PAST

The Color Purple: I’m Here

The Color Purple is an extremely controversial play and novel that portrays the horrors done do women and children during the late 1920s. It more indepthly describes the life and trials of one black woman, who is continuously tortured throughout her life. The main character Nellie is told everyday that she is worthless and forced to be a slave to her “husband”. He tells her what is is, and is not allowed to do. Yet, through all her troubles she finds the strength to carry on and be strong. She sings in her song, “I’m Here” about how no one can tear her down and make her feel like nothing, she is here to stay, and although she doesn’t haven’t a lot, she has enough to survive. Nellie embodies what a real woman is. She does not succumb to others, especially men.

Spring Awakening Play Reviews

Spring Awakening is a coming of age musical that explores how teens discover their sexuality. This play takes place in the 1890’s in Germany when the idea of sex and gender differences was strongly unaccepted. Which is why this play greatly relates to today's studies of women, gender, and sexuality. This specific review doesn’t rave or dis this musical. The reviewer explains how the play wright did a very good job showing the world that teens do have issues, emotionally, sexually, and even secretively. There are always problems that people aren’t comfortable sharing with others, I really think this musical portrays those issues that make people feel more confident in talking about.

http://www.broadwaybox.com/reviews/theater/spring_awakening_reviews.aspx

“Rent” The musical. (La Vie Boheme)

 “Rent” is another musical that raised a lot of eyebrows when it hit Broadway. This play pretty much has every type of person with every type of issue out there. From gays, lesbians, transgenders, to people dying from aids, and people with drug problems. “Rent” contains a whirlwind of controversial issues most people choose not to discuss, not to mention create a musical about. One of this musical’s most well known tracks is “ La Vie Boheme” In this song each of the characters have their own parts in which they express their individuality and sexuality, protesting the normalities of the city in which they live.

Gender Bias During Shakespearean Times

During Shakespearean times, women were not allowed to act or be on stage. Therefore, young boys/men played the female roles. This article explains that women were not allowed on stage until the 1600’s. Shakespeare often played with the ideas of transgender-ness, sexuality, gender, and gender roles. As a result, many people of this time viewed the theatre as being immoral. Male actors that played women got paid less than male actors that played men did.

“More than one male has said that he wished he were playing a man during multiple plays.”

http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2004/sep/16/shakespeares-women/

http://www.helium.com/items/536344-shakespeares-portrayal-of-women

http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/eng/lfletcher/troilus/Papers/CAnagnos.htm

PRESENT

Riot Acts

This is a trailer for the documentary called “Riot Acts.” It is about trans-genders in the music industry. It is a representation of the intersections between gender performance and stage performance. I think it emphasizes the importance of speaking your mind and being who you are. Music helps to really express oneself, and at times can be controversial. When it comes to trans genders, more problems arise. “Riot Acts” highlights some of the issues that the trans gender musicians interviewed experience, such as songwriting, voice/body presentation, performing gender, and more.