While this extensive film encompasses a variety of themes and topics, the focus of this paper will be its proposition of progress. It will be argued that Angels in America confirms progress to be inevitable and essential by drawing on, and redefining, American concepts and myths of westward movement and migration, equality and pluralism. Thus, traditional elements of the construct “American Dream” will be analyzed.
The first part will consist of a short overview of different approaches to progress employed in the film: historical, religious and political. Subsequently, the second and third part will focus on a set of selected scenes and investigate how progress, and the lack thereof, is communicated in the depiction of different characters as they are caught in a constant struggle between motion and staying put, between moving on and giving up, between living and death. From this, the redefinition of aforementioned American concepts will be derived.
In 2003, playwright Tony Kushner adopted his two-part play premiered in 1991 and 1992, Angels in America, to the screen. The HBO miniseries was directed by Mike Nichols and studded with celebrated actors such as Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson. Set in New York City in the mid 1980s, a time of Reagan’s politics and the silencing of AIDS, the series revolves around a set of characters differing greatly in ethnicity, religion, worldview and sexual orientation.
They include Louis and Prior, a homosexual couple having to cope with Prior’s AIDS diagnosis, and Harper and Joe, Mormons, who are faced with Joe’s oppressed homosexuality destroying their marriage. Other characters are Hannah, Joe’s mother from Salt Lake City, Roy Cohn, a lawyer also diagnosed with AIDS, and Belize, Prior’s black homosexual friend who is also Roy’s nurse. Throughout the film, these characters come together in unexpected ways in an attempt to move out of their crises and transform themselves.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Approaches to Progress in Angels in America
- 3. Halted Progress and Fear of Change
- 4. More Life: Favoring Progress
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the concept of progress as portrayed in Tony Kushner's Angels in America. The main objective is to analyze how the play utilizes and redefines American myths and concepts to illustrate the inevitability and essentiality of progress. The analysis focuses on the interplay between personal struggles and broader societal and political contexts.
- The portrayal of progress through the lens of westward expansion and migration.
- The exploration of progress within religious frameworks, particularly Mormonism.
- The critique of conservative politics and its impact on the AIDS crisis.
- The depiction of characters struggling between embracing change and clinging to the status quo.
- The redefinition of the "American Dream" within the context of the play.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by introducing Tony Kushner's Angels in America, its adaptation into an HBO miniseries, and its diverse cast of characters navigating the backdrop of 1980s New York City amidst the AIDS crisis and Reagan-era politics. The chapter establishes the paper's central focus: exploring the concept of progress within the play, arguing that Angels in America portrays progress as both inevitable and essential, redefining traditional American ideals such as westward expansion, equality, and pluralism. It outlines the structure of the paper, indicating an initial overview of different approaches to progress (historical, religious, and political), followed by a detailed analysis of selected scenes showcasing the characters' struggles with change, ultimately leading to a reinterpretation of American concepts.
2. Approaches to Progress in Angels in America: This chapter delves into the multifaceted representation of progress in Angels in America, connecting the personal struggles of the characters to larger national themes. It examines the play's portrayal of progress through the lens of migration and westward expansion, drawing parallels to the "American Dream" and the myth of the frontier, particularly highlighting Frederick Jackson Turner's ideas on American expansion and the ever-present need for new frontiers. The chapter also discusses the religious dimension of progress within the context of Mormonism, exploring its unique "American nature" and its concepts of millennialism, evolution, and unlimited human growth. Finally, it analyzes the political aspects of progress, contrasting conservative and progressive viewpoints, and critically examining Reagan-era politics and its implications for the AIDS crisis, highlighting themes of intolerance and the power dynamics within society.
3. Halted Progress and Fear of Change: This chapter focuses on the depiction of stalled progress and the fear of change in the first part of Angels in America, "Millennium Approaches." It describes how the collapse of the world on a political and historical level is reflected in the characters' personal crises and struggles. The breakdown of Louis and Prior's relationship due to the challenges of Prior's illness serves as a pivotal example of this halted progress, symbolizing the broader societal and individual anxieties surrounding the AIDS epidemic and the inability to cope with the profound changes it brings. This section explores the themes of loss, pain, and the profound impact of societal structures on individual experiences.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Progress, Angels in America, Tony Kushner, American Dream, Westward Expansion, Migration, Mormonism, Reagan-era Politics, AIDS crisis, Change, Identity, Relationships.
Angels in America: A Study of Progress - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the multifaceted concept of progress as depicted in Tony Kushner's play, Angels in America. It examines how the play uses and redefines American myths and ideals to illustrate the inevitability and importance of progress, focusing on the interplay between personal struggles and broader societal and political contexts.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including the portrayal of progress through westward expansion and migration; the exploration of progress within religious frameworks (particularly Mormonism); the critique of conservative politics and its impact on the AIDS crisis; the depiction of characters struggling between embracing change and clinging to the status quo; and the redefinition of the "American Dream" within the play's context.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper begins with an introduction that sets the scene and outlines its central argument. It then explores different approaches to understanding progress in the play (historical, religious, and political). The core analysis delves into specific scenes and characters, showcasing their struggles with change and offering a reinterpretation of traditional American concepts. The paper concludes with a summary of its findings.
How does the paper analyze progress in relation to westward expansion and migration?
The paper draws parallels between the characters' personal journeys and the historical narrative of westward expansion and migration, connecting these themes to the "American Dream" and the myth of the frontier. It examines how the play utilizes these historical narratives to comment on the ongoing need for progress and adaptation.
What role does religion, specifically Mormonism, play in the analysis of progress?
The paper analyzes the religious dimension of progress within the context of Mormonism, considering its unique "American" characteristics and its concepts of millennialism, evolution, and human growth. It explores how Mormon beliefs intersect with the broader themes of progress and change within the play.
How does the paper address the political context of the play, particularly Reagan-era politics and the AIDS crisis?
The analysis critically examines Reagan-era politics and its impact on the AIDS crisis, highlighting themes of intolerance and power dynamics within society. It explores how the political climate shaped the characters' experiences and contributed to the challenges of embracing progress.
What is the significance of the characters' struggles with change?
The paper examines how characters grapple with the challenges of change, often choosing between clinging to the familiar and embracing new realities. The breakdown of relationships, particularly that of Prior and Louis, serves as a potent symbol of the anxieties surrounding the AIDS epidemic and the difficulty of navigating profound societal shifts.
How does the paper redefine the "American Dream"?
By examining the characters' experiences within the context of the AIDS crisis and Reagan-era politics, the paper offers a reinterpretation of the "American Dream," challenging traditional notions of progress and success. It proposes a more nuanced understanding of the American ideal, acknowledging the complexities and challenges of achieving progress in a rapidly changing society.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Progress, Angels in America, Tony Kushner, American Dream, Westward Expansion, Migration, Mormonism, Reagan-era Politics, AIDS crisis, Change, Identity, Relationships.
- Quote paper
- Amelie Meyer (Author), 2012, The Concept of Progress in Tony Kushner's "Angels in America", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/537852