Kami Export - THEA 2030 FALL 2024 WS-17
Kami Export - THEA 2030 FALL 2024 WS-17
Kami Export - THEA 2030 FALL 2024 WS-17
WORKSHEET 17
Name:
Date:
Section:
Consider the material you read and watched this week to answer the questions below. Remember
to use complete sentences. When quoting one of the scholars, please use quotation marks.
1. What is the thesis of Justin Emeka’s “Seeing Shakespeare through brown eyes” and how
does he interrogate the thesis? Think about what claim he makes and the method through
which he explains this claim.
Emeka's thesis is that Shakespeare's works can be reinterpreted tn a way that centers African American culture, allowing for new insight. Emeka
also claims that Shakespeare's works lack the diverse perspectives that people of color's stories and experiences are so full of. Justin
"interrogates" this thesis by use of personal stories and narratives, critical analysis, and some of his own directing work.
2. What is color blind casting? Have you encountered this term prior to this class? If so, in
what context?
Color blind casting is when you cast roles without having an actors race or ethnicity in mind. You instead choose the best actor for the role
based on how well they can play the part or their talent. I feel like I've heard this before and assumed this was what it was but I have no idea
what context it was in.
3. Justin Emeka discusses a few cases of color blind casting in different performances of
Shakespeare, such as “The Africanization of King Lear.” Discuss one of these cases.
What is the case being discussed? What was the experience for the actor or the audience?
What did you learn in reading this case?
Justin Emaka reimagined the play of King Lear with an African American cultural context. This not only allowed the actors to more deeply connect with
the play and their characters making their performances so much richer, but gave the audience a more interesting perspective allowing for more
engagement.
4. Consider the performance of Richard III that we watched this week. How does this
reading inform your engagement with the performance?
The reading allows me to realize that the performance of Richard III we watched emphasizes themes of power, manipulation, and ambition and when paired
with a color-blind casting allows the audience to think about these themes in a contemporary manner rather then an old historical white centered context.
5. What questions do you have about the materials? (Please write at least one question for
class today.)