 14 April 2015 (UTC)

Hi Marisela:

• I agree with Jcbjaw12's comment that the lead section could become separate sections. I would suggest at least creating a specific Brecht section since he was the most popular user of the form.
• Three things I'd find interesting to add to this article if you thought it appropriate: expanding on Verfremdungseffekt and it's use in epic theater, any specific actors associated with Epic Theater, and what popular theater was like before and during the emergence of Epic Theater.
• You have a great number of books cited and quotes noted, are there any relevant websites or journal articles online that people reading the wiki article can reference immediately?
• As it is this is a very informative and well written article.

Croussos (talk) 21:47, 15 April 2015 (UTC)

Comments by MJ94

Lede

• The lede serves as an introduction to the article and a summary of its most important aspects; for that reason, I think that the current lede could be broken into separate sections.
• Complacent doesn't need to be bolded.

History

• Epic theatre does not need to be bolded.
• "The term epic theater comes from Erwin Piscator who coined it during his first year as Director of Berlin's Volksbühne (1924-1927)." The phrase "epic theater" should be surrounded by quotations.
• Please see Wikipedia:Quotations on how to incorporate quotations into articles.
• "One of the most important techniques Brecht developed to perform epic theater is the Verfremdungseffekt, or the "alienation" effect." Be careful with puffery.
• Again, epic theatre does not need to be bolded.
• The first paragraph reads like a large chunk of text. Can you split it up a bit?

Techniques

• This section definitely needs more citations; I don't see any.
• Subheadings may be useful here.

I am concerned about grammar and style in this article; while it is clear that you have put a lot of effort into research, I think it could benefit from a copyedit and additional sourcing. I also notice that you use "theater" and "theatre" interchangeably throughout the article. Can you pick one and use it consistently? Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. MJ94 (talk) 21:11, 28 April 2015 (UTC)