The History of Literature 642 Theater and Democracy (with James Shapiro)
Oct 14, 2024
James Shapiro, a Columbia professor and esteemed literary scholar, delves into the fascinating history of the Federal Theatre Project initiated during the Great Depression. He discusses how FDR's administration employed thousands of artists, including legends like Orson Welles and Arthur Miller, to produce over a thousand plays that transformed American culture. Shapiro also explores the project's impact on democracy, the tensions between art and politics, and its lasting legacy—raising questions about the contemporary relevance of theater in society.
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Massive Reach Of The Federal Theatre
- The Federal Theatre Project employed 12,000 artists and staged ~1,000 productions between 1935–1939.
- Thirty million Americans saw these plays, two-thirds of whom had never seen live theater before.
Arts As Public Work
- Federal funding for arts under the WPA treated artists as workers with targeted roles.
- The program aimed to preserve cultural life while providing incomes, not just entertainments.
Hamlet Resounds In Prison Audiences
- James Shapiro described performing Hamlet for inmates at a federal prison where prisoners responded deeply.
- He observed that incarcerated audiences often grasp thematic resonances in ways outsiders don't.