The Importance of West Side Story Essay - 980 Words

West Side Story is one of the great contributors to musical theatre, in particular Broadway where it originally opened on September 26 1957 at the Winter garden Theatre. The production ran for 732 performances before entering the world of film in 1961. However, I believe its significance lies in the heart of the theatre where the audience is subjected to different styles of music, dance and of course an adaptation of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. In fact, Leonard Bernstein first decided to call his play East Side Story but opted against it, due to social relevancy. Instead the story would take place on the West side of New York; Brooklyn, under a realistic urban setting, hence West Side Story. This decision may have improved the way†¦show more content†¦In my opinion, this story cold not be portrayed under typical musical direction. Although West Side Story is based predominantly upon love, there are also acts of bigotry, attempted rape and murder. Previous musicals such as Cole Porters Kiss Me Kate and Roger Hammersteins Oklahoma! used many up-tempo songs to uplift audiences and leave them feeling cheerful. W.S.S offers a more realistic approach demonstrating the problems all over the world. One noticeable element of the production is the unpredictability of the story. Both Acts end with the death of strong personalities (Riff and Bernado in The Rumble, and Tony in The Finale). This was almost certainly against audience anticipation during the late fifties and even today. It is not only the story, but also the music and dance which offer surprise. Whereas many musicals were creating songs in straight 4/4, 2/4 time, West Side Story introduced time signatures which new to any form of modern entertainment e.g. 6/4 in the Tonight Ensemble and 12/8 for the Dance in the Gym. Coincidentally the latter incorporated so many different styles of music with a jazz number for the dance sequence, a pomp and circumstance for the promenade and a Latin jive for the Mambo. The Mambo is a typical example of the use of ostinatos e.g. Bar 71-78 where the Contrabass plays across the beat accompanied by someShow MoreRelatedThe period between early 1940s to mid-1960s or so, alternatively, the p eriod between when the700 Words   |  3 Pagespaper, I choose to elaborate more on the musical – Arthur Laurents’s West Side Story. In the first part of this paper, I discuss the plot, songs and other aspects of the musical such as the awards etc. Later on, I explain how this musical revolutionized the theatre and the cultural effects it had on Americans. Finally, I conclude in the end the historical importance of this musical piece. West Side Story: The musical West Side Story is based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This musical was possibleRead MoreDancers At West Side Dance Studio1524 Words   |  7 PagesWest Side Dance Studio is a dance studio in Pembroke Pines, Florida. I used to dance in that studio for four years. Out of the four years, the most important concept I learned is that dancers do not use their words to express emotion, they use their body. The teachers at West Side Dance Studio always express how important it is to tell a story with our bodies. That is why we dance, to express emotion and tell a story to our audience when performing and even in class. Dancers at West Side Dance StudioRead MoreWest Side Story : Race Discrimination1594 Words   |  7 PagesWest Side Story: Race Discrimination Introduction West Side Story, based on the book by Arthur Laurent, is a musical about a modern Romeo and Juliet involved in New York street gangs in the 1950’s. Aside from the movie portraying a love that was forbidden between the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang and the Jets, an Anglo-Americans gang; it also represents the discrimination, violence and economic exploitation Puerto Ricans faced when migrating to New York in the 1950’s. When West Side Story cameRead MorePick Two or Three Settings from the Great Gatsby and Explain Their Significance to the Novel.817 Words   |  4 Pagesbeing important as it helps the reader understand the story better. The settings in The Great Gatsby are specifically very significant as it superbly fits with the storyline. The story is set in the early 1920s in New york because it focuses on the society of that time and is particularly focused on the factors such as prohibition of alcohol, the glamour of new york and also the way that Tom, Nick Gatsby and daisy all escape from the mid west, a small minded town, and become successful living theRead More What aspects of Charlotte Brontes Essay876 Words   |  4 Pagescriticism. Rhys demonstrates how both social and narrative conventions mandate that certain categories of women must be devalued if other categories of women are to assume importance. She does this by exposing to the reader how Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre, in order for her reader to give Jane an assumed importance, devalued by the Creole character Bertha; showing her to be made and giving us Jane’s description of her as â€Å"[she] seemed†¦a woman†¦ [she] reminded me†¦ [of] the foul German SpectreRead MoreTheatre As A Cultural Expression For Societys Theatrical Tradition1390 Words   |  6 Pagesthoughtful and sharp commentary on interaction between cultures? (Berson, 2011, pg. 155). The answer to the question is West Side Story, the musical about love and life in-between Puerto Rican and American cultures. West Side Story is just one example of a musical or play that has explored deep questions of how cultures communicate, or do not. Set in the 1950s, West Side Story tells the story of two lovers caught in-between their rival gangs: one an American gang, the other a Puerto Rican gang. Through songRead MoreThe Prime Minister Of Canada1189 Words   |  5 Pagesreleased in 1967, giving recommendations to the federal government on steps to be taken for equality across ethnicities. The primary recommendation was for the implantation of a policy for official bilingualism, making both English and French of equal importance in Canada (Language rights and judicial wrongs: O fficial bilingualism jurisprudence in Canada’s provincial courts. Pg 11). The report also recommended that bilingualism be increased in all of the provinces. Once Pierre Trudeau gained office oneRead More West Side Story Essay1120 Words   |  5 PagesWest Side Story 1. Point out how the general setting of the play is established. Give at least two examples. The play West Side Story takes place in a suburb on the West Side of New York City. We can conclude that we are talking about a socially disadvantaged suburb as the surrounding area is described with high brick walls, not very attractive and by the presence of the two gangs – the Jets and the Sharks. We are also able to say in which time period the actions take place. As anRead More Inevitability of Change in Stephen Cranes The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky1056 Words   |  5 PagesStephen Crane considers this apparent truism as well as its sometimes unfortunate consequences. In the story, Scratchy Wilson and Jack Potter face a dramatically changing society. Although their actions and emotions concerning the changes in their town differ, Scratchy and Potter are both very fearful of the inescapable easternizing influences. Through Scratchy and Potters embracing of the Old West, their responses to the East, and their optimism, Stephen Crane illustrates that whether attachment orRead MoreAnalysis of The Decline of the West1095 Words   |  5 Pageseven capitalism itself, comes with a price. Mike, a hardworking father of two, and the main character of Hanif Kureishi’s short story â€Å"The Decline of the West† from 2010, is an example of one who suddenly finds himself in a very precautious situation when he loses his job after both he and his family have been used to his rather substantial pay. In The Decline of the West, Hanif Kureishi employs a limited third-person narrator, which is bound to the main character, Mike. As a result of this choice

