| |
| author |
Hannah Ponturo
| | title |
Topsy-Turvy
| | abstract |
This thesis utilizes the creative writing elements of playwriting in order to explore feminist themes
of the American Civil War and its parallels to 2017 America. Overall, it shows that if the American
government does not accept, apologize, and educate about the brutality of slavery and its effects
on African American history and culture, then the lack of acknowledgment will lead to the
crumbling of American society. The play was written utilizing primary and secondary sources as
well as speaking to the community at large. Elements of the play were inspired by the thematic
parallels in contemporary feminist theatre which shows women playwrights pushing away from
the historically male-centric Aristotelian structure. Specifically, Lynn Nottage's, By the Way Meet
Vera Stark and Carol Churchill's, Cloud 9 were studied in order to create a play structure that was
unlike canonical white-men written plays. By writing this play the thesis was able to explore not
only historically inspired characters but also characters that may not have had a voice in history.
Further, the title, "Topsy Turvy" portrays the sometimes upside-down world that we live in and
also the doll of the same name. The "Topsy Turvy" doll represents humanity's need for each other
and that all people need to collectively support and accept each other in order to move forward.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2019)
|
| advisor |
Rosemary McLaughlin
|
| committee |
Chris Ceraso
Wyatt Evans
|
| full text | HPonturo.pdf - requires Drew uLogin |
| |
