Morals and Societal Values In The 1960s And

Morals and Societal Values In The 1960's And How They Relate To Our Production Unit 8 – Michael Costello

Introduction To Moral Values. It is hard to believe how much progress had been made prior to one decade before in the 50 s. Movements such as "The Civil Right's Movement" Led by Martin Luther King, Women's rights, A major milestone had just been passed in regards to Equal Pay for women, The decline in the Church's hold on society with the influx of groups such as the hippie movement famous for their view on Monogamy as well as the introduction of the use of artificial contraception for women. This was viewed by many as a way for women to also "Take the power back". Although we have come a long way even since then, it is hard to believe at the time how much things would in fact change from this point although the clog in the wheel had firmly started moving. Our Production of the Musical "Sweet Charity" concentrates on some of these events and really shapes the tone, setting and idea of the play in many aspects. The events that directly link to Sweet Charity that I am going to be focusing on are "Cults", "Women's Rights/ Will touch on the subject of Feminism as it also briefly links to the show" and briefly "The Hippie Movement"

Three events that directly link to Sweet Charity that I am going to be focusing on

Cults

Cults not only had a major affect on the 60's, influencing as stated earlier, more defiance among the U. S. Citizens, but also loosely touched upon how it influenced and affected my character Oscar Lindquist by joining "The Rhythm Of Life Church" in accordance with the actual stage script. And considering I have configured his backstory since with the intention of expanding on this link, plus giving him more layers, I feel there are even more good points to be made about the link between the 2. For this I will single out and pinpoint one particular cult. I. e. the one I based my character's backstory off of which is him being an ex member of "The Children Of God". But first I would like to talk about The Rhythm Of Life Church" and Oscar's affiliation with it and Other Churches. CONTINUED. .

PART 1 OF 2: "The Rhythm Of Life Church" (The Song) And How It Relates To "Sweet Charity" And To My Character Oscar Lindquist "The Rhythm Of Life Church", both the Scene and the scenes set around it play a huge integral part in "Sweet Charity". In regards to the song itself, not only was it featured as one of our main songs but also was the only number that featured each cast member from their respective show of Either Tuesday Cast or My Wednesday Cast's show. Albeit some cast member's may have been in a different role to their main role, everyone is featured on stage. Also this is the song we used for our curtain call on each of the four shows and unlike my other point where "The Rhythm Of Life" is indeed recognized as one of the main standout numbers, the fact that we used it as our curtain call was a totally original idea from the tutors of our production. We also used the song, and theme of "Cult Like Hippies" to promote Our showing of "Sweet Charity" over the 2 day period. In order to do this, we not only dressed up like impressionable young hippie followers but proceeded to go around the college in character singing and dancing "The Rhythm Of Life", all the while handing out flyers with the information of our show on it. The song was so crucial to our production that we would Use the song combined with a ball game to warmup to before a rehearsal sometimes.

PART 2 OF 2 : "The Rhythm Of Life Church" (The Scene And The Scenes Set Around It) And How It Relates To "Sweet Charity" And To My Character Oscar Lindquist In scenes "The Rhythm Of Life Church is referenced directly or indirectly about 3 times over 3 scenes. One particular scene where Oscar and Charity have just got out of an elevator that was stuck is the Church's introduction by name. Here we get a description from my Character Oscar Lindquist. When explaining and describing it to Charity about the Church, he says and I quote "Well If your not doing anything now. Would you like to come to Church with me? " To which Charity inquisitively asks "Hmmmm it depends. What denomination did you have in mind. Oscar then gives a brief history about The Cult. "It's the Rhythm Of Life Church, under the Manhattan Bridge. It was a jazz group in San Francisco and turned into a religion. I hear it's an emotional experience. ". This identifies that Oscar has enquired about the Church either through word of mouth or advertisement. Either way he is quite well informed about it. The next scene is undoubtedly where "The Rhythm Of Life" features most of all. The scene opens with The song commencing complete with hippies and flashy colors galore. When Daddy makes her entrance (Another innovative unique approach to the character the directors thought of as Daddy is usually a man. ), This sets the scene for fun and hilarity as there are joints and little subplots. There also massive references to a "cultish leader" leading his or her followers. Added in Parts such Daddy guiding Oscar and Charity by the hand to bring them toward her other followers. The followers dancing around Daddy, Oscar and Charity In a circle and of course Daddy getting lifted in the air by everybody kneeling like a messiah. The last scene talking about cults is more personal to Oscar as it is revealed he is on a mailing list for best rated church every month. Charity "Gee, where do you find paces like that? " Oscar "I'm on a mailing list, It's The church of the month club. " how This cult affected my character is that he is a very timid, easily put down and unsure man.

