The Musical Race, Gender, and Performance

"The Musical: Race, Gender and Performance" explores one of the most popular and financially successful genres but one that has never enjoyed the critical recognition to match. Examining not only the structure and style of the musical, Susan Smith also addresses the relationship between narrative and musical numbers. The text also addresses the way in which image and soundtrack are connected, the possibility of dance and music as language and the role and representation of women and ethnic characters.
Films studied include "Top Hat" (1935), "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), "Cabin in the Sky" (1943), "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), "An American in Paris" (1951), "Guys and Dolls" (1955), and "West Side Story" (1961).