The fourth in a series of books exploring the careers of 28 contemporary American playwrights, this book covers the work of four male writers, Lucas Hnath, Branden JacobsJenkins, Stephen Karam and Tarell Alvin McCraney.The dramatic strategies of these awardwinning playwrights range widely in styles and approach. Christopher Bigsby interweaves critical analysis of their work with biographical information, contemporary responses and the writers' own comments, drawn from interviews. At a time when the question of identity is central in America, at both a personal and national level, how far do these playwrights see this as central or incidental to their work? Bigsby argues that Branden JacobsJenkins' work often asks to what extent race is a construct, in work including neighbors, An Octoroon and Appropriate, while stepping away from race in Everybody. Tarell Alvin McCraney, conscious that being labelled as gay or black can influence the reception of his work, nonetheless embraces both in The Brothers Size, Choir Boy, Wig Out and his Oscarwinning film Moonlight. If Stephen Karam, from a LebaneseAmerican family, engages with gay characters in Speech and Debate and The Humans, this book posits that he is also interested in suffering, something of which he has personal experience. Finally, Lucas Hnath approaches identity in another way, appropriating the lives of real characters, historical and contemporary, inhabiting and deconstructing them.
The fourth in a series of books exploring the careers of 28 contemporary American playwrights, this book covers the work of four male writers, Lucas Hnath, Branden JacobsJenkins, Stephen Karam and Tarell Alvin McCraney.The dramatic strategies of these awardwinning playwrights range widely in styles and approach. Christopher Bigsby interweaves critical analysis of their work with biographical information, contemporary responses and the writers' own comments, drawn from interviews. At a time when the question of identity is central in America, at both a personal and national level, how far do these playwrights see this as central or incidental to their work? Bigsby argues that Branden JacobsJenkins' work often asks to what extent race is a construct, in work including neighbors, An Octoroon and Appropriate, while stepping away from race in Everybody. Tarell Alvin McCraney, conscious that being labelled as gay or black can influence the reception of his work, nonetheless embraces both in The Brothers Size, Choir Boy, Wig Out and his Oscarwinning film Moonlight. If Stephen Karam, from a LebaneseAmerican family, engages with gay characters in Speech and Debate and The Humans, this book posits that he is also interested in suffering, something of which he has personal experience. Finally, Lucas Hnath approaches identity in another way, appropriating the lives of real characters, historical and contemporary, inhabiting and deconstructing them.
Barnes & Noble is the world’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. Our Nook Digital business offers a lineup of NOOK® tablets and e-Readers and an expansive collection of digital reading content through the NOOK Store®. Barnes & Noble’s mission is to operate the best omni-channel specialty retail business in America, helping both our customers and booksellers reach their aspirations, while being a credit to the communities we serve.
