Danny Hoch's Jails, Hospitals and Hip-hop and The Hip-hop Theater Manifesto

After reviewing Hoch's play and his Hip-hop Theater manifesto, we discussed the ways that Hoch relies upon many African American historical and cultural contribitions to define what Hip-hop Theater is. Many of you argued that much of Hoch's work resonates as self-important and elite. Hoch's goal is actually to serve the Hip-hop community by making theater accessible and grounded in the experiences of the Hip-hop generation. Why do you think his Hoch's texts may betray his intent? Hoch argues Hip-hop is a polycultural art form. If this is true, how does Hip-hop and a theater produced by it sustain itself artistically if its practioners, producers and consumers are all of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural and national backgrounds? What is the relationship between race and culture that creates a measuring stick for Hip-hop authenticity, and if so what does it look like?

Suzan-Lori Parks' The America Play and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s The Chitlin Circuit

What is "Black" and "American" about Suzan- Lori Parks' The America Play? What contradictions do you see in Parks' work when placed into the larger context of African American Theater? Does she write a play "by, about , for and near" Black people? Does her play reflect some of the issues in African American theater practices that Gates presents in his article that suggest a "legitimate" and illegitimate" Black Theater? If we are striving towards racial equality in the American Theater, does Parks contribute to this goal? Why or why not?

August Wilson's Fences aand Charles Fullers' A Soldier's Play ( and Story)

Many of you said that you felt these plays by Wilson and Fuller were"universal." How do the representations of Black men presented in these plays stand as "universal" characters if at all? If the military, music and sports are key avenues for self-empowerment presented by the playwrights, how do you see these institutions operating across racial lines today? Are they sites for all men to find opportunities for achievement outside of prescribed racial roles or do they target men based on racial stereotype still today?