The American Dream in 20th Century American Drama

The American Dream in 20th Century American Drama PDF Author: Nadja Klopsch
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3640471105
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 85

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Book Description
Bachelor Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald (Department of English and American Studies), language: English, abstract: Every year thousands of people from all over the world migrate to the United States of America. For most people escaping war, poverty, ecological destruction and other dangers, the United States constitute a safe harbor where their hopes of a better life come true. Ever since the settling of what is today the US, people came to live in the New World and to lead a better life than in their countries of origin. The hopes connected with this better and happier live are all joined in the concept of the "American Dream", which became one of most powerful creation myths of a country. People migrating to the United States have certain dreams or hopes of a better life but in reality these promises often turn out to be not as strong as people originally believed them to be. Only a very small amount of people achieve the famous idea of "rising from rags to riches" whereas many people fail to attain their goal of a better life. Hence it is not surprising that the American culture not only is shaped by the glorious American Dream but also by the grim truth of its failing or being flunked. Of course, such an important concept deeply influences American culture. Continuously the ideas of the American Dream can be found in television, movies, literature, and arts for instance in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby or Gabriele Muccino's film The Pursuit of Happiness. This paper aims to examine the presentment and importance of the American Dream for twentieth century American drama. Drama in general was selected because of its importance as one of the three main literary genres. Temporal narrowing in form of 20th century was chosen because drama as a literary genre is characterized by experimentation with form and content in this period. Furthermore, some of the be

The American Dream in 20th Century American Drama

The American Dream in 20th Century American Drama PDF Author: Nadja Klopsch
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3640471105
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 85

Get Book Here

Book Description
Bachelor Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald (Department of English and American Studies), language: English, abstract: Every year thousands of people from all over the world migrate to the United States of America. For most people escaping war, poverty, ecological destruction and other dangers, the United States constitute a safe harbor where their hopes of a better life come true. Ever since the settling of what is today the US, people came to live in the New World and to lead a better life than in their countries of origin. The hopes connected with this better and happier live are all joined in the concept of the "American Dream", which became one of most powerful creation myths of a country. People migrating to the United States have certain dreams or hopes of a better life but in reality these promises often turn out to be not as strong as people originally believed them to be. Only a very small amount of people achieve the famous idea of "rising from rags to riches" whereas many people fail to attain their goal of a better life. Hence it is not surprising that the American culture not only is shaped by the glorious American Dream but also by the grim truth of its failing or being flunked. Of course, such an important concept deeply influences American culture. Continuously the ideas of the American Dream can be found in television, movies, literature, and arts for instance in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby or Gabriele Muccino's film The Pursuit of Happiness. This paper aims to examine the presentment and importance of the American Dream for twentieth century American drama. Drama in general was selected because of its importance as one of the three main literary genres. Temporal narrowing in form of 20th century was chosen because drama as a literary genre is characterized by experimentation with form and content in this period. Furthermore, some of the be

A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama: Volume 2, Williams, Miller, Albee

A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama: Volume 2, Williams, Miller, Albee PDF Author: C. W. E. Bigsby
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521277174
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description
Dr Bigsby analyses the early unpublished plays and the major works of Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller and Edward Albee.

"The American Dream" disillusionment in the American theatre with special reference to Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller

Author: Silvia Elias
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3656825009
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 131

