StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter

HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009
ReprintedwithpermissionfromInsideOut,theEducationaldepartmentfortheDenverCenterTheatreCompany(January,2002)

THEPLAY
SpinningIntoButtertakesplaceatBelmontCollege,afictionalliberalartscollegeinVermont.When SimonBrick,oneofthefewAfricanAmericanstudentsoncampus,reportsthathehasfoundracist notesattachedtohisdoor,eventsaresetinmotion.SarahDaniels,thenewdeanofstudents,triesin vaintodefusetherapidlyescalatingwhirlwindofemotionsstirredupamongtheadministratorsand students. Sarahsoonfindsherselfatoddswiththerestoftheschoolsadministrators,whoaredesperatetokeep newsoftheeventfromreachingthemediawhiledemonstratingthattheyembraceculturalandethnic diversity.Farfromrelievingtensionsoncampus,theirattemptstobepoliticallycorrectfantheflames ofconflict. Thetitleistakenfromthe1922childrensbookTheStoryofLittleBlackSambo.Thistitlehasbecome synonymouswithracialstereotypesandisanappropriatemetaphorforAmericanracismandthe examinationofacollegeadministrationthrownintoparalyzingconfusion. Strauss:Tigersjustkeptchasingeachother,fasterandfasteraroundthetree.They beganspinningandspinninguntiltheywerejustayellowblurandtheyspunsofast, theyspunthemselvesintobutter.

THEPLAYWRIGHT
RebeccaGilmanisanativeofTrussville,Alabama(nearBirmingham)whereshewasborn36yearsago. LivingnowinForestpark,asuburbofChicago,shearrivedintheMidwestbyacircuitouspath.She studiedatMiddleburyCollegeinVermontaftergraduatingfromBirminghamCentralCollegein Alabama.Aftervariousdigressions,MissGilmanattendedtheUniversityofIowawhereshereceivedher MasterofFineArtsdegreeinplaywriting.AftermovingtoChicago,shesupportedherwritingwitha varietyofclericaljobs.AsidefromasmallproductionofoneofherearlyeffortsinHouston,no9neof herplayshadbeenproducedprofessionallybythemid1990s. In1996,theCircleTheatreofForestParkproducedherplay,TheGloryofLiving,adarkandintensely violentworkaboutaTexasteenagemurderesswhopicksuphomelessgirlsforherboyfriendssexual kicks.TheplaycaughttheattentionoftheGoodmanTheaterinChicagoandMissGilmanwasoffered itsMcPhersonAward.SpinningIntoButterwascommissionedbytheGoodmanTheatreaspartofthis awardandpremieredinitsstudiointhespringof1999.TheplayhadisNewYorkpremiereatLincoln Centerinthesummerof2000. RebeccaGilmanistherecipientoftheRobertL.StevensAwardformtheKennedyCenterFundforNew Americanplays;theOsborneAward,givenbytheAmericanTheatreCriticsAssociation,Londons GeorgeDevineAward,andfourJosephJeffersonAwardsforBestNewPlay(TheGloryofLiving,Spinning IntoButter,TheCrimeoftheCenturyandBoyGetsGirl).

StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter
HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009

