Post 3
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Lesley’s Discussion Post 3
One scene from Hamilton that exemplifies Stuart Hall’s themes from “Representation” is the first Cabinet Battle, where Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson debate over the nation’s financial system through a rap battle. This scene reflects Hall’s argument that “representation is the production of meaning through language” (Hall, 16). Instead of portraying the Founding Fathers in a conventional, formal manner, the scene reimagines them as modern figures, using rap, a traditionally urban genre, to discuss historical events. This choice redefines how we see these historical figures, showing that the way they are represented can shift based on who is telling the story and how. Furthermore, the rap battle format exemplifies Hall’s…
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Kevin Joseph’s Discussion Post #3
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Bosco Wong Discussion Post #3
The song “My Shot” sets the tone for how the musical reimagines American history because it undoubtedly changes how you would think about the Founding Fathers by presenting them as young, scrappy, and therefore full of ambition. In addition, by not throwing away their opportunity and instead taking risks, or taking a shot here is, in a sense, a direct foreshadowing of the physical meaning of getting shot—especially for Alexander Hamilton, who is seen as an immigrant with nothing to lose and is determined to take advantage of every chance he sees. This portrayal is different from how history textbooks typically depict these figures as untouchable or overly formal, and…
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Discussion Post 3 – Jayden Pooran
The musical production Hamilton has had an important impact on theater as a whole through redefining standards. I’m a fan of this musical because I appreciate how it catered to many interests in the form of having numerous music genres. It is about Alexander Hamilton, who was a founding father of America but it has a modern spin on it. The narrative is told using hip-hop, R&B, pop, and other types of music which makes it an engaging experience while watching this. As a whole, a Broadway production can tremendously impact someone through providing inspiration. For example, challenges faced by characters can make viewers aspire to make change in their…
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Discussion Post 3 Marguerite Mauceri
Hamilton, in my opinion, is one of the most unique musicals of the 21st Century. The musical uses many different genres of music to appeal to a wide audience, such as rap, pop, jazz, and classical Broadway. This variety of genres allows almost any generation to appreciate the rich history of the beginnings of America, and the people who created this country. Although the musical encompasses many different real-life characters, it is primarily focused on Alexander Hamilton and his legacy. Like how Hamilton says: “What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see…America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me!” The legacy told…
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Chelsea Tanchez Discussion Post 3
Hamilton uses a largely diverse cast in an era where many of the leaders and people in power were white men. Despite the restrictions of representation that history has, the creators of Hamilton turned it around by making popular characters be played by colored actors. The song “The Room Where It Happens” showcases diversity through the characters and music style. The song is sung by Aaron Burr when secretive political negations between big names like Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson occur. With the casting of Black and Latinx actors, there’s a tension of who has the power to make decisions for the nation. It shows that anyone could…
