Date of Award
12-2013
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
English
First Advisor
Dr. Steve Feffer
Second Advisor
Dr. Jonathan Bush
Third Advisor
Dr. Cynthia Klekar
Fourth Advisor
Mark Liermann
Keywords
Ghost, lesbian, gay, drama, theater, paranormal
Abstract
Playwrights have been using ghost and spirit-characters in stage works since the classical era. From their beginnings as speechless, vengeful catalysts and informational narrators, the ghost-character has evolved to something that would not be recognizable to Greek playwrights. This is no more evident than in the works of contemporary gay and lesbian dramatists. Examining the selected works of playwrights Claudia Allen, Larry Kramer and Victor Bumbalo will illuminate the use of ghosts and the paranormal by these playwrights as a way to overcome personal trauma by either creating closure with autobiographical scenes or by using the absence of these characters as metaphorical ghosting. Through interviews with licensed drama therapists, we will also examine the use of the paranormal as a therapeutic tool.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Zorn, George William, "Writing the Wrongs: How Gay and Lesbian Playwrights Use the Paranormal in Autobiographical Writing" (2013). Dissertations. 228.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/228
Included in
Dramatic Literature, Criticism and Theory Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Playwriting Commons