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ETD Abstract Container

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“We’ll Find a New Way of Living:” Racism in Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I and West Side Story

Florjancic, Linda M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1124769084

Abstract Details

2005, Master of Music, University of Akron, Music-History and Literature.
Racism has been a controversial topic in the arts beginning with Shakespeare. Four musicals between 1927-1960 discussed this topic: Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I and West Side Story. Showboat was the product of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical spans three decades centering on the lives of a showboat troupe. In addition to racism, the production also discusses other social elements such as alcoholism, spousal abuse and gambling. South Pacific occurs during World War II revolving around Nellie Forbush and her older fiancé, Emile de Becque. A subplot involves an interracial romance between Lt. Cable and Liat, an island native. The King and I focuses on another interracial love story between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, the schoolteacher. West Side Story is an updated version of Romeo and Juliet. This paper will examine the composer and lyricist’s motivation for discussing such a controversial topic.
Brooks Toliver (Advisor)
76 p.
Music
Racism; Musicals

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Florjancic, L. M. (2005). “We’ll Find a New Way of Living:” Racism in Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I and West Side Story [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1124769084

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Florjancic, Linda. “We’ll Find a New Way of Living:” Racism in Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I and West Side Story. 2005. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1124769084.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Florjancic, Linda. "“We’ll Find a New Way of Living:” Racism in Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I and West Side Story." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1124769084

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2005, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.