Gender and Social Issues in Drama

Paper Summary:

This paper first describes Caryl Churchill's satirical play "Cloud Nine", which comments on colonial and gender oppression in an African country, during the nineteenth century that is ruled by Britain. The paper then relates the story of "M. Butterfly", by the first Asian-American playwright to win universal success, David Henry Hwang. This story is about a French male diplomat and a Chinese actor/opera singer, who masqueraded as a woman. These plays, the paper concludes, opened doors for other playwrights, such as Tony Kushner in his play "Angels in America: Millenium", to explore the world of homosexuality especially in reference to AIDS.

From the Paper:

"Hwang wasn't too far off in his depiction of Song or in his idea that gender is wholly a product of socialization that is open to interpretation. In her book, "Paradoxes of Gender", Judith Lorber talks about the xanith form, an accepted third gender in Oman, an Islamic, gender-segregated society. The xanith are male homosexual prostitutes that dress in masculine clothes (however in pastel colors, rather than white worn by men). Their mannerisms are female. They are usually married to women and in their household they perform the duties of the man and the wife."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge; 1sedition. May 12, 2006.
• Churchill, Caryl. Cloud Nine. Theatre Communications Group; 1st TCG ed edition. April 1, 1995.
• Garber, Marjorie. Bisexuality and the Eroticism of Everyday Life. Routledge. NewYork. 2000.
• Hwang, David Henry. M. Butterlfy. Dramatists Play Service, Inc. January, 1998.
• Kushner, Tony. Angels in America: Millenium. Theatre Communications Group. May1, 1993.

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