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Book Description
Master's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: Master's Degree, University of Alexandria (Faculty of Arts (English Dept.)), language: English, abstract: Dreams are the only universal liars who never lose their reputation for veracity because "hope is the poor man's bread" said Gary Herbert to his people. This is how the American Dream emerged and survived to be a legend that knew its way to people's hearts all over the globe. It is the dream of freedom, equality, opportunity and making fortunes; the golden chance to those who can obtain the green passport. It is what drove millions everywhere to immigrate both legally and illegally to the US in search for a better future for them and their children. Unfortunately, one cannot make dreams come true unless he/she wakes up because in fact they are always too good to be true. Americans have realized that their dream is slipping away due to their financial crisis, deteriorating economy and growing population. However, they had to keep promoting their merchandize, entertaining their audience to maintain their superiority, leadership and grandeur. For years, American playwrights praised America's alleged welfare offered to the oppressed and the persecuted. Later, dramatists started disillusioning their audience; revealing the ugly face of reality behind the perfect dream. In an attempt that is unique of its kind, this research traces how the American Dream (the notion that shaped a nation) was depicted in different works of art by various playwrights with special reference to two towering figures of American literature; Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. Throughout my project, I was exposed to different points of view of both American and Un-American writers. Some stated their resentment directly in newspaper and television interviews while others made it clear through their characters who depict the suffering average everyday American facing reality by illusion. Modern American theatre is rich with these examples. One can only read between the lines to realize the fallacy of the dream and this has been my favorite part.

American Drama of the Twentieth Century

American Drama of the Twentieth Century PDF Author: Gerald M. Berkowitz
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317901738
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 313

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Book Description
In this book Professor Berkowitz studies the diversity of American drama from the stylistic, experimental plays of O'Neill, through verse, tragedy and community theatre, to the theatre of the 1990s. The discussions range through dramatists, plays, genres and themes, with full supporting appendix material. It also examines major dramatists such as Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Sam Shephard, Tennessee Williams and August Wilson and covers not only the Broadway scene but also off Broadway movements and fringe theatres and such subjects as women's and African-American drama.

Twentieth-Century American Dramas

Twentieth-Century American Dramas PDF Author: Prentice Hall PTR
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780130501974
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 544

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Book Description


The Making of the American Dream - the Unmaking of the American Family?

The Making of the American Dream - the Unmaking of the American Family? PDF Author: Christian Eicher
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 244

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Book Description


A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama: Volume 3, Beyond Broadway

A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama: Volume 3, Beyond Broadway PDF Author: C. W. E. Bigsby
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521278966
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 500

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Book Description
The final volume of Christopher Bigsby's critical account of American drama in the twentieth century.

A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama: Volume 1, 1900-1940

A Critical Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Drama: Volume 1, 1900-1940 PDF Author: C. W. E. Bigsby
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521271165
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 364

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Book Description
Eugene O'Neill - Clifford Odets - Left-wing theatre - Black drama - Thornton Wilder - Lillian Hellman - Luigi Pirandello - Arthur Miller.

A Companion to Twentieth-Century American Drama

A Companion to Twentieth-Century American Drama PDF Author: David Krasner
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1405137347
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 600

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Book Description
This Companion provides an original and authoritative surveyof twentieth-century American drama studies, written by some of thebest scholars and critics in the field. Balances consideration of canonical material with discussion ofworks by previously marginalized playwrights Includes studies of leading dramatists, such as TennesseeWilliams, Arthur Miller, Eugene O'Neill and Gertrude Stein Allows readers to make new links between particular plays andplaywrights Examines the movements that framed the century, such as theHarlem Renaissance, lesbian and gay drama, and the soloperformances of the 1980s and 1990s Situates American drama within larger discussions aboutAmerican ideas and culture

The Family in Twentieth-century American Drama

The Family in Twentieth-century American Drama PDF Author: Thaddeus Wakefield
Publisher: Peter Lang Incorporated, International Academic Publishers
ISBN:
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 138

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Book Description
The central subject of American drama is, arguably, the American family. From Royall Tyler's colonial comedy The Contrast (1787) to August Wilson's King Hedley II (2000), relationships between husbands, wives, and their children have been used consistently by American playwrights to explore and illuminate the American experience. This study of the family in twentieth-century American drama explores how filial relationships are affected by the capitalistic culture of consumption that permeates twentieth-century American society. By analyzing relationships within both traditional and nontraditional families, this book examines how family members in American plays perceive themselves and others as «things» in American twentieth-century capitalistic society.