engleski

Construction, Deconstruction, and Reconstruction of Human Body and Mind in Contemporary American Drama

People with special needs form the largest minority group in the United States therefore the problems they face in the real world are also reflected in contemporary American drama. Sanja Nikčević in her theatrological approach divides contemporary American drama into two main tendencies - subversive and affirmative. When observing characters with special needs (disabled people) through these two tendencies, we can notice that their attitude towards life is entirely different. While subversive characters (losers), are not able to cope with their disability, affirmative heroes manage to overcome almost all obstacles. In that sense, the body and mind of subversive characters with special needs deconstructs through their disability and they are unable to overcome this problem. However, characters belonging to the affirmative tendency succeed in reconstructing their mind which ultimately leads to reconstructing their life and body. This will be explained in detail through analysis of four plays: subversive Children of a Lesser God by Mark Medoff and 5th of July by Lanford Wilson and affirmative The Miracle Worker by William Gibson and Sunrise at Campobello by Dore Schary.

drama; American; disability; affirmative; subversive

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