RACIALANDETHNICDIVERSITY
Intheplay,PatrickisreluctanttodeclareanyethniccategorizationuntilSarahinformshimthat theScholarshipCommitteewillnotacceptNuyoricanasagroup.HeconsentstoPuertoRican becausethe$12,000.00isastrongtemptation. Ethnicity(fromtheGreekwordethnosmeaningpeopleornation)hascometomeanany groupwhichisdefinedorsetoffbyrace,religionornationaloriginorsomecombinationofthese categories.Thepersistenceofethnic/raciallabelsinoursocietyisoneofthebasicissuesoftheplay andseemstoplagueournationaswellasBelmontCollege. ThefaultmayliewithourFoundingFatherswhostipulatedinArticleIoftheConstitutionthata censusmustbetakeneverytenyearsandstipulatedhowtheenumerationwastobeconducted. ExplicitlyinthecaseoftheIndiansandimplicitlyinthecaseofBlackslaves,thecensushasalways beenentwinedwithrace.In1978,theOfficeofManagementandBudget(OMB),whichoperatesthe BureauoftheCensus,issuedadirectiveentitledRaceandEthnicStandardsforFederalStatisticsand AdministrativeReporting.Itlaiddownthefivebasiccategoriesthatarestillinusetoday:American IndianorAlaskanNative,AsianorPacificIslander,Black,WhiteandHispanic.Inthe1990 census,aquestionorobjectiveindicatorwasaddedtodetermineapersonsancestryorethnicorigin. TheexamplesincludedGerman,Italian,AfroAmerican,Croatian,CapeVerdean,Dominican,Haitian, Cajun,FrenchCanadian,Korean,Lebanese,Mexican,Irish,Polish,Slovakamongthe21choicesgiven. ThereasonforthisadditionisthatmanyAmericansfeeluneasyaboutbeingassignedaracialorethnic categorybythegovernment.Thus,thecensusandmostothergovernmentsurveysofferedthechoiceof selfidentification.SuchanindicatorfitswellwiththespiritofAmericanindividualismandsatisfied advocatesofaffirmativeactionwhoarguedforspecificracialboundariestoprotecttheminoritiesthey represent.SoPatricksselfidentificationisNuyorican,asubjectivecategoryherecognizesbutthe ScholarshipCommitteedoesnot. PeterSkerryinhisbookCountingontheCensus?arguesfortheOMBscategories.Thecensus dataprovidesuswithimportantinformation,hesays.Forexample,thelargeraminorityscount,the moregovernmentresourcesindividualsofthatdesignatedminoritycanclaim.Otherbenefitsfor minoritiesincludetheabilitytodocumentdiscriminationoracquireequalemploymentopportunities.It isalsoasourceofgrouppride.ThoughtheOMBisnotapoliticalagency,itscountofminoritiesgives specificgroupsmorepoliticalcloutthanothers.Thevirtuehereisthatpreviouslyexcludedgroupsare nowrepresentedinthepoliticalprocess.Theviceisthattheprocessisgenerallymorecontentiousand lesscivil. Thosewhoopposerace/ethnic/genderidentificationargueforindividualautonomyand personalauthenticity.RobertAlterwritesthatapersonrequiresasocialcontext,butcanoperatewith individualuniqueness..andmodernindividualism.ThisstatementunderlieswhatAfricanAmerican studentimpliesintheplaywhenhesays:Idontknowwhyhedidit.Itsnotlikeweallthinkalike,just becausewereblack.Inaddition,JimSleeperoffersaseriousindictmentondiversification.Inhisbook, LiberalRacism,hearguesthatliberaldiversitydefaultsontheAmericanpromiseofequalityby 2

StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter
HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009 reinforcingtheawarenessofraceandethnicity.Whenweareaskedtodefineourselvesbyspecial nationalorracialgroups,thispracticenolongercurbsdiscrimination,itinvitesitRacialetiquette begetsracialepithets,assurelyashypocrisybegetshostility.FatherAndrewGreeley,asocialscientist, haswrittenasixstepparadigmfortheAmericanacculturatio9nandassimilationprocess.Hissixthstep calledemergingadjustment[signifies]aseasyacceptanceofboththeethnicandAmericanidentitiesas completelycompatible.AsoptimisticasFatherGreeleyis,authorsPaulaD.McClainandJoseph Stewart,Jr.remainindoubt.Intheirbook,CanWeAllGetAlong?(RodneyKingsplea).Theyconclude thatissuesofracewereattheheartofthebeginningofthisnationandtheyremaincentraltothe Americanpoliticalsysteminthe21stcentury. AsforcollegesanduniversitiessuchasBelmont,theyremaininadifficultposition.Accordingto JackFriedenthal,FredaAlversonProfessorofLawatGeorgeWashingtonUniversitySchoolofLawin Washington,DC,schoolscannotaskforstudentethnicitydata,unlesstheyareprivatelyfundedby tuitionordonation.Infact,scholarshipscannotbeawardedonthebasisofethnicity,soBelmontis eitherprivateorPatrickistoreceiveascholarshipbasedontalent.Mostcollegeapplicantshavea race/ethnicsection,butitcanbemarkedoptionalordeclinetostate.Yetcollegeswant,evencovet, racialandethnicdiversityforpublicfundingdollarsandfuturerecruitmentofstudents. Ifsuchisthesituationinhighereducation,thenhowcanweavoidethniclabels?Ourbesthope isinwhattheymuchmalignedcensusreveals:Weareintermixingasindividualstothepointwhere groupbarriersarebreakingdown

