Week #9: Gem of the Ocean

Syllabus

Week 9: May 5, 2021 – Gem of the Ocean (2003) Synopsis: Set in Pittsburgh in 1904, the play features a man whose small crime has had deadly consequences for another man. Feeling guilty, he comes seeking the spiritual healing of Aunt Ester. A recurring character in Wilson’s plays, Ester claims to be 285 years old and is the kind matriarch of her household in Pittsburgh.


– August Wilson in the “City That Encourages Dreams”. https://august wilson studygroup.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/project_muse_588846.pdf


(short read, great bio info)

– Prologue: definition and examples – https://literarydevices.net/prologue/


– Baraka: Columbia the Gem of the Ocean – https://augustwilsonstudygroup.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/baraka-gem-of-the-ocean.pdf


 (early dramatic piece by Baraka, not really a forerunner to Wilson’s Gem, but definitely an influence piece)

– YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Lvs-e_eIXbpLBU1gTGwfhRV207HTXPb

(Playlist music selections from the play show, perhaps, church origins of blues music. Plus, lots of video clips from performances.)


– Dramaturgical case study of Gem of the Ocean: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjn2-i3tLn3AhXFpnIEHU4kDEUQFnoECAYQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstars.library.ucf.edu%2Fcgi%2Fviewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D3512%26context%3Detd&usg=AOvVaw0CeAVMuTFzgbZ1HEM83Pih

(mainly pages 16-34, Gem of the Ocean Textual Analysis)


– Huntington Literary Guide for Teachers – Gem of the Ocean: https://augustwilsonstudygroup.wordpress.com/huntington-literary-guide-for-teachers-gem-of-the-ocean/

The dramaturgical case study included has some interesting merit as the MA dissertation by a white student who directed an all-white cast of Gem of the Ocean at her college, fully cognizant about what she read in August Wilson interviews about why that was not the way he would go forward. A lot of courage and spunk! I don’t know if this has been done before. Please checkout the section on textual analysis (pps 16-34).

Articles about quilting: http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/abolitionist.htm

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/did-quilts-hold-codes-to-the-underground-railroad