When it was announced that he would be taking on west side story, among. It is about the battle for supremacy between two gangs namely sharks puerto ricans and jets whites who are musical gangs. Il particolare che mi stava piu a cuore era larmonizzazione originale del brano. I feel there were a lot of untold stories within the framework of west side story. Analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story. Dec 07, 2009 west side story in this musical, it uses several types of narratives, for example, after the fight between the jets and puerto ricans, after the police leave, they enter the ally and the girl is begging to join the gang saying how much she wants to fight is a part of narrative sexuality b 34. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Anche tonight non scherza e poi vi sono interessanti passaggi dorchestra. The importance of west side story essay 980 words 4 pages west side story is one of the great contributors to musical theatre, in particular broadway where it originally opened on september 26 1957 at the winter garden theatre. How accurately does the song america, from the musical. There is a variation in soliloquy in the west side story from that in romeo and juliet, owing to the music accompaniment. The plot of the film involves two racebased gangs fighting to rule the same strip of street on the west side of new york city in the late 1950s. West side story was a broadway musical by leonard bernstein that was turned into an awardwinning musical film. The bedroom as a window opening onto the fire escape, a bed on a wall, a small shrine to the virgin, and a curtained doorway, rear.
West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. The essay begins with an introduction to the text studies. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words bartleby. Racism is a factor in the storyline of west side story and is analyzed in the selected articles, the code of the street and reframing gang violence. How does west side story question the idea of what it means to be an american. An analysis of the song america in the movie the west side story. He is the author of ten books, including the novels the amboy dukes, cry tough, and the square trap, which were all adapted into movies. In west side story, love at first sight between tony and maria set off a tragic chain of events which bring the story to its heartbreaking conclusion. The power struggle in west side story is representational of immigrant minorities in america, specifically puerto ricans, and their fight to have equal rights and opportunities in the areas in which they live. Irving shulman 191995 was a novelist and screenwriter, known for his depictions of urban life. West side story is a beautifullymounted, impressive, emotionridden and violent musical which, in its stark approach to a raging social problem and realism of unfoldment, may set a pattern for.
Nov 28, 2010 four dances from west side story features some of the highlights of these dance sequences transcribed for band. The scherzo is a lighthearted, carefree movement that comes from the dream ballet of the musical, in which tony imagines a world of peace and harmony to which he can take maria. Theres no doubt that west side story has long functioned as a vehicle. In my book club we took the comparison between this and the outsides. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
West side story as a analysis the average student has to read dozens of books per year. In writing romeo and juliet, shakespeare created a timeless tale of love destroyed by. It set the irish catholic jets against the jewish emeralds, which was in keeping with the ethnic makeup of the lower east side area of manhattan. This area is full of west side story has been a play that i have been wanting to read for quite a long time. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. From the first notes to the final breath, west side story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. It takes the same theme as shakespeares, romeo and juliet, in that it is about two lovers whose relationship is not accepted by others because of conflicting backgrounds. Analysis of emersons nature literature essay samples. West side story in this musical, it uses several types of narratives, for example, after the fight between the jets and puerto ricans, after the police leave, they enter the ally and the girl is begging to join the gang saying how much she wants to fight is a part of narrative sexuality b 34.
Free west side story essay sample bestwritingservice. As puerto ricans, the sharks are outcast almost from the beginning. West side story 1961 film literary elements gradesaver. Swain spend an entire chapter on the analysis of west side story. Mar 26, 2010 read analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story free essay and over 89,000 other research documents.
Browse essays about west side story and find inspiration. West side story has three main themes, love, tragedy, and justice, which are brought to light throughout the course of the movie. Beth cooper professor barrett introduction to drama west side story is an american musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, and lyrics by stephen sondheim. The music was written by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story essay. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise. The musicals plot is based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet. The story is loosely based on shakespeares romeo and juliet, telling the tale of. West side story, a musical adaptation of shakespeares romeo. About west side story west side story, which opened on september 26, 1957, is a landmark in american musical theatre history.
The plot of the west side story the movie west side story was depicted in the life of the citizens of the white and latin americans living in the 1950s in manhattan streets of the united states. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. The jets, a white gang of teenagers led by riff, and the sharks, the puerto ricans who recently came to the west side, are the two gangs vying to rule the same area on their block. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. The production is an infuriating example of what happens when a.
Four dances from west side story by leonard bernstein wind. West side storys somewhere published on 22nd october 2015 the film musical, west side story, 1961 is a film adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical of the same name, and the story itself is a modern adaptation of william shakespeares romeo and juliet, a timeless love story that is here placed in the contemporary setting of n. Baby john, portrayed as feminine, sensitive, and unwilling to assault anita, was coded as gay. Although it may seem at first glance to be a relatively light hearted and fun song, and its entertainment valuable is undeniable, there is also some level of satire in it.
I feel pretty and trimmed arthur laurentss sleek book, already one of the. For many years ive avoided writing about west side story. Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. May 17, 2017 west side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthwhile discussion of this music is going to require some prior knowledge of musical forms, terminology, and traditions. The west side story is a great musical that elucidates different themes through the usage of music and dance throughout the screenplay.
No one has time to read them all, but its important to go over them at least briefly. Free essays from 123 help me in 1961, west side story, a filmed version of the hit. The musical piece in west side story entitled america is one of the most memorable from the film. Sample essay on west side story essay writing help. Essays for west side story 1961 film west side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. Robbins had originally intended for west side story to be based upon a.
To ask other readers questions about west side story, please sign up. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. West side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthw. Buy cheap west side story essay this is a musical film performed in the like of shakespeares tale romeo and juliet. West side story is one of the few broadway musicals that can make a genuine claim to transforming the genre. The slight differences in west side story school edition include in conjunction with the jerome robbins estate, the choreography has been modified from the original to make it more accessible to high school performers while keeping the choreographys original story telling intact. Very interesting to compare contrast on that side of the. West side story actually started out as east side story in jerome robbins original pitch to bernstein in 1947 srsly. West side story 1961 film 1 what maisie knew 1 what we all long for 1 whats eating gilbert grape novel 1 when breath becomes air 1 when my brother was an aztec 1 when the emperor was divine 2 when the killings done 2 where are you going where have you been 11 where the red fern grows 1 whiplash 2 white fang 2 white noise. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the violent conflict between the two gangs. As a contemporary musical, west side story differs from romeo and juliet in form and detail, but stays true to the tragedy of innocent love caught in a complex social web that predestines its demise. West side story school edition music theatre international.
John bush jones, in his book, our musicals, ourselves. In 1961, west side story won the academy award for best picture. With additional resources for students and directors, west side story school edition makes the iconic musical more accessible and meaningful for high school performers. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the. Jan 31, 2014 the song lyrics by stephen sondheim is meant to show the clash of cultures not just between different ethnic groups but also within a group. What do you think the musical says about american national identity. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise.
It drives bernardo from the first framehes an angry, bitter manand both the jets and the police take their. Gay music for consuelo, who is examining herself in the. A division was clearly evident as it was created and recognized by the adolescents of the east coast and west coast of manhattan. There is a door between the bedroom and the parlor. The expectations of what people consider the good life to be may vary on a persons morals and their dreams of what life is truly about. Directed and choreographed by jerome robbins, the show was written by composer leonard bernstein, librettist arthur laurents, and lyricist stephen sondheim. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its street gangs at war one puerto rican, one the descendants of european immigrants seem touchingly innocent compared to contemporary reality.
Baby john west side story anybodys west side story musicals. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s. In jerome robbins and robert wises film adaptation of shakespeares play, this struggle is carried out between two rival gangs, the. Hinton would have been 11 years old when the movie first came out, and she wrote the outsiders five years later. Oct 10, 2014 an analysis of the success of west side story by howard goodall, extracted from the tv show twentieth century greats. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. After he emerges from this mysterious door, the man walks quietly through the bedroom before. As she dozes, a darkskinned man slowly emerges from the darkness of her closet, a darkness that is blacker and more absolute than the rest of the lightless room. Film music analysis west side storys somewhere matt joyce. Maria is a song from the 1957 broadway musical west side story, sung by the lead character tony. The importance of west side story essay 980 words bartleby. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of west side story.
On the other hand, in the rise and fall of the broadway musical, mark grant concentrates on the growth of the musical in light of changes in technology and music, and in writing the book and lyrics. Jun 16, 2017 west side story chapters 15 quiz 17 questions by zaberk last updated. In particular, youll need at least a basic understanding of key areas, motives, and intervals. For example, fourths appear twice in the phrase to him alone as the. Tonight ensemble maria, tony, anita, riff, bernardo, jets and sharks in this number, all the. Hinton tells the story of 14yearold ponyboy curtis and his struggle with right and wrong in a society in which he is. A proyouth strategy in much the same way as it is presented in the movie. A specific format is used when writing such essays. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story. Maria is sung by the male lead tony when he learns the name of. One example of this came through when bernardo sings, i think i go back to san juan. The narrative cuts to a vignette of a white woman sleeping in her bedroom in australia.
This is the first childrens book from londonbased illustrator fx goby and with his sister, writer valentine goby. Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. Critical response essays involved summarizing and analyzing another authors work. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet. The illustrations are packed full of gorgeous colour and inspirational. This classroom supplement is meant to accompany the materials in the soundfly course and to open. America is a fantastic example of the use of this literary tool. Crazy to think that what happens takes place in that time frame.