Stages of Justice: Law and Society in the Work of August Wilson

5 units · Undergraduate upper division (100-199)

Seminar, six hours. Reading, discussion, and analysis of the storytelling and issues of social justice and the law in the influential Century Cycle works of visionary poet and playwright August Wilson. Explored works examine issues of race, class, and gender justice in each decade of the 20th century, and include Gem of the Ocean (1900s), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (1910s), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1920s), The Piano Lesson (1930s), Seven Guitars (1940s), Fences (1950s), Two Trains Running (1960s), Jitney (1970s), King Hedley II (1980s), and Radio Golf (1990s). Reading and reflection also on related essays in I Ain’t Sorry for Nothin’ I Done: August Wilson’s Process of Playwriting by theater scholar, practitioner, and critic Joan Herrington. Concurrently scheduled with course C271. P/NP or letter grading.