Posted: April 28th, 2020

Women: pillars of american art/entertainment

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Women: Pillars of American Art/Entertainment

This week we are looking at an overview of women in Theatre, Cinema, and the Arts.  Women writers, directors, actresses, producers and  the work that they and other female artists are now doing is critical and crucial as we see ourselves in an age where the relationship between men and women and how society views them have never been closer. However, there is still a gap that remains with the role and influence of women in politics, religion, business and entertainment. The American view of the “Ideal Woman” has changed in the last 100 years and even more drastically in the last 40 years since the 1970’s when the voices of women and the issues that directly affected them began to get heard in stronger way. Remember that is it only 100 years since women have had the right to vote in America. Only since the 60’s that women have been allowed their own credit credits cards separate from their husbands just to name a few examples….. ( TAKE A LOOK AT THE PAGE PROVIDED IN THIS MODULE ABOUT WHAT WOMEN WERE NOTALLOWED TO DO AS RECENTLY AS 1971) 

Times have thankfully changed and much of that is with the voices of women writing about women, families, relationships,  professional work and the trials and struggles they face in the society that we all find ourselves in. We have seen from film to T.V. to the theatrical stage a huge upsurge of female-centric storytelling, producing, directing, anchoring news, programming television networks and film studios, and even, very likely, a future female president! Remember how Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in the 16′ elections by roughly 3 million votes and came the closest woman to ever hold the seat of President.

I believe this is a fabulous development!!!!! 

I think it safe to say that this class has a general working familiarity with some of the issues that would be important to women particularly including:  fair pay, parenting, working as a professional, women’s rights politically, education, the “Glass Ceiling”, abortion rights, health concerns, sexual harassment in the work place, the “War on Women”, the “Me Too” movement  and your opinions about how women are used as political opportunities. In the last 10+ years we have seen an incredible out growth of these themes, issues and ideas that shape so much of what we consume and watch as a multi-media consuming public. 

For this week in Theatre 300:

Please go to this link and choose an article to read about the role, rise and influence of women in Arts and Entertainment. 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/topic/women-entertainment

Choose one female artist from one of the article(s) provided in the link above and do further research on that person. 

Or

Choose one female artist from this very short list (below) of some very important female playwrights, performers, producers and moguls  over the last 100 years that are listed below. 

Or

You may choose another female artist (one) apart from this complied list if you have a choice that excites you and you would like to do further research. Remember that whomever you choose, they need to be an artist in the vein that has been described above. 

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Topics of discussion would be:

The artists history and background.

How they came into being a playwright, screenwriter, actor, director, producer, musician, etc.  

You can discuss topics and themes that are/were important to the artists of your choice and how being a woman influenced and shaped their Art in a positive or negative way.

 The nature of the artists world and society in terms political, social and religious view of the their time and era with respect to women’s issues that may have influenced their art and storytelling. The political challenges or social road blocks that they may have faced in the era that they lived because they were a woman. 

What impact did your artist have on the overall public, political and social discourse about topics that are considered women’s issues? Was it positive or negative?

Awards, recognition or infamy that they may have received as a result of their work.

What is their list of works or titles through their career? 

Would you like to watch a play, film or television show by this artist? Why or why not? 

Your list to choose from if you do not choose from the  article(s) 

(This is not a comprehensive list)

Lucille Ball

Fanny Brice 

Mary Pickford
Mae West
Lillian Hellman
Katherine Hepburn 
Lorraine Vivian Hansberry
Maya Angelou
Mary Tyler Moore
Jane Fonda 
Sarah Ruhl
Katori Hall
Paula Vogel
Wendy Wasserstein
Susan-Lori Parks
Sarah Kane
Caryl Churchill
Marsha Norman
Beth Henley
Rebecca Gillman
Lynn Nottage
Kathryn Bigelow
Shonda Rhimes
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

Your paper should be a minimum of three pages double spaced. 

You may include some pictures with your research. 

Please CITE your work. 

Proper formatting and spelling.

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