Cults (How they relate to my devised backstory) Oscar Lindquist was already a complex character. I felt however he could be made more complex and given more layers with the end result goal being that of a more humorous, emotionally driven performance than before. One of the main backstories as part of fleshing him out is to say he was part of a cult, more specifically "Children Of God", run by phony prophet David Berg who enticed Oscar to join the establishment and renounce his Jewish faith to which Oscar did. His mother, not enamored with this idea, disowned Oscar as a result. At first on arrival, people were friendly and hospitable and as stated in my diary "Welcomed him as one of their own". He found it strange that they would sell music in their restaurant. However his suspicions did not become clear until her was asked for money after letting slip he worked as a tax accountant. Matters were made worse when it was discovered he got a promotion. Then the harassment ceased to subside until he conceded reluctantly. However money was expected every week. At the same time as this going on Oscar had just made up with his mother but his telephone connection was cut by "Children Of God" in order to prevent him from contacting her. What pushed him to leave or the straw that broke the camels back eventually was all the babies with no mother and then his naïve personality finding out about incest.

The Relevance To The Production Of Sweet Charity {Women's liberation Movement} Women's rights are explored in our production of Sweet Charity. However it is more about the situation Charity and her gal pals are in as opposed to the resolution of what happens. Themes of ambition and hope do play into it, especially in the song "There's Gotta be".

Contextual Task: Women's Movement/ Feminism (Women's Liberation) • • There's Got to Be Something Better Than This". And the relevance to the production of "Sweet Charity". Referencing themes of Loss of Identity, Rejection, fulfillment and Hope. This song features in "Sweet Charity". The stereotypical woman of the 1960's may have been well educated. She could have been married and then her main purpose in life was to take care of the home. She more often than not supported her husband in his continuing education and his career. She abandoned her ambitions and further education, Her prime purpose was planning menus, keeping the home. Ten or fifteen years into the marriage she would ask herself "What's it al about? ". "There's got to be something better than this". She becomes depressed and questions her own self worth. She is not fulfilled. There was also the added fear of her husband divorcing her, taking assets etc. She would be left wondering, pondering the fact that she had given away so may years of her life to this man to end up alone and feeling rejected. Could she have actually gotten that college degree? Now she is very insecure. There's. Even if her husband stuck around, while she is "stuck" as a housewife, to old to be employed by Male dominated interviewers, He (The Husband) on the other hand is Rising on the Corporate Ladder.

Charity (Values Moral Ethics, Codes Of Behaviour) The Musical "Sweet Charity is made up of many themes and consists of many themes and underlining stories. Themes include Hope Rejection Ilicit Activity Prostitution Adultery (Specifically when Charity is explaining to ------ in She exclaims Her and her Lover/boyfriend at the start of the musical in the first scene Charlie are engaged to be married and he's going to Charlie a ring just as soon as his own marriage breaks up which is "Not so long from now". ) Physical Abuse (Although this is only lightly touched on in such scenes as "The Opening Park" were Jilted lover and love rat Charlie pushes Charity in the lake and then again were Oscar ironically also bafflingly pushes Charity in the lake. (Luckily however we changed this stage direction and had Oscar accidentally push Charity in the lake after throwing his hands up

The Relevance Of Themes Of Fulfillment, Longing, Ambition, Rejection And Hope, And How This Topic Related To The Production Of Sweet Charity (Topic is continued in the next frame)

Feminism And How It Links To "Sweet Charity" Women wanted liberation Women wanted to be liberated in Sweet Charity. Women were still fighting for their rights

"There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" This is a song from Sweet Charity where Charity and Her two Best Friends Nickie and Helene sing about making changes in their life. They are down in the dumps, and they are imagining other prospects and careers they could have instead. They are dancers and Hostesses in a club frequented by men called "The Fandango Ballroom". In the original adaptation 1957 French-Italian drama film "Nights Of Cabiria" and in some versions, Charity is a prostitute, however in the 1963 Neil Simon rewritten Broadway based "Sweet Charity" Film Version she is a private dancer as opposed to the former and in our production She is just a dancer at a sleazy club, however it is alluded to that she has done more than just dance with men. This is further hinted at in the Final Scene in the Park where Oscar dumps Charity and confronts her about her past. He has recently discovered her profession. He states "Together I'd destroy you, Sooner or later it would start again and I would hound you day and night, what were their names? , How long did you know them before? , How did you feel when they? ". The song begins with Nickie talking about not wanting to stand around and do nothing and that she's going to "get out". She then begins singing the Title and chorus followed by her verse, solo In which she talks about being a secretary " Then I sit on my desk on the forty-first floor, In my copy of a copy of Dior! I'll receive. . . . ! Helene then sings her part yearning to be a hat check girl "Check your hat sir, check your coat sir" etc. We then get Charity claiming she also wants to get out and do something, just better herself. Women wanted liberation Women wanted to be liberated in Sweet Charity. Women were still fighting for their rights

The Hippie Movement And How It Links To "Sweet Charity" As stated this one will be brief. The only link with the hippie movement and our musical is that At "The Rhythm Of Life Church", the song and scene as a whole show hippies in a more comedic light all the while retaining their symbols and peace gestures etc. The second appearance of hippies in our musical comes when Oscar is trying to ask Oscar out on a date in the subway. as she is trying to painfully explain she will meet him in front of the "Y". He keeps asking "Where" while puzzled to which "Hippies say "In front of they man" This shows hippies are not overtly high and able to communicate.

