Todd Duncan and Anne Brown starred in the original production of Porgy and Bess. poster from original production, 1935. Metropolitan Opera. James Standifer writes, "Gershwin found casting difficult. The Porgy and Bess score required trained voices that could handle operatic content and jazz rhytms and tones. He invited Todd Duncan to his apartment to audition for the role of Porgy. After Duncan sang exactly twelve bars of lungi dal caro bene, Gershwin asked him "Will you be my Porgy?" At a later meeting with Duncan, George and Ira Gershwin went through almost the entire score. Duncan remembers, "I knew it would cause controversy among my people because of its representation of black life and music. But Gershwin had sold me on it right then and there!"Gershwin specified in his will that with the exception of a few white characters--who have no singing parts--the cast for Porgy and Bess should consist only of African Americans. What do you think about the issues of racism surrounding the play? If you were producing a revival today, would you want to propose a "color-blind casting"?
10 comments:
I personally don’t see any racism in the opera. I don’t believe it’s a stereotype of how all southern African-Americans lived during the 1930’s. The play has a fictional cast and it shows the life of how these black characters lived in the south. There were people who did drugs, spoke in that accent, and gambled. I wouldn’t propose a ‘color-blind casting” of the play because Gershwin wrote the play for African-American characters. His play is portraying his interpretation the life and music of some southern African-American. An all black cast is how he envisioned his play and it was intended to show his interpretation. Maybe it might have been seen as a racist because a rich, white man wrote about poor black people as was evident in what Todd Duncan stated.
Alex Wong:
Although I think there are certain elements within the opera which still perpetuate black stereotypes prevalent during that era, I don't think a "color-blind" casting of Porgy and Bess would do justice to Gershwin's work and to the "African-American experience" at all. Even though the existence of this "experience" is questionable, I think that the cast should remain black in order to preserve the realistic elements within the play which Gershwin worked to create. Moreover, questions of "authenticity" would arise with the color-blind cast because the story is meant to be a portrayal of black vs. white race relations. Without visible evidence of this theme on stage through casting only black and white actors, it may not be apparent to the audience at all.
I agree with the two comments above. Gershwin worked hard and researched the "african american experience" to write his opera. I don't find the play racist at all. Even though it maybe be a little stereotypical in some ways, with the slang and drugs, Gershwin isn't making this up. Gershwin spent time and observed the society, so the facts are true, but it doesn't relate to the overall population of African-Americans because Gershwin observed in certain states.
I wouldn't propose a "color-blind casting" because that would take the originality away from the opera. Gershwin casted black actors because they do the best job when they play the different roles in the opera.
As with all the other posts, I also don't think this opera was at all racist, even if some elements of it portrayed racial stereotypes. However, I can see how many can believe it racist in that the "white folk" don't have any singing parts in an opera - but this is the other actors making fun of white supremacy, showing the truth of that time period.
Gershwin knew exactly what he was doing when he casted all African Americans; he even did his research. This opera depicts the reality of the moment and illustrates the society of blacks and whites at a time when both cultures were undergoing large amounts of stress.
I wouldn't propose a "color blind casting" because it would take away from the overall effect that Gershwin tried to create. I think having an all African American cast makes a bold and intelligent move. If the cast was changed, the opera wouldn't have a strong message and would be less enjoyable, both film wise, character wise, plot wise and music wise.
Sacha Morales:
I believe the opera is racist. I don't understand why the African Americans sing and the white people do not. Are the police men supposed to be elevated in this sense? Are they better or less than the African Americans? I also do not see why the dialectic that the African American speak is so exaggerated. I believe Gershwin played with these elements perhaps to make a statement. Perhaps he was trying to make a social commentary on the times, where African Americans were not fully accepted. I believe that even though this opera appears racist, Gershwin did not mean for it to be intentional, he was simply trying to make a point, and like Professor Moeller said, " he puts it in your face." The white people who view the opera probably felt uncomfortable with the exaggerated actions of the people in the play, but wasn't that Gershwin's point? I do not think a "color-blind" experience is acceptable for this opera because Gershwin's point and his message is completely obliterated for the audience and the actors/singers.
I wouldn't propose a color-blinding, or as I call it, "color-blending" cast, because that would give the impression that I'm trying to portray equality which is defeating the purpose of Porgy and Bess, which was to show the injustice and suffering of the African-American race in America.
Our world is extremely apathetic,and it can take extreme measures to move people...but not just arouse sympathy in people, but arouse and drive change. I don't believe Gershwin was racist, or was trying to imply that anywhere in his opera.
The critics that thought the opera was racist were clearly not seeing the purpose of the opera...yes, it was racist...but in a certain context. Gershwin was portraying the racism of the 1930's, but I believe some people might get the wrong idea because he was a caucasion, however of Jewish descent...I'm still unclear on their argument of how this opera is racist.
I mean, if this opera was set in Africa, and there were racist notions in the opera, it would be more feasible to see the opinion of the critics who believe the opera is ..."racist." However, this is not the case.
If directors don't take the route that Gershwin did, and make "pretty" plays and operas that are "aesthetic" and pleasing to the viewer...well, than, let ignorance prevail.
There's a difference between entertainment and portraying a story using a medium usually used for entertainment....Gerswin was using opera as a means to portray this story and it was clever because, as we know, music plays a huge role in black history.
...it's not racist.
I don't find the opera racist either, besides the exaggerated dialect of the characters. Gershwin researched African American culture and portrayed it based on those observations. This can be seen as being racist because of the black v. white issue of who sings and who doesn't but, Gershwin does this for a reason. His reason is to show the supremacy of the white people and the suffering of black people of that time.
This opera would not be the same with a "color-blind casting" of characters because of the overall purpose of Porgy and Bess, which is to portray the injustice and suffering of the African-American people of that time period. With respect to music and the lyrics written for each song, a different race of singer wouldn't be easy to watch or hear because Gershwin wrote it for an African- American performer specifically.
There is to a certain level racism in Porgy and Bess, this is because notice how only the black people sing. The white people don't speak because if they did the audience would be able to see the difference in level of speech that they talk at. But that is part of what makes the movie memorable, because it is different, and it goes unstated the differences between the races. If i made a modern version I would not change it at all because that is part of what makes it memorable, the issue of race would play a role, because the differences between the races makes the movie stand out, makes the drama more dramatic.
I didn't really pick up on any racism in the opera. Yes, it did show African-Americnas who gambled and used drugs, but not everyone was doing it, just like reality. It was probably an all black cast, because that's how Gershwin saw his opera to be performed. It might have dealt with the location or anything in general. I agree with Karen when she said the only way it was probably looked upon as racist is because a rich, white man wrote it and it happened to be anall black cast with not much money involved.
From what I understand, racism means for a group of people (a race) to believe that they are better or dominant over another or all other race. For example, the Nazis believed they were the perfect race and acted on the genocide of Jews. And so for Gershwin to be of Jewish decent, he understands fully what it means to be discriminated upon. So I do not believe Gershwin had any intent on depicting racism within his work. The fact of the matter is, the opera was created during the 1930s, which was before the major Civil Rights Movement. So there may be a hint of racism just because most people were raised with stereotypes against African-Americans.
I believe if an artist has a vision for his work, it must be respected. Or else it would not be the artist's work per se. Thus, since Gershwin wanted the cast to be all black, a "color-blind" casting of Porgy and Bess is not acceptable. If there is any compromise of an artist's work, the work is defiled and loses the meaning as a whole.
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