PERSONSMENTIONEDINTHEPLAY
JeanToomer(18941967):AfricanAmericanauthorwholivedduringtheHarlemRenaissance.Hisworks includeCane(1923).Essentials(1931)andTheFlavorofMan. RainerMarlaRilke(18751926):PraguebornpoetwhowroteRomanticpoetry.HisworksincludeThe NotebooksofMalteLauridsBrigge,BookofHoursandSonnetstoOrpheus.Hebelievedapoetmust acceptrealityinallitsaspects. ToniMorrison:PulitzerandNobelPrizewinningauthorofsuchnovelsasSula,SongofSolomon,Tar Baby,BelovedandJazz. AynRand(19051982):RussianAmericanplaywright,screenwriter,novelistandphilosopher.Herplay NightofJanuary16thwasproducedin1932.Hernovels,WetheLiving,TheFountainheadandAtlas Shruggedwerepublishedbetween1933and1957.Thereafter,shewroteandlecturedonher philosophy,Objectivism.Oneoftheprinciplesofthisphilosophyisantialtruism.Randfoundthedictum thatyoumustsurrenderyourowninterestsforthesakeofothersridiculous.Suchreasoningexplains whyshewouldthinksocialworkaneedlessprofession.

POLITICALCORRECTNESS:DEFINITIONSANDORIGINS
Sarah:Becauseitwaspatronizing.Totheminoritystudents.

StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter
HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009
Patrick:Youknow,Ididntcorrectyoubefore,whenIwasinherebefore,butitsstudentsofcolor,not minoritystudents.

PatricksresponsetoSarahisanexampleofpoliticalcorrectness.TheAmericanHeritageDictionary definesthetermas: 1.Of,relatingto,orsupportingbroadsocial,political,andeducationalchange,especiallytoredress historicalinjusticesinmatterssuchasrace,class,gender,andsexualorientation.2.Beingorperceived asbeingoverconcernedwithsuchchange,oftentotheexclusionofothermatters. Otherwritersdefineitindifferentways: Politicalcorrectnessmaybeviewedasanequilibriumpatternofexpressionandinference withinagivencommunitywherereceivers[assign]undesirablequantitiestosenderswho expressthemselvesinanincorrectwaycausingsenderstoavoidsuchexpressions.Glenn Loury,anAfricanAmericanprofessoratBostonUniversity. Politicalcorrectnessisalabelslappedonanenormousrangeofliberalviewsfrom environmentalismtomulticulturalismtoabortionrights.JohnK.WilsonofChicagoUniversity. Politicalcorrectnessisslavishadherencetolanguagethatisneutralofanysexist,racist,ageist oranyotheristconnotations.JohnE.VandelWeteringofNewYorkStateUniversity. PoliticalcorrectnessisusingLanguageissuchawaysoasnottobeoffensivetoothers especiallyinsensitiveareasofrace,ethnicityandgender.LaurenceR.MarcusinFightingWords. Politicalcorrectnessisanideologicalnarrowing,intoleranceandsilencingofdissent,commonly attributedtotheleftbytheright.MichaelS.Cummings. Finally,TheOfficialPoliticallyCorrectDictionaryandHandbookdefinespoliticallycorrectasculturally sensitive;multiculturallyunexceptionable;appropriatelyinclusive.Thetermpoliticallycorrect,co optedbythewhitepowereliteasatoolforattackingmulticulturalism,isnolongerpoliticallycorrect. Justaswriterscannotagreeupononestandarddefinition,noonecanconcurontheoriginsoftheterm. LaurenceMarcusstatesthatpoliticalcorrectnesshasbeenapartoftheAmericanlandscapefromits earliestdays.WhenRogerWilliamsandAnneHutchinsonwerebanishedtothefrontiersofRhodeIsland andConnecticut,respectively,itwasbecausetheydidnotagreewiththepoliticallycorrectreligionof Massachusetts.JohnK.Wilsonsaysthetermfirstappearedin1793inaSupremeCourtcaseofChisholm vs.Georgia.JusticeJamesWilsonwroteanopinionobjectingtothewordingofacommontoast,tothe UnitedStatesinsteadoftothePeopleoftheUnitedStatesisthetoastgiven.Thisisnotpolitically correct.JusticeWilsonfeltthepeople,notthestates,heldtherealauthorityofthecountryand therefore,atoasttothestateswasnotpoliticallycorrect.Thephrasewasnotheardagainuntilthe 1930s,whenpoliticalcorrectnesswasasarcasticreferencetoadherencetothepartylinebyAmerican communists.RichardFeldsteininhisbooksupportsthisargumentandaddsthatthetermhadamoral connotationwhenusedbyJewstocondemnmembersoftheCommunistpartywhosidedwithHitler. Wilsonwritesthatthetermreemergedinthe1960swhentheBlackPowermovementtracedsomeof itspracticestoMaoTseTung,founderofCommunistChinaandhisfrequentreferencestocorrect 4

StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter
HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009 ideas.Duringthe1980s,conservativesbegantotakeoverthisliberalphraseandexploititforpolitical gain,expandingitsmeaningtoanyonewhoexpressedradicalsentiments.Andtheconservativesnot onlyappropriatedpoliticallycorrectfortheirownattacksontheradicalLeft,theyalsotransformedit intoanewphrase..politicalcorrectness. Thus,initsmurkypast,aphrasethatbeganwithoutdisapprovalordeprecationbecamenegativeand uncomplimentaryintheeyesormouthsofothers.

DEBATINGPOLITICALCORRECTNESS:THEPROSANDCONS
Theimpactofthepoliticalcorrectnesshasbeenfeltoncollegecampuseswhere scholarships,inquiryandcurriculahavebeenaffected.Thecontroversyhasbecomeso entrenchedthatithasfosteredtwogroupsofprofessors,theNationalAssociationsof scholars,whoholdanoldview;andTeachersforaDemocraticCulture,whosupport politicalcorrectnessandmulticulturalism. ThosewhofavorpoliticalcorrectnessincollegecurriculapointtotheEurocentrismofsociety,the dominationofculturebymalesofwhiteEuropeandescent.CatherineR.Stimpson,pastpresidentofthe modernLanguageAssociation,wonderswhywecannotbestudentsofWesterncultureand multiculturalismsimultaneously.Ourtraditionsshowaminglingofculturalborrowings.Shesays: Multiculturalismpromisestobringdignitytothedispossessedandselfempowermenttothedis empowered,to[recover]thetextsandtraditionsofignoredgroups,tobroadenculturalhistory. Moreover,differencesareapartofourlivesbecauseweareestablishingnewpatternsofacommon culture,newglobaleconomicandcommunicationssystems.Inadditions,multiculturalismgivesatrue pictureofwhoweareapeoplestrugglingtoreachandrecognizeeachother. JohnSearle,aphilosopherattheUniversityofCalifornia,speakstothecanonofliteraturethatmust bereadbycollegestudents.HesaysthiscanonisaproductoftheWesternCivilizationthathas oppressedwomen,slaves,serfpopulationsandethnicandculturalminorities.Searlearguesthathuman beingsarewhattheyunderstandthemselvestobe;andinheritedculturalisessentiallywhatmakes humanbeingshuman.Peoplearetheirculture.Whattheyaretheyhavetolearntobecome.Searle believesthatstudentsshouldknowtheirownculturaltraditionsanditsevolution.IntheUnitedStates, thedominanttraditionhasbeenEuropean.However,youdonotunderstandyourowntraditionsifyou donotseetheminrelationtoothers.Worksfromotherculturaltraditionsneedtobestudiedas well.Multiculturalismdoesnotjustgiveinformationaboutothercultures;itplacesthatinformation withinaworldcontext.Consequently,studentsseethemselveswithinapanoramaorworldandsocial formations. HenryLouisGatesJr.,theW.E.BDuboisprofessorofhumanitiesatHarvard,saysthatthecanonof Westernliteratureteachesvalues,butthosewhosevaluesdonotnecessarilyreflectorrepresenta personofcolor.Heurgesthereformofthecorecurriculumtoaccountforthecomparableeloquence oftheAfrican,AsianandMiddleEasternTraditionstobegintoprepareourstudentsfortheirrolesas citizensofaworldculture.CampusSpeechShouldbeSubjecttoProperEtiquetteisanarticlewritten 5

StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter
HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009 byJudithMartin(MissManners)andGuntherStint.Theyagreethateducationispossiblewithoutthe orderthatpreventsintimidationandMayhem.Childrenmustbetaughttositstill,refrainfromtaunting theirclassmates,showrespectfortheirteachersandwaittheirturntotalk,ortheywillneverbeableto learn.Ifthereisetiquetteinlegislatures(RobertsRulesofOrder)andincourtrooms,thenthereshould beetiquetteoncollegecampusesaswell.Membersiftheuniversitycommunityshouldalwayshave theopportunitytoattackideasbutnottoattackpeople. Criticsofpoliticalcorrectnessclaimitcurtailsfreespeechandtraditionalscholarship.GeraldGunther, professorofLawatStandfordUniversity,says,Speechshouldnotancannotbebannedsimplybecause itisoffensivetosubstantialpartsofacommunity.SuppressingsuchwordsisaviolationoftheFirst Amendmentthatguaranteesusfreespeech.ThelateSupremeCourtjusticeWilliamO.Douglas,writing foramajorityopinion,supportedhisview:Afunctionoffreespeech[is]toinvitedispute.speechis oftenprovocativeandchallenging.Thatiswhyfreedomofspeech[is]protectedagainstcensorshipor punishment. Politicalcorrectnesshaspromptedmanyuniversitiestoadoptspeechcodesinanefforttodo somethingaboutracist,sexist,andhomophobicspeech.NatHenthoff,awriterforthevillageVoiceand WashingtonPost,feelsthatonceyoustarttellingpeoplewhattheycantsay,youwillenduptelling themwhattheycantthink.Asaresult,manystudentsdonotgetinvolvedinclassdiscussionsbecause theyareafraidofpoliticalcorrectnessrighteousness.Politicallymoderatestudentsoftenfeel intimidatedbythepoliticalcorrectnesspoliceandfearofbeinglabeledracist,sexistorsellout. Speechcodesalsohamperthefreetradeofideasthatiscentraltohighereducationbecauseit restricts,ratherthanexpandstheeducationalenvironment.Giveandtake,exposuretonewideas,and anincentivetothinkthroughanargumentisstifled. Criticsofpoliticalcorrectnessalsocontendthatthemovementisresponsibleforthedumbingdownof thecurriculum,especiallyinthehumanities.AllanBloomwritesintheclosingoftheAmericanMindthat thehumanitiesareembarrassedbythepoliticalcontentofmanyoftheliteraryworksbelongingto them.Theyhavehadtoalterthecontentforthesakeofopennesstoothercultures.Asaresult,asort ofacademicselfcensorshipisbeingpracticed.Manycourseshavebeendroppedfromcollegecatalogs andsomeprofessorstapetheirlecturestoassuretheyhavenotsaidanythingpoliticallyincorrect.The premiumoncorrectnessgivesrisetoaparadoxicalimpact:nolanguagewritesRussellJacobyin DogmaticWisdom.Whenstudentscantkeepupwiththeappropriatetermsofthetimes,theyretreat totheirowngroups.ThisLanguagebreakdownpreventsanymeaningfuldialoguebetweendifferent racesorethnicgroups.Jacobconcludes:Reforminglanguageisnotnew,butreformingsocietyby reformingitslanguagereflectsapostmodernworld.Ineasingthepain,[correct]talkmayforgetthe disease. Whiletheconceptofpoliticalcorrectnesshasmadeusmoresensitivetohowwe perceiveeachother,theresalsoadangerthattherhetoricwillbeallowedtomasksome ofourreallyangryfeelings.Peoplearenowoftenafraidtoarticulatewhattheyactually feelabouteachother. 6

StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter
HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009