How My research helped me to interpret my role in the production of Sweet Charity I believe that research I did in my chosen topic was very useful in allowing me to interpret my character in the Production of "Sweet Charity". In the interpretation I recreated my character role in the depiction of Oscar Lindquist. Oscar is very shy, introvert, naïve and very easily influenced. He has very strong morals and values. He is very set In his views. He has a strong bond a good relationship with his mother. This despite they did have a falling out. This occurred when Oscar naively became involved in a cult led by Charismatic leader, David Berg. Oscar was searching for some inner peace and contentment and was innocently sucked in to the ideology of The "Children Of God". They promised inner peace and a deep meaning that would fulfil him. Oscar renounced his Jewish faith and fell out with his mother or his mother renounced him. A lot of his deeply held opinions stem from his Jewish upbringing. He is highly educated, holds down a good job and is functioning very well in spite of his insecurities and his difficulties in relation to his Asperger's Syndrome. When he meets and falls in love with Charity Hope Valentine, he really believes that he has found the girl of his dreams. He has had in the past other relationships, but nothing that was very meaningful and lasted

How my research helped me to interpret my role In the Production Of Sweet Charity • I believe that research I did in my chosen topic was very useful in allowing me to interpret my character in the Production of "Sweet Charity". In this interpretation I recreated my character role in the depiction of Oscar Lindquist. I wanted to expand on the original and make Oscar more complex. By creating my own backstory I wanted to expose Oscar's Asperger's syndrome, one of the traits I gave him. Yet I wanted him to remain humane, endearing, genuine and considerate. Oscar is very shy, introvert, naïve and very easily influenced. He has very strong morals and values. He is very set In his views. He has a strong bond a good relationship with his mother. This despite they did have a falling out. This occurred when Oscar naively became involved in a cult led by Charismatic leader, David Berg. Oscar was searching for some inner peace and contentment and was innocently sucked in to the ideology of The "Children Of God". They promised inner peace and a deep meaning that would fulfil him. Oscar renounced his Jewish faith and fell out with his mother, as she could not accept his decision. However they did eventually make up but do not discuss the issue. A lot of his deeply held opinions stem from his Jewish upbringing. He is highly educated, holds down a good job and is functioning very well in spite of his insecurities and his difficulties in relation to his Asperger's Syndrome.

When he meets and falls in love with Charity Hope Valentine, he really believes that he has found the girl of his dreams. He has had in the past other relationships, but nothing that was very meaningful and lasted. Oscar is still a virgin and firmly believes there should be no sexual intercourse before marriage. When he discovers Charities past, he so much wants to be at peace with it and accept her as she is. We see Oscar struggling with this and at war with himself. He is morally conflicted. This becomes really evident and made really clear only in our production when in the second last scene "The Surprise Party" we see Herman spank Charity on her bottom. You can see Oscar cringe at the sight of this by Charity laughing at this and brushing it off. It is further made apparent when he avoids shaking Herman's hand by shoving a bottle in it instead. This was the last straw for Oscar and he realises he cannot go through with marrying Charity added to justify Oscar's motivations. You realise he really cannot come to terms with Charity's past men and sexual experiences. It is not his fault his morals are as they are. He does try. This I was very proud of and felt it was one of the added touches that makes our "Sweet Charity" unique.

Summary To summarise, there can be a lot of good similiarities and concept, film and book. I hope we get the award

Refmeapp references Bibliography 1960 s events (no date) Available at: https: //www. google. co. uk/search? q=1960 s+events&espv=2& biw=1366&bih=639&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0 ah UKEwjfy 6 Dilc. LNAh. Xp. Jc. AKHVD 4 CIc. Q_AUIBig. B#tbm=isch&q=19 60 s+happenings (Accessed: 25 June 2016). 1960 s housewife husband meme (no date) Available at: https: //www. google. ie/search? q=1960 s+housewife+hubad+m eme&hl=en&biw=1242&bih=581&site=webhp&source=lnms& tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0 ah. UKEwjy 1 OSEnc. LNAh. WLL 8 AKHYLQDz 0 Q_AUIBig. B#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=1960 s+housewife+husband (Accessed: 25 June 2016). 1960 s new york street people (no date) Available at: https: //www. google. ie/search? q=1960 s+new+york+street+pe ople&biw=1242&bih=581&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa =X&ved=0 ah. UKEwiii. Iuol. MLNAh. VDLMAKHdpa. AQQs. AQIHQ#tbm=isch&q=1960 s+new+york+crossing&imgrc=o