1. Compare and contrast how, and for what dramatic purpose, the writers of The History Boys and Oleanna present characters who display both vulnerability and villainy. In both Oleanna and History Boys the writers include many controversial subjects to portray the characters in the plays to be both vulnerable and villainy. In Oleanna, Mamet involves sexual harassment and power throughout the play. Although, instead of using scenarios of sexual harassment near the time of the play (Clarence Thomas
Compare the theatrical techniques and staging in act one of Oleanna and Street Car Named Desire The two plays Street car named desire and Oleanna are very different plays in their use of theatrical devices. Tennesse Williams’ play Street Car Named Desire gives us a long description of the New Orleans world its based in. Describing the flats with the name “elysan fields” relating the to heaven despite the appearance of the street that seems “falling apart at the fabric of the seems”, the colour
Summary of “The Modern Academy Raging In The Dark” by Richard Badenhausen In David Mamet’s Oleanna, the inclusion of the controversial topics of gender conflict, sexual harassment and political correctness in colleges led most critics to point to these as the main themes of the play. A year before it the play appeared, the Clarence Thomas-Hill controversy had occurred, helping push these issues in the play to the forefront of reader’s minds. However, the “difficulties of acquiring and controlling
receive the benefits that were once kept from them by a dominating male society. Although gender roles have been challenged and refined over the course of the twentieth century, main characters, Katherina from “Taming of the Shrew”, and Carol in “Oleanna”, nonetheless portray the exceptions or even the extremes, of feminine independence and superiority
Re-read Act 2 from page 43 (JOHN and CAROL seated across the desk from each other.) to page 48 (CAROL: It’s “ludicrous…”?). Examine how Mamet presents political correctness in this extract and elsewhere in the play. Political correctness features prominently within the play. Political correctness was seen as a highly controversial issue in the late 1980s to the early 1990s and was argued within a 1992 essay collection, debating political correctness, that it was “The most important discussion
Re-read Act 1 from page 34 (Carol: What do you think?) to the end of page 41. Discuss how Mamet presents the significance and the effects of misunderstanding in this extract and at least one other point in the play. Throughout David Mamet’s ‘Oleanna’ the effects of misunderstanding is a central theme. You could say that John’s incapability to listen to and understand Carol’s situation is the reason for the miscommunication in this extract. Whilst Carol is getting upset and tries to explain
Oleanna by David Mamet The fast pace, repetition and interruptions evident in the interaction between Carol and John are clear illustrations of the unwritten contest to have the last word and be right in act 1. The use of these dramatic and linguistic techniques are what make the interaction between the two characters so fascinating. Both are constantly struggling to keep their dignity and reputation. On page 11, Carol pleads ' teach me. Teach me'. Although this is imperative, the context
create a useless pressure to be mindful of one's words. Not to say however that one should be rude. These reasons are why one could argue that the PC movement does more harm than good. The play Oleanna highlights how political correctness can be used and exploited to forward a personal opinion. Oleanna, a play written by David Mamet, is widely renowned for its unique style and appeal. Most of all, however, it is the story within that appeals to most people. In this play, a character known as Carol
situations and also to reach our goals. These events are facts of life everyone: some people can't run as fast, or lift as much, or write as well. It is during these times that we must focus on what we can do well, and try to direct our goals around those features that make us good at something. In David Mamet's Oleanna, John loses his job and his house due to Carol's ignorance, lack of self-confidence, and overall inability to come to terms with her own short-comings as a student. This play epitomizes an
Joseph Koltes M. Guista English 101 14 Oct. 2010 Oleanna is a two character play about a power struggle between a University Professor, John, and a student, Carol, who accuses John of sexual harassment. The play begins when John, a condescending University Professor who holds power with his status, expresses his frustration at Carol's class performance as she deduces that he is buying a house. He feels she is, in reality, bright but troubled, and she agrees, citing her social and economic background