This course studies the ways in which 21st Century American playwrights, as dramatic artists, have responded creatively to social and political issues. In particular, we will explore the dramatic techniques and rhetorical contexts of American drama through master artists such as Arthur Miller and Lorraine Hansberry to newer voices in the field (Anna Deavere Smith, Ayad Akhtar, Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins). Through performance-based readings, dramaturgical analysis and creative responses for new audiences, cadets will engage American playwrights critically from the page to the stage. We’ll explore sociopolitical themes such as work, social crisis, community, and the American dream to understand how these artists humanize the national landscape.
