The Notion of Progress in Kushner´s "Angels in America" (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, University of Würzburg (Philosophische Fakultät I), course: Race, Gender and Identity in Postmodern American Theater, language: English, abstract: How are Kushner¿s characters in "Angels in America" dealing with the new challenges in the changing postmodern world of the 1980s? Which position does the play take towards the ambivalence of progress? These questions are now to be analysed in the following term paper. Therefore the two positions contra and pro progress are closely examined and carefully weighed up against each other. Not to go beyond the scope of this term paper, only the main points of the notion of progress in "Angels in America" are worked out and exemplary substantiated.

"[Y]our ambivalent about everything", Belize characterizes Louis suitably in one of their discussions about politics and society. As this quotation is linked to one character of Tony Kushner¿s "Angels in America", which consists of the two books called "Millenium Approaches" and "Perestroika", one could surely transfer this statement to the whole play. Ambivalence plays a main role within the drama and consequently throws up many significant questions. One of them deals with the notion of progress. Kushner takes up the theme of progress and throws light on its ambivalent character.

Progress, especially in today¿s postmodern era, can be connected to something positive, considering the amount of knowledge and new technologies, which make life easier. Moreover personal progress implies strive for improvement, which is inherent in every human being. Nevertheless a progressing world is a world in which things are getting faster and often uncontrollable. Traditions and old values die, while individualisation and isolation grow, which leads to the rise of uncertainty.