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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 20 page paper which provides a global view of West Side Story from historical, social, cultural, political and religious perspectives. In addition, it examines the work’s effect on American society; its current social significance; the social change that has been brought through this creative effort by the playwright, composers, director, actors, choreographer, singers, dancers, etc.; how true it is to William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ model and the social impact of this; and how it compares to Jonathan Larson’s modern-day rock opera, “Rent.” Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Page Count:
20 pages (~225 words per page)
File: TG15_TGwsssoc.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
to considerable fanfare and critical anticipation on September 26, 1957 and ran for 734 performances; after a one-year national tour it returned for another 249 performances before it was forever
immortalized on celluloid in the 1961 United Artists film production. It hit the Great White Way running with pulsating rhythms, fever-pitched choreography and dramatic pathos reminiscent of the Greek
classics. But the themes of juvenile delinquency, gang violence, and racial hatred were timeless. West Side Story assaults the senses and serenades the hearts of hopeless romantics while
at the same time provokes equal amounts of admiration and outrage. Winner of seven Tony Awards and ten Academy Awards, West Side Story is an immense and highly complex
work that demands more than a singular gaze. In order to gain a greater understanding of its importance as an instrument of social change, the theatrical production is best
examined at from global historical, social, cultural, political and religious perspectives; then from a literary standpoint by following the path forged by William Shakespeare; and finally by considering contrasting American
viewpoints, past and present, to determine and fully assess the extent of its social impact. I. Global Views of West Side Story from Historical, Social, Cultural, Political and Religious
Perspectives Surprisingly, the original idea for West Side Story bears little resemblance to the completed production. Jerome Robbins had originally conceived of the project as an updated version
of Romeo and Juliet comprised of "feuding Catholic and Jewish families" (Hischak 267). In January of 1949, the work was set in the slums of New Yorks East Side
amidst an Easter-Passover celebration, and over a period of four months, Arthur Laurents had drafted four scenes; however, but the summer of 1955, Bernstein-Robbins-Laurents deemed "the Jewish-Catholic premise as not
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