Expressionism in Kurt Jooss’ The Green Table

Expressionism in Kurt Jooss’ The Green Table

Expressionism can be described as a movement in the fine arts that emphasized the expression of inner experience rather than solely realistic portrayal, seeking to depict not objective reality, but the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in the artist. Several characteristics of expressionism are distortion, exaggeration, primitivism, and fantasy. “The Green Table,” a ballet by Kurt Jooss, is an ideal example of expressionism because it depicts the choreographer’s personal interpretation of war through the use of movement, music and lighting.

The choreography for “The Green Table” cannot exactly be categorized as one thing or another. Jooss seems to employ two different types of dance: one being the traditional ballet, and the other being the modern technique. The use of traditional ballet can be seen in the dance of the soldiers with their light and graceful movements, particularly the one carrying the white flag. Contrary to this, the heavier, more central movements of dancers such as Death and the Partisan Woman illustrate modern dance technique similar to movements choreographed by Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey. The fact that Jooss utilizes both of these dance forms demonstrates his unique theories and adds a personal touch to this show. However, movement is not his only means of self-expression.

The music accompaniment to this piece comes from one or two pianos which work in almost perfect collaboration with the dance so that neither one overshadows the other. While no other instruments are used, the melody of the piano changes from scene to scene in order to depict Jooss’ emotional responses. During the scenes with the politicians, the air of the piano is light-hearted and almost comedic. The purpose of this was to show the detachment of these men from the war. They are in a safe situation, unexposed to war and death. When the scene changes and we see what’s happening in the lives of citizens, this vaudeville-like tune is transformed into a thunderous and eerie song that haunts the audience. The reason for this change is to reveal Jooss’ feelings about the unnecessary brutality and death that always comes with a war, and how politicians don’t understand the horror of it.

In “The Green Table” Jooss has made almost full use of the dramatic, emotional and pictorial values of light. The most obvious of all contrasts was that between Death and all the other characters.