Orientalism in Western Musical Theatre

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Moon, Jimin
Area of Honors:
Musical Theatre
Degree:
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Raymond Sage, Thesis Supervisor
Raymond Sage, Thesis Honors Advisor
Michele F Dunleavy, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Theatre
Orientalism
Musical Theatre
Abstract:
From characters like The Mikado’s Princess Yum Yum to South Pacific’s Liat to The King and I’s King of Siam, Asian people in musicals have been relegated to stereotyped positions and caricatures of white society. When looking at the overarching canon of Asian stories in western musical theatre, it has only been within the last decade that Asian characters have begun to be freed from biased and racist depictions. This paper explores the development of Asians in western musicals. From operettas, to golden age musical theatre, to Sondheim, and finally to contemporary Broadway, the role of the Asian is discussed to find how a truly respectful and authentic story can be told about Asian people and places. (Spoiler alert: it’s by having Asian people write, create, direct, and act in our own stories). From a contemporary perspective, we are blessed with having modern day examples that can be utilized as examples of how the canon should continue to grow - allowing more nuanced, fully-fledged Asian characters. Growth can always still be made in allowing Asian characters to live truthfully, and commercially successfully, on stage. However, only by mining the past for information, can we find the progress that still needs to be made.