About the book
Created by George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and sung by generations of black performers, Porgy and Bess has been both embraced and reviled since its debut in 1935. In this comprehensive account, Ellen Noonan examines the opera’s long history of invention and reinvention as a barometer of twentieth-century American expectations about race, culture, and the struggle for equality. In its surprising endurance lies a myriad of local, national, and international stories.
For black performers and commentators, Porgy and Bess was a nexus for debates about cultural representation and racial uplift. White producers, critics, and even audiences spun revealing racial narratives around the show, initially in an attempt to demonstrate its authenticity and later to keep it from becoming discredited or irrelevant. Expertly weaving together the wide-ranging debates over the original novel, Porgy, and its adaptations on stage and film with a history of its intimate ties to Charleston, The Strange Career of “Porgy and Bess” uncovers the complexities behind one of our nation’s most long-lived cultural touchstones.
Editions of The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807837160
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469617534
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807837337
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469600253
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890878861
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893131819
Read an Excerpt
Created by George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and sung by generations of black performers, Porgy and Bess has been both embraced and reviled since its debut in 1935. In this comprehensive account, Ellen Noonan examines the opera’s long history of invention and reinvention as a barometer of twentieth-century American expectations about race, culture, and the struggle for equality. In its surprising endurance lies a myriad of local, national, and international stories.
For black performers and commentators, Porgy and Bess was a nexus for debates about cultural representation and racial uplift. White producers, critics, and even audiences spun revealing racial narratives around the show, initially in an attempt to demonstrate its authenticity and later to keep it from becoming discredited or irrelevant. Expertly weaving together the wide-ranging debates over the original novel, Porgy, and its adaptations on stage and film with a history of its intimate ties to Charleston, The Strange Career of “Porgy and Bess” uncovers the complexities behind one of our nation’s most long-lived cultural touchstones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess about?
Created by George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and sung by generations of black performers, Porgy and Bess has been both embraced and reviled since its debut in 1935. In this comprehensive account, Ellen Noonan examines the opera’s long history of invention and reinvention as a barometer of twentieth-century American expectations about race, culture, and the struggle for equality. In its surprising endurance lies a myriad of local, national, and international stories.
For black performers and commentators, Porgy and Bess was a nexus for debates about cultural representation and racial uplift. White producers, critics, and even audiences spun revealing racial narratives around the show, initially in an attempt to demonstrate its authenticity and later to keep it from becoming discredited or irrelevant. Expertly weaving together the wide-ranging debates over the original novel, Porgy, and its adaptations on stage and film with a history of its intimate ties to Charleston, The Strange Career of “Porgy and Bess” uncovers the complexities behind one of our nation’s most long-lived cultural touchstones.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess?
The Arts > Performing arts > Theatre studies
Where can I read a sample of The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807837160
How long is The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess and how many pages does it have?
The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess has 440 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess?
Ellen Noonan
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807837160) and paperback(ISBN 9781469617534) and ebook(ISBN 9780807837337) and ebook(ISBN 9781469600253) and ebook(ISBN 9798890878861) and ebook(ISBN 9798893131819)
Where can I buy The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy The Strange Career of Porgy and Bess?