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Analysis Of Suzan-Lori: African-American Playwright

Decent Essays

Suzan-Lori is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. Innovative and occasionally controversial and she is one of the most highly acclaimed African-American woman playwrights in contemporary theater. Reading the excerpts from Suzan-Lori Parks’ essays actually helped me because her main purpose in her writings is to guide newcomers (play writers) by offering some background information and ways to help on how to appreciate plays. Such as the Element of Style essay which is intended primarily for the new generation of theater makers. One thing that I liked the most about her way to guide new playwright that she never tells you what to add or not what to add in your plays. The only thing that she really emphasizes is that a playwright should ask themselves why they feel whatever they are writing have or should be a play? According to Parks “ the words “why”, “have” and “play” are key. If you don’t have an answer then get out of town. No joke. The last thing American theater needs is another lame play.” (Pg. 7) One thing that we should always do about playwriting is not to take anything for granted. …show more content…

According to Parks “a playwright, as any other artist should accept the bald fact that content determines form and form determine content; that form form and content are independent.” (Pg. 7) Reading the Possession, especially the line “This is the death of the last negro man in the whole entire world.” significantly moved me because I started to wonder how would it feels like to live on without African American. Especially, me coming from a a Caribbean island where my heritage is very linked to Africa. Even though a lot of Hispanics don't consider themselves to be black the truth is that almost all ancestry can be traced to

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