Racism in the Opera "Porgy and Bess"

Essay Instructions:

QUESTIONS
You may choose to answer any question posed in the syllabus or lecture. You may develop your own question/topic, but check with me first. You may also choose to respond to any of the following questions:
1. Consider the proposition: “Porgy & Bess is a racist opera that promotes harmful stereotypes of Black life and should not be performed in opera houses in the United States.” Write a paper that either 1) argues that this is true, 2) argues that this is false, OR 3) argues that this is partially true/partially false (ie, identify aspects of the opera that both are and are not racist).
2. Do a close reading of the performance of “Summertime,” the opening aria in Porgy and Bess. What dichotomies/double meanings do you detect in the song (consider the libretto, the sound of the music, the visuals/staging). Why did Gershwin choose to open the opera with this song? (Optional: How has the meaning of the song shifted as other artists have covered it? (refer to at least one cover))
3. Compare Porgy & Bess with any other opera we have studied so far. Identify one theme/topic that is present in both operas. How do the operas handle that theme/topic differently (or similarly)?
CONTENT: Your essay must include all three of these elements:
1. Explain and analyze 2 moments from the opera and use your analysis to support your claim
2. Draw one connection to a reading, lecture, or discussion section content
3. Draw one connection to contemporary day (reference a news story, movie, TV show, or any other topical subject)
FORMATTING
• 2-3 pages double spaced, 12 point font
• Cite your sources (you may use whichever method you’d like; parenthesis including author and page number is fine. Use timestamps for opera scenes)
GRADING
• An A essay will:
o Articulate a thoughtful, original response to the question
o Deeply engage with the course materials (analyze/explain the moments you chose from the opera and connect it to your broader idea/claim)
o Have well-organized paragraphs with clear topic sentences
o Have a brief introduction stating what you will discuss/argue, as well as a conclusion recapping what you discussed/argued
o Have error-free prose (no typos, grammar issues, etc.)

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Porgy & Bess
Porgy and Bess is a classic American folk opera that talks about love and life. The Opera was written by George Gershwin in the 1930s and talks about the story of Porgy, a disabled black street beggar who lives in Charleston slums. He tries to rescue Bess from her violent and possessive lover. Despite its success, the opera has received a significant amount of criticism, with the critics perceiving it as being racist. Many members of its original cast later voiced the concerns that their characters might be misconstrued to mean that African Americans lived in poverty, took drugs, and solved their problems violently. These characters raise valid concerns because smaller-scale productions have deviated from Gershwin’s original intentions that have presented the African American wrongly.
The opera is racist because it appears to confirm all the accusations and perceptions that the Whites and other American communities have had against the African Americans. The Blacks have always been associated with drugs, theft, and other forms of crime. In the opera, the police are the white cast members and the two officials, who use their position to oppress the African Americans, who are the residents of Catfish Row. Just like in the normal life, where the police conduct searches on Africans, the police exhibit the same behavior in the opera as noted in Garner’s plea “Why do you always stop me?” The reason for stopping African Americans is often to search for drugs and other tools of crime. True to this expectation, drugs is a common substance in the Catfish Row community. Drug dealers and d...

Updated on January 26, 2024

Get the Whole Paper!

Not exactly what you need?

Do you need a custom essay? Order right now:

Order

Racism in the Opera "Porgy and Bess"

You Might Also Like Other Topics Related to racism: