The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson
The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson premiered as a play in 2021. It tells the story of Dawson's struggles in the industry through creative opera and acting performance. One theme that the play focuses on is that of economics. Dawson is planning on having a performance in an outdoor venue, but the weather is not permitting it. A performance hall is available, but the coordinators would require African Americans to sit in a different section in the back. This struggle is what much of the play centers around. Dawson has a few choices. She can 1) hold the play outdoors for little to no audience, 2) sacrifice her pride and morals and perform at the hall for increased ticket sales, or 3) cancel the performance and get into contract trouble. This is such a difficult choice because the financial success of her company is at war with its core values.
The play presents issues that are still present in the entertainment industry today. I often see this in the music industry. Although rap and hip-hop have had much commercial success, the artists are often stereotyped and discriminated against. Their music, which is often explicit, has faced almost as much pushback as it has success. Rappers often gain negative press for promoting things like drugs and violence, whereas in reality rappers simply tell their experiences and, in many cases, actually discourage this behavior if you pay close attention to their lyrics. In addition to negative media attention, African American artists are also taken advantage of through record deals. They are offered small amounts of money that entices artists that are sometimes financially struggling. This forces them into not only rushing their creative process, but also conceding much of the ownership and profits of their music. As a response, many artists have chosen to release music independently. This shows that even today, African American artists face somewhat similar barriers to those of Mary Cardwell Dawson.
I was struck by your comments on the way in which African American artists are taken advantage of. I agree that young artists are exploited in their contracts by companies, not allowing them to enjoy what they have learned. This reminds me of the financial struggles of Dawson. She was frustrated by the idea of possibly having to concede her morals for quick money. However, she persisted and was rewarded for such. Similarly, independent artists are also choosing to stick to their morals and take charge of their own art.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your comments on the way African American artists are taken advantage of. It is a sad reality that many young artists are exploited in their contracts and are not able to reap the rewards of their hard work. The exploitation of African American artists is a systemic problem that has been going on for centuries. It is a result of racism and discrimination, and it is a problem that needs to be addressed. Companies need to be held accountable for their actions and artists need to be given fair compensation for their work. It is also important to educate young artists about their rights and to provide them with resources to protect themselves from exploitation. Mary Cardwell Dawson's story is a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right and fighting for fair treatment for all artists.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love how you structured your piece. It is very well written and I think that it flows very well. You did a great job describing the economic issues that they faced, while also touching on the segregation that they faced. I think it is neat how you connected the play to the hip-hop and rap industry. I believe that many people often overlook the struggles that many artists still face today, so I think that it is great that you talk about it in here and connect it so well.
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