On The Road By Langston Hughes - 1679 Words

In Langston Hughes’ short story â€Å"On the Road†, Sargent, desperate for food and shelter, challenges social barriers and racial discrimination during his fight for freedom. Sargent is an unemployed black man during the great depression who faces additional obstacles because of his skin color. While this period was almost fifty years after the end of the Civil War and the subsequent emancipation of slaves in the United States, racism was still prevalent across the country. In the South, despite the decline of organizations like â€Å"the Klu Klux Klan [,] †¦ racism was as strong as ever† (UVA). Furthermore, â€Å"the increased presence of Black Americans in Northern cities†¦increased tension† in the North as well. With widespread racism, Black Americans†¦show more content†¦He describes Sargent by the color of his skin rather than as an equal or someone he could help. This racial tension continues through the second half of Mr. Dorset description where he goes on to express him as â€Å"a human piece of night with snow on his face†. Hughes again uses this contrast between a black night and white snow to illustrate how Mr. Dorset focuses entirely on race throughout this interaction. Because Sargent has a different skin color, Mr. Dorset turns him away without any compassion. Despite being a â€Å"holy man†, The Reverend tells Sargent to â€Å"[g]o right on down this street four blocks and turn to your left, walk up seven and you’ll see the Relief Shelter.† Mr. Dorset blurts out these very general instructions without waiting to see if Sargent understood or even heard them before he shut the door. These instructions are not only vague but also harsh as Sargent has to walk eleven blocks through the snow before he can even see the Relief Shelter. While it is reasonable for Mr. Dorset to not offer Sargent food or shelter in his own home, it shows the utter lack of respect when he does not bother to talk to Sargent in a reasonable manner. When giving directions it is common to include information such as street names, landmarks, or buildings that give the person a sense they are going in the right direction, yet Mr. Dorset gives a trite, vague re sponse. It would not harm Mr. Dorset to take another minute ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of On The Road By Langston Hughes1570 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"On the Road† Analysis â€Å"On the Road† is a short story written by Langston Hughes whose major themes are of race, religion, and subjective nature of fiction. An influential African-American writer, Hughes was born in 1902 and primarily raised by his maternal grandmother (Meyer 1032). Over the course of his illustrious career he would go on to write poems, novels, short stories, essays, plays, opera librettos, histories, documentaries, anthologies, autobiographies, biographies, children’s booksRead More Langston Hughes On the Road Essay1244 Words   |  5 PagesLangston Hughes On the Road In Langston Hughes, On the Road the Sargeant is a homeless Black man that is desperate for food and shelter. In his desperation, Sargeant goes to the church to refuge, but there is no one at the Church to help him get refuge. Although Sargent is living in a time where the depression is in existence amongst all people, Black and White, he finds no one to help him. Sargent goes to the Church because the Church helps people. However, because Sargeant is Black andRead MoreAnalysis Of On The Road By Langston Hughes868 Words   |  4 PagesWalker insists that there is representation to white people when the narrator of the story â€Å"On the Road† by Langston Hughes speaks of the church and the snow. Walker does include some nice points, points that one could easily see. Some of her points and observations though, I feel are a bit of a long shot. I have the same feelings towards Walker’s comparison of â€Å"On the Road† and the story of Samson. Walker’s first theory is that the snow is â€Å"a symbol of the white oppressive world that is makingRead MoreAnalysis of on the Road by Langston Hughes Essay1401 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Road by Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes offers a gift in this work which is to open the heart and life will provide unlimited abundance. During this literary analysis Langston Hughes uses nature to demonstrate his main characters unwillingness to participate in life. Another point that Hughes demonstrates is the use of anger and survival and how it can be used as a powerful force in breaking down racial barriers. One more impact Langston Hughes uses is Jesus Christ as a metaphor. Hughes usesRead MoreEssay, Langston Hughes, And The Road Not Taken1107 Words   |  5 Pagestake risks will accomplish nothing in life.