Dogville: Trier’s America à la Brecht

Abstract

This article analyzes Lars von Trier's film Dogville, examining its critical portrayal of America through a Brechtian style. The paper explores how Trier avoids Hollywood clichés and employs epic theater techniques to address universal themes of domination and exploitation. The study investigates the film's structure, narrative form, and alienation effects, highlighting influences from Blake, Shakespeare, and Genet. The author contends that Dogville uses a minimalist stage design to focus on character development and content, while the narrator's commentary enhances audience engagement. This work demonstrates Trier's unique approach to cinema, blending emotional expression with critical distance.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)