Existentialism and identity in Amiri Baraka’s Dutchman (1964) and Adrienne Kennedy’s Funnyhouse of a Negro (1969)
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Date
2015
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Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou
Abstract
This dissertation deals with existentialism and identity in two literary works of the
1960s: Amiri Baraka’s Dutchman (1964) and Adrienne Kennedy’s Funnyhouse of a
Negro (1969). We have attempted to demonstrate the possibility of analyzing these
two works together from the perspective of Jean-Paul Sartre’s theory of
Existentialism developed in his book: Being and Nothingness (1943). To begin with,
we have seen how the mood and the main events of the sixties influenced and
inspired the works of these two playwrights. We have also highlighted the impact of
the socio-economic situation of that time on the Blacks i.e. the incidence of the
inflation and consumerism combined with the feeling of racism and xenophobia of
the whites toward the colored people. Moreover, we have endeavoured to define the
way the 1960s were at the origin of existentialist problems and identity disturbances
among the black community which underwent the prejudices of racism and
segregation. These prejudices are clearly seen in the Blacks’ rejection of their
identity as Afro-Americans and adoption of the whites’ ideals in an attempt to be
integrated in the society as full citizens.
Description
59p.;30cm.(+cd)
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Media and Cultural Studies