Critical Analysis of the Theater Paradigm Antonin Artaud

Abstract

This study focuses on the theater paradigm contained in the thinking of Antonin Artaud. The approach used in this study is a critical approach. This is because the critical approach has relevance to the objectives of this study. The method used in this research is the literature study method. Based on the analysis, it was found that in Artaud's theater paradigm there are six important concepts that must be understood, namely: 1) theater as a pandemic, 2) theater as a twin of reality, 3) theater poetry, 4) cruel theater as a performance method, and 5) theater as a human purification medium. According to Grotowski, these concepts make Artaud's theater paradigm a paradigm that is beyond the limits of human rationality. Grotowski called Artaud's theater paradigm a "theater magic". Meanwhile, Brook criticizes Artaud's understanding of theater as something mystical. Therefore, Brook calls Artaud's theater paradigm as "sacred theater" which can make theater fall on the understanding of spirituality.