ANARTICLEANDINTERVIEWWITHTHEAUTHOR
ContributedbyCharleszineTerryNelson ThisplaytakesplaceatasmallliberalartsschoolinBelmontCollege,Belmont,Vermont.Allof theactiontakesplaceinDeanSarahDanielsofficeoverafiveweekperiod.TheplaybeginswithDean DanielsofferingascholarshipdesignatedforaminoritystudenttoayoungmanfromNewYork.When sheexplainsthatshemusthavehimdeclareanethnicdesignationandshesuggestsHispanic,herejects thelabelbecauseitreallydoesnottrulyexplainethnicity.HeisNuyorican(apersonofPuertoRican descentwholivesinNewYorkCity).Reluctantly,heagreestoaPuertoRicandesignation. DilemmanumbertwofurthercomplicatesherjobwhentheDeanannouncestoagroupof administratorsthatSimon,anAfricanAmericanstudent,hadfoundthreateningracistnotestapedtohis dormroomdoor.DeanDanielsischargedwiththetaskofrestoringharmonytothecampus.Thewhite administrators,facultyandstudentsallrushtoadvancetheirvariousselfservingagendasasthey attempttoairtheproblem.Howtheyaddressthesituationevolvesintoacompellingstorythatexplores racism,whiteguilt,politicalcorrectnessandinstitutionalproblemsolving.Thestoryistoldinanhonest, brutal,andoftenhumorousmannerthatforcesaudiencememberstoconfronttheirattitudestoward race. AccordingtoRebeccaGilman,fromaninterviewbyTomCreamerandTeresaBrandcamp,the centralincidentintheplaySimongettingaraciallythreateningnoteonhisdoorsomethingthat happenedwhenshewenttoMiddleburyCollegeinVermont.Gilmanalwayswantedtowriteaboutit butneverknewhowtoapproachit.Onlyafterreadinganarticleaboutthepsychologist,Jessica Benjaminwhodiscussesobjectifyingpeopledidshefindawaytovoicemarkingpeopleasother. Reoccurringthemesofobjectificationandpoliticalcorrectnessappearinthiswork.Making assumptionsabouthowotherpeoplethinkandbehavebasedontheirgender,raceoranyother attributeisknownasobjectification.Gilmanagreesthatobjectifyingpeoplekeepsusfromthinkingof themasequalswhoareworthyofourrespect.Simonwhoneverappearsonstage,isknownthroughthe charactersobjectificationofhim. Politicalcorrectnessisdefinedassafejargonbecauseismakesdeeper,unexaminedprejudice, ignoranceorunderlying,badfeelings.Itisasimpleformofgoodmanners.Gilmanstatesthatgood thingscomeoutofourbeingsensitiveaboutthewayinwhichwespeaktootherpeopleandhowwe wanttobenamedbyotherpeople.However,whenitstakentoanextreme,peoplewontsaywhat theyreallyfeelbecausetheydonotwanttobelabeledinsensitive. RebeccaGilmantakesthetitleofherplayfromLittleBlackSambo,achildrensbookwrittenand illustratedbyanEnglishwoman,HelenBannerman.Shesaid,Thetitlemadeanicemetaphor,Spinning IntoButter,fortheplaybecausethewhitepeopleinthecollegeadministrationarealllikethetiger, fightingoverwhosthegrandestinthejungle.Theybecomesodiscombobulatedbywhatsgoingonand 7

StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter
HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009 arethrownsomuchoutofwhackthattheychasetheirowntailsandgoincirclesaroundandaround untiltheyspinintobutter. ThesevencharactersinthisplayaredrawnfromcontemporaryAmerica:theyareaccessible, wellmeaningandoffensiveatthesametime.Thedialoguecanseemabruptorstartling,anditisfilled withguiltandshame.ThisistrulyanAmericanplaysaidDirector,AnneMarieCammarato.

CLASSROOMACTIVITESBEFORETHEPLAY
Definethefollowing: Nuyorican Dichotomy TheWorldBank Hispanic Meaculpa Salon Latino Assimilated Quorum Muslim Pragmatic Pedagogy Serbs Plantationmentality Proxy Fundamentalist Paternalism NativeSon Puritanical Noblesavage MaryDalton Bourgeois Braunschweig,Germany Sanskrit Passiveaggressive Bosnia ToniMorrison Whiteguilt TheCherryorchard Eurocentric Patronizing AntonChekhov Patriarchal Beingdeniedagency AynRand Articulate oldworld RainerMariaRilke JeanToomer Tokenism FredrickDouglass(1818 HarlemRenaissance Diminutive 1895) PearlS.Buck Anesthetized HenryLouisGates,Jr. Epiphany DiscussionQuestions Labeling/Stereotyping:Subtleunconsciousgeneralizationsthatonemakesaboutapersonorgroupof peoplebeforegettingtoknowhimorthem.Often,wemakeconjecturesaboutapersonbaseduponthe generalizationsandlabelswehaveacceptedaboutpeoplethattheyknow,hangoