Commedia, Blacklists, and Creative Resilience

This chapter explores the teaching of Commedia dell'arte, contrasting its improvisational style with scripted theater while placing it in the cultural context of the late 1950s and early 1960s. It discusses the impact of the Hollywood blacklist, detailing the severe consequences faced by creatives during McCarthyism and highlighting the resilience that led to alternative forms of expression. The narrative connects these historical events to contemporary issues, underscoring the enduring legacy of the blacklist in today's socio-political landscape.