themes in american drama the 20 th century and beyond

Themes in American Drama

The 20th Century and Beyond

Early 20th century themes: The life of the common man (or woman) is

worth dramatizing.

Early 20th century themes: The life of the common man (or woman) is

worth dramatizing.

Social norms need to be critiqued in order to bring about a (mostly) bloodless revolution.

Early 20th century themes: The life of the common man (or woman) is

worth dramatizing.

Social norms need to be critiqued in order to bring about a (mostly) bloodless revolution.

The past looms as spectre over the present

The 1920’s and 30s saw an additional theme:

Modern society requires

that man (or woman)

operates as machine

People are alienated when they must become a part of the machine

The mid-20th century added new themes:

We create illusions

for self-

preservation.

But those illusions are almost always shattered:

until we realize that the American Dream is itself an illusion.

The mid-20th century added new themes:

As self-preservation, we create illusions, but those illusions are almost always shattered.

The American Dream is itself an illusion.

As we move into the late mid-20th century, we learn that:

People are inherently incapable of meaningful communication.

As we move into the late mid-20th century, we learn that:

People are inherently incapable of meaningful communication.

The mixing of the races almost always results in tragic repercussions.

In Bouccicault’s Octoroon, Childress’s Wedding Band, and Baraka’s Dutchman, we see what happens when the races try to mix:

As we move into the mid to late 20th century, we learn that: People are inherently incapable of

meaningful communication.

The mixing of the races almost always results in tragic repercussions.

Double-consciousness leads to an inherent division within the self.

Double-consciousness results in the splintering of the mind:

In the latter 20th century, we see that:

The human body and mind are fallible and tragically flawed

In the latter 20th century, we see that:

The human body and mind are fallible and tragically flawed

None of us is ever really whole

BUT . . . Despite these flaws of body, mind, and

soul, we must carry on and learn how to integrate our splintered selves.

This leads to a new optimism, where sometimes even we can mingle with angels: