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. The west side story does work as a more updated version of romeo and juliet. Author and authors purpose the author of west side story is aurthur laurents. The love story of romeo and juliet becomes that of maria and tony. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as modern version of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Look at the description essay sample about west side story. Essay in 1961, west side story, a filmed version of the hit broadway musical that was inspired by william shakespeares romeo and juliet, was released to viewers, who just could not resist the energy and excitement of the movie. I wanted to learn how the puerto ricans coped with the racism and. Whenever i see a movie or stage production of a play, i am always interested to read the actual book to have a different perspective on the characters and overall plot. In this lesson, we will explore west side story, a musical written by composer leonard bernstein. 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. Leonard bernstein created a musical based on the romeo and juliet story.
Theres a lot of plot in west side story but its scenes are probably the shortest of any book musical thats ever existed. Welcome to the dollhouse book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. West side story transfers shakespeares romeo and juliet to presentday new york. Like romeo and juliet, west side story is a tragic love story. West side story won an almostrecord ten oscars, including best picture, supporting awards to chakiris and rita moreno as bernardos girlfriend, anita, and best director to robbins and wise. West side story is iowa city west highs student newsmagazine. 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.
Analysis of west side story essay analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as modern. 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. West side story analysis and other kinds of academic papers in our essays database at many essays. The musicals plot is based on william shakespeares romeo and juliet. How accurately does the song america, from the musical. Essays for west side story 1961 film west side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. West side story and romeo and juliet west side story and romeo and juliet are basically two movies about starcrossed lovers from two different families. All young people should read, see what america is and lessons that need to be learned. West side story is a contemporary rendition of shakespeares classic, romeo and juliet. The feud between the houses of the capulets and the montagues is recreated in one involving two teenage gangs, the jets and the sharks.
In 1961, west side story, a filmed version of the hit broadway musical that was inspired by william shakespeares romeo and juliet, was released to viewers, who just could not resist the energy and excitement of the movie. The opening prologue from the 10time academy award winning musical film west side story, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary on november 15, 2011. Two young adults who typically would not associate fall in love. West side storys theme is centered on the struggles of two group. Classroom supplement in celebration of carnegie hall s 125th anniversary season, the weill music institute wmi launches the somewhere project, a citywide exploration of west side story. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words. Analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story essay. 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. A proyouth strategy in much the same way as it is presented in the movie. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question more analysis whale rider. West side story 1961 film essays are academic essays for citation. West side story the student news site of west high school.
Set in the late 1950s in the west side of new york, gang rivalry and love story all in one. Kim reynolds, announced that all iowa schools will not have inperson classes for the rest. Like this page for updates on school events, students, news. An analysis of the theme of prejudice in the west side story by arthur laurents. There are more than enough similarities to tell that it is written on the same story line as romeo and juliet. This is a great product for fans of west side story. The resulting film was a tremendous critical as well as commercial successwises biggest hit to dateand received 10 academy awards, including best picture. Adults barely feature in the plot of the film, and it often feels as though the two gangs are inhabiting an empty city where they run the entire social. The rivalry between the gangs is in place from the beginning, but it reaches a fever pitch when maria falls for tony, the founder of the jets, at a local dance.
West side story prologue official full number 50th. Includes information on performances all over the world, lyrics to the songs, and other information. On the contrary, the boys are singing about wanting to go back to puerto rico. Five fast facts winner of 10 academy awards soundtrack was no 1 on the billboard charts for 54 weeks 94% on rotten tomatoes based on romeo and juliet, which is based on a poem by arthur brooke called the tragic historye of romeus and juliet, which is based on a poem by the roman poet ovid called pyramus and thisbe. Although the movie may seem like nothing more than a musical about two feuding gangs in the 1950s, this story dates back to. From the musical hits to the plot, west side story gives us a true essence. Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. Free west side story papers, essays, and research papers. 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. The popular 1961 film, west side story, follows the adventure and triumph in new york city, of two starcrossed lovers, born into opposing dichotomies. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the violent conflict between the two gangs. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city.
Anonymous period 8 11514 film west side story analysis west side story is an adaption of a play written by arthur laurents, and remade into a film, directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. The authors purpose was to show the racial discrimination of the puerto ricans in new york during the 1950s. Four dances from west side story by leonard bernstein. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of west side story.
From the musical hits to the plot, west side story gives us a true essence of urban love. West side story opened at new yorks winter garden theater on september 26, 1957, and has remained in the repertory ever since. Maria is a newlyarrived puerto rican girl whose brother heads a gang called the sharks against the caucasian gang called the jets. 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. West side story anaylsis essaysas 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. A literary analysis of anything goes, she loves me and the west side story. The title was changed to west side story when the creators realized that gang warfare in new york had moved from the east side to the west. The west side story received a total of ten academy awards and it achieved several nominations and recognitions in the united states. Reviewed in the united states on december 27, 2019. Read analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story free essay and over 89,000 other research documents. This updated version is set amid a turf war of two rival street gangs in new york city. You can get your custom paper from our expert writers. West side story has three main themes, love, tragedy, and justice, which are brought to light throughout the course of the movie. In west side story, love at first sight between tony and maria set.
Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. To todays standards these two gangs are more likely to be compared to a chess club than a gang. West side story 1961 film essay questions gradesaver. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of west side story 1961 film by robert wise. 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. Browse essays about west side story and find inspiration. Peter n the song america is sung by the puerto rican sharks. Essay about west side story full movie rita moreno returns to west side story, in new role bbc news west side story film analysis essay zktbuh. In the case of west side story, maria is a young woman from a puerto rican family and has a brother in a gang called the sharks. 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. Analysis the tonight ensemble from west side story. How does west side story question the idea of what it means to be an american. A literary analysis of romeo and juliet by william shakespeare and a.
The girls who sing in this song are singing about how much they hate puerto rico and love america. Furthermore, tonight is a good example of a song that advances the plot. As part of the project, wmi has partnered with soundfly to produce an. An analysis of the west side story with romeo and juliet. In west side story, themes of love, tragedy, and justice are brought to life in dance, song, and music. In the opening of the film, during which nearly 15 minutes pass before a real line of dialogue is spoken. Swain spend an entire chapter on the analysis of west side story.
Tonight ensemble maria, tony, anita, riff, bernardo, jets and sharks in this number, all the. An analysis of jerome robbins and robert wises west side story. Thirtyeight years later, viewers, like myself, still cannot resist it. The setting is the upper west side of new york city in the late 1950s with conflict between rival street gangs rather than families. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words bartleby. It starred carol lawrence as maria west side story opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12. Analysis of west side story analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. America west side story essay topics, sample papers. What do you think the musical says about american national identity. A comparison of the power struggles in romeo and juliet and west side story. The film version of 1961 was a smashing success, earning 10 oscars, including. West side story actually started out as east side story in jerome robbins original pitch to bernstein in 1947 srsly.
In looking at the story, we will also examine the songs and characters and learn a bit about. The book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s. West side story is a romantic tragedy about two characters that are supposedly completely different and arent accepted when they fall in love. 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. This award winning movie, west side story achieved success in depicting the current existing culture of the americans both. I feel like you can gain insight into this blend more easily because the connections. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. I had never seen the film, which was directed by robert wise and jerome robbins, before, but.
272 1088 1329 198 867 866 960 1306 520 1415 582 822 633 1466 511 1085 520 1234 1407 870 533 426 899 1499 153 1352 379 1424 577 961 1004 1393 553 553 741 1342 125