Monday, July 26, 2010
_Angels in America_ Day One
In _Millenium Approaches_, the first half of his two-part dramatic epic _Angels in America_, Tony Kushner poses what Russian thinkers have called "the accursed questions"--those big philosophical questions about the role of the nation, man's place in society, the social function of art, and so on. We will consider these accursed questions and the others you pose below in tomorrow's class. Those of you who are doing a critical literature presentation or leading the class discussion are exempted from posting tonight.
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What is the role of freedom in Angels in America? How does Kushner place the concept of freedom at odds with many of the other concepts addressed in the play, such as justice, love, lawfulness, etc?
ReplyDeletePrior can hear The Voice, and Harper can see Mr. Lies--what are their purposes and why are they only present when the characters are alone?
ReplyDeleteWhat role do labels play in Angels in America? How does power fit into the roles that the characters choose to take on?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance or purpose of the mutual dream scene in Act One, Scene 7? How does this scene give us insights into beliefs of Harper and Prior?
ReplyDeleteThis for the group discussion
ReplyDeleteTake a look at Act I Scene IX after performing a close reading
1) What does this scene tell us about perceptions of homosexuality, not just from heterosexuals but from homosexuals themselves?
2) Does Roy's link to Homosexuality and power change the definition of a homosexual ?
3) How are the interactions between Howard and Roy during this scene expressive of the taboo and the difficulty in speaking of AIDS and Homosexuality ?
Joe and Harper have an interesting relationship: Joe calling Harper "Buddy," having to say "buddy kiss" before kissing, no sex, etc. Why is their relationship like this.
ReplyDeleteJoe knows of Harper's problems and accepts them (27). Why is it that Joe is okay with Harper's problems and continues his relationship with her?
How do politics and religion shape the discussion in the play?
If any, what parallels are there between the relationship of Prior and Louis, and Joe and Harper?
What would be the implications of Joe the gay mormon making it to Washington?
ReplyDeleteHow does Joe's Mormon upbringing affect his behavior as an adult? And how does this affect his relationship with Harper?
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when devotion is with and without boundaries? Ex. Louis abandoning Prior, the wife of William the Conqueror, Joe helping Roy through disbarment.
ReplyDeleteCan freedom exist with the justice system?
How do we see Louis personality when he tells the man that he doesn't care if he infected him, after condom brakes?
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 1, scence 3, Harper states, "People who are lonely, people left alone...old fixed orders spiraling apart...this is why, Joe, this is why I shouldnt be left alone". What is Harper saying about loneliness. How is this loneliness a theme throughout the rest of the next few acts?
ReplyDeleteIn Scene 8, Joe confesses to his mom that he is homosexual, but his mom stubbornly refuses to accept this information. What does this tell us about the social beliefs during that time period?
ReplyDelete