Playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner, has produced numerous plays, books, earned various awards and is well known for his political views. Tony Kushner admits his determination “to attempt something of ambition and size, even if that meant being vulnerable to accusations of having strayed too close to ambition’s ugly twin, pretentiousness.” He places himself firmly in the American tradition of writers who reach for “large gestures and big embraces.” (Klaus, Gilbert, Field Jr. 1475).
Tony Kushner was born Anthony Robert Kushner on July 16, 1956 in Los Angeles City. His father William Kushner was a clarinetist and conductor and his mother Sylvia Deutscher was a bassoonist. Soon after he was born, his family moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where his father ran the family lumberyard. His parents were musicians and their home was full of art. Tony took an interest in theatre at a very young age, when he saw his mother on stage performing. He also says he has fairly clear memories of being “gay” since the age of six, but did not “come out” until after trying psychotherapy to change ...
Just as actors are famous in America today, they were also famous in America’s 1880s. Back then movies and online videos did not exist, instead dramas and stage play occupied the American’s leisure time; well to do Americans that is. Everyone who knew anything about theater knew John Wilkes Booth. Born to actor parents, the stage’s spotlight became natural for John who debuted on stage at a young age. Now, in his thirties, people see a handsome, eloquent celebrity capable of delivering any line. Unfortunately, they don’t notice his didactic confederate sympathy or bubbling rage.
Vogler, Christopher. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. 3rd Ed. Studio City: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007.
Eight Men Speak by Oscar Ryan et al presents a variety of epic devices employed throughout its composition. We see “the essential truth in every word of these six acts”(Foreword 5) come to life in this thought provoking presentation of didactic literature. Through the use of Epic Drama we see the effects of our corrupt government as it is brought into perspective using the epic devices of using the audience as active participants, using narration rather than action , and political engagement. These epic devices play a key role in portraying the didactic message of the play. The play causes the reader not only to be a present member of the audience, but to have presence of mind as well; to not only hear what the characters are saying, but to take initiative if they wish to see change.
Tony Kushner, in his play Angels in America, explores a multitude of issues pertaining to modern American society including, but not limited to, race, religion, and sexual orientation. Through his diverse character selection, he is able to compare and contrast the many varied experiences that Americans might face today. Through it all, the characters’ lives are all linked together through a common thread: progress, both personal and public. Kushner offers insight on this topic by allowing his characters to discuss what it means to make progress and allowing them to change in their own ways. Careful observation of certain patterns reveals that, in the scope of the play, progress is cyclical in that it follows a sequential process of rootlessness, desire, and sacrifice, which repeats itself.
It reminds the audience that while no one could likely ever be as evil as Hitler, history has a way of repeating itself. We are urged to pick our leaders carefully, to take interest in politics and choose are affiliations well. Most importantly, Tony Kushner is trying to call us to action in this play. He urges each and every audience member to avoid the pit falls of complacency as Agnes succumbs to in the play. To take no stance at all is not to be untouched, as Agnes had seen many of her friends leave as a result, but to remain stagnant, to be haunted by your fears and regrets, and to die with no one to remember you. Tony Kushner’s warning serves equally well, whether you are from 1930’s Berlin or 1980’s New York, or even if you are from 2016 Elizabethtown
McQuade, Donald, ed. The Harper American Literature. Harper & Row Publishers: New York, 1987, pp. 1308-1311. This paper is the property of NetEssays.Net Copyright © 1999-2002
In Tony Kushners to part play, Angels in America, readers are introduced to a closeted gay man, Joe Pitt and are exposed to his relationship with his Mormon mother, Hannah. An underlying conflict occurs when Hannah finds out her son is a homosexual; a problem which forces her to question her love and acceptance towards her son and her strong Mormon anti gay sentiments and beliefs. This conflict between mother and son helps Kushner illustrate the complexity of sexuality and the changing views of homosexuality.
Parini, Jay ed. American Writers, Supplement V. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons - The Gale Group. 2000. 275-93.
McNulty, Charles. "Angels in America: Tony Kushner's Theses on the Philosophy of History." Modern Drama 39.1 (1996): 84-96.
In Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, the interconnection of people and events, that might ordinarily be viewed as disconnected or unrelated, is implicitly presented in the characters section. Dual roles are implemented by a playwright that has one actor portraying the roles of two or more characters, with or without thematic intentions. The use of “dual roles” in several scenes of this play can be viewed as a demonstration of Kushner’s effort in maintaining the interconnectedness between characters, communities (i.e. queer, heterosexual, AIDS and political communities) and events to which they are relative. This essay will argue that Kushner’s use of dual role’s effectively interconnects characters, events and their communities that may be seen as usually unrelated. Analysis of four specific characters, Antarctica, Oceania, Australia and Europa, in Act Five, Scene Five of “Perestroika”, will demonstrate the connection of each Act Five, Scene Five character, to the actors main character based on the implicit evidence presented in the actors “primary” and “secondary” roles, the scenes dialogue and the character interactions. As one will see, by implementing dual roles, Kushner is able to expand or preserve the concept of a major character while the actor portrays another character, keeping the audience from having to completely renegotiate their knowledge between what they physically see of new characters and actually use the new context to view triumphs and struggles for a major character.
Tony saw through the prejudice though, he loved one of the PR's and when the Jets found out, they were ashamed. Tony's love for Maria was so real, he didn't care what happened. He died.Prejudice plagues this world now and forever, as long as there is a difference in people there will discrimination and prejudice.
It’s safe to say that Kushner’s “Angels in America”, is one of the most famous plays to explore the topic of homosexuality. Joe 's character represents
Pritchard, William H. "Remembering John Updike: A Critic and His Decades-Long Correspondence with one of America's Best ‘Freelance Writers...’’’ American Scholar 78.3 (2009): 115-117. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 May 2010.
...d the way for others to follow in his footsteps and lead the charges for political content in literature. What once was a field that was seen in a negative context, Spender has provided the means to blend the two opposing forces of politics and creative literature. Stephen Spender will remain noted for his high profile lifestyle and his highly recognized political theories and ideals.
Many playwrights drew from outside influences to compose their works. They would look the era they were living in, their personal lives, childhood experiences, and even ancient texts to acquire inspiration for their works and famous playwright, Eugene O’Neill, is no exception. Writing through two world wars, a great depression, and boom of the motion-picture industry, O’Neill certainly had much inspiration to choose from. Although not becoming nationally recognized until after his father’s death in 1920, O’Neill still managed to produce fifty completed works. Using influences from the 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, Eugene O’Neill demonstrated how he used the era he was living in to help compose his works.