Virginia Mason Vaughan Livres

This book offers a deep exploration of the tradition of blackface in stage performance, examining its historical roots and cultural implications. It delves into the complexities of racial representation and the impact of this practice on both performers and audiences. Through critical analysis, the author sheds light on the evolution of blackface and its controversial legacy in the arts, prompting readers to reflect on issues of race, identity, and performance in contemporary society.

Exploring the complex history and cultural implications of blackface in stage performance, this study delves into its origins, evolution, and the societal impact it has had over the years. It examines the interplay between entertainment and racial identity, highlighting the controversies and conversations surrounding representation in the arts. Through a critical lens, the book challenges readers to reflect on the legacy of this tradition and its relevance in contemporary discussions about race and performance.

The study delves into the historical context of Othello, exploring how early Jacobean influences shaped its themes of love and jealousy. It examines contemporary writings from the late Renaissance that informed the play's creation, including military treatises and narratives of jealousy. The analysis extends to the evolution of Othello's stage and film portrayals from the Restoration to the late 1980s, highlighting how cultural concerns influenced interpretations. Key performances, especially by Paul Robeson, reveal the play's ongoing negotiation of race and identity within societal frameworks.

This book is a lively account of how American culture has embraced the English playwright and poet from colonial times to the present. It ranges widely, following the story of Shakespeare's reception in America from the scholarly - criticism, editions of the plays, and curricula - to the light-hearted - burlesques, musical comedies, and kitsch.