Is Broadway Part of "The Problem?"

What is the problem?

In a slightly earlier post, I discussed the notion that America seems to be a nation of two narratives, and that has led to an extremely divisive political climate.

1) As a result of immigration and associated demographic shifts, whites appear to be heading toward minority status and as a result, power and culture will and should change.

2) White culture and white power should continue indefinitely, in part by curbing immigration, but also by getting rid of certain government programs and preferences for minorities such as affirmative action that are artificially and unfairly boosting such populations.

How does Broadway figure in this divide?





The Arts & Leisure section of the Oct. 22, 2017, New York Times  has an interview with David Henry Hwang whose 1988 play "M. Butterfly" is currently being revived on Broadway, with certain modifications, after an absence of about 30 years.

When the play initially appeared, it was notable not just for a then-shocking transgender ending, but also because it was the first Broadway production written by an Asian-American playwright.

"For a long time, I continued to be the only Asian-American author that was ever done on Broadway," Hwang said, adding: "In general, Broadway continues to be not inclusive in a way that represents the population."

But that may finally be on the verge of changing, he continued. As a result of developments over the past three or four years, "it feels like there's a tipping point going on."

Does this have anything to do with what conservative commentators in particular are calling the current "culture wars?"

Maybe, but maybe not.

Hwang says change is needed for economic as opposed to cultural reasons.

"It is just a good business model to begin to diversify both the faces and the stories that exist in the theater -- as TV is starting to learn," he said.

That sounds like adherence to a pretty traditional white American value, doesn't it? As President Calvin Coolidge put it in 1925, "the chief business of the American people is business.”

Maybe if Broadway diversifies, nothing fundamental will change in America's culture. It's just that the economic benefits (and not insignificant risks) of show business will be spread around more broadly.  The current overwhelming success of "Hamilton" is perhaps a good example of that.

I may have more to say about the Hwang interview, but on other topics, in due course.