†- Muhammad Ali. The authors Rick Reilly, Langston Hughes, and Robert frost all have something in common. They wrote about characters finding the courage to do the right th ing. These commentaries, short stories, and poems are all trying to send a message. Try to do the right thing when called upon. After reading the texts Doing the Right Thing, Thank You Ma’am, and The Road Not Taken, it is evident that all the main characters found their courage from someoneRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Langston Hughes s The Road 1402 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Road by Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes offers a gift in this work which is to open the heart and life will provide unlimited abundance. During this literary analysis Langston Hughes uses nature to demonstrate his main character s unwillingness to participate in life. Another point that Hughes demonstrates is the use of anger and survival and how it can be used as a powerful force in breaking down racial barriers. One more impact Langston Hughes uses is Jesus Christ as a metaphor. Hughes usesRead More Symbols Of Truth in Langston Hughes On The Road Essay1419 Words   |  6 PagesLangston Hughes uses b eautiful symbolism and imagery in his literary work â€Å"On the Road†. Hughes offers up the idea that if one is to open ones heart; life will provide unlimited abundance. In this literary work, Langston Hughes uses nature to demonstrate and symbolize the unwillingness of his main character, Sargeant, to participate in life. Hughes also demonstrates the use of a person’s anger and instinct to survive and how they both can be used as powerful forces in breaking down racial barriersRead MoreOn the Road with Racism: Langton Hughes Life Experiences824 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is racism? In â€Å"On the Road† by Langston Hughes racism is characterized in an unemployed African American. The African American depicted in this story is known as Sargeant. Sargeant is a character that Langston Hughes had little relativity to as being homeless as well as in search for food, but he undoubtedly identified with in culture. Langston Hughes childhood, heritage, and involvement in the African American community led him to create a strong willed character. Born in Joplin, MissouriRead MoreYolande Cornelia â€Å"Nikki† Giovanni Jr Is An Well-Known African-American Poet, Writer, Commentator,978 Words   |  4 PagesYolande Cornelia â€Å"Nikki† Giovanni Jr is an well-known African-American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Today we will look at â€Å"A poem for Langston Hughes† from her collection and do a literary analysis on it. The author took the time to adopt a certain sound throughout her work. You can shape sound within a poem through accent, alliteration, assonance, consonance, internal rhyme, meter, onomatopoeia, rhyme and rhythm. She uses a combination of these sound devices used in poetryRead MoreAnalysis Of I Too By Langston Hughes881 Words   |  4 PagesENG 102-71 Poetry Mini Research Paper 10/29/17 Langston Hughes’s â€Å"I, Too† Langston Hughes was a renowned poet and writer during the Harlem Renaissance. His background shaped the overall themes of his poems. Segregation and equality were the main subjects for Hughes’s writing. Langston Hughes wrote about the racial discrimination that African Americans faced during the Harlem Renaissance, and this theme resonated throughout the poem â€Å"I, Too†. Hughes was one of the boldest African American writers

What Makes a Good Friend Free Essays

In my opinion a good friend is someone who is always around you. Another quality for a good friend is someone who lets you barrow money if you barrow them money. The last quality is someone who does favors for you if you do favors for them. We will write a custom essay sample on What Makes a Good Friend or any similar topic only for you Order Now The first quality to a good friend is someone who is always around you. Hanging out with each other. Another thing is texting them all the time. Also, playing video games. The last thing is going to the movies. The second quality is someone who gives you money if you give them money. Some examples are when I go to McDonalds or Subway and I don’t have money my friend gives me money and if he doesn’t have money I will pay for him. Also my friend always drives me around and I always give him money for gas. The last good quality for a friend is someone who does favors for you if you do favors for them. For example: if I give him money he gives me money, if I help him on homework he helps me on homework, if I buy him lunch he buys me lunch. A good friend is someone who is always around you. Someone who lets you barrow money if you barrow them money. Someone who does favors for you if you do favors for them. Those three qualities are the main three qualities that I am looking for in a friend. How to cite What Makes a Good Friend, Essay examples