| Popis: |
This thesis discusses how Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical reconfigures the canonical view of early US history. The thesis discusses three different aspects of Miranda’s musical: the first being its placement in the poetic canon of the US and the underlying mythology of this canon. A comparison Hamilton to the poetry of Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes shows a shared appraisal of the foundational ideals of the United States. In extension to these ideals, Northrop Frye’s trajectory of myths and mythology serves as a framework to interpret certain American cultural norms and values, and how Hamilton abides by these. The second chapter analyses Hamilton’s use of the medium of theatre, specifically in relation to Broadway. The site-specific nature of theatre connects the audience with the actors. In Hamilton, this connects the past with the present. The third chapter illustrates how the style of hip hop is used as poetic style in Hamilton, and how the hip hop subculture is reflected in its themes. With its adherence to themes of community and knowledge, Miranda shows how the aesthetic of hip hop is as integral to the American self-identification as the knowledge of early US history. |
