Date of Award
5-2024
Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
First Advisor
Caden Manson
Second Advisor
Lauren Reinhard
Abstract
This thesis examines the evolution of strategies for portraying Black resilience in musicals with a focus on narratives, musical components, and thematic progression in productions such as The Wiz, Dreamgirls, and The Color Purple. It also explores the historical context of Black resilience as it relates to the post-Civil Rights Movement era, and determines how these musicals display and challenge societal stereotypes and systemic oppression faced by the Black community. By investigating characters’ journeys and struggles for self-discovery and empowerment, this paper intends to highlight the enduring theme of resilience and its importance within the Black American musical genre.
Recommended Citation
Murphy, Maegan, "Melodies of Strength: Exploring Black Resilience in American Musicals" (2024). Theatre Thesis - Written Thesis. 24.
https://digitalcommons.slc.edu/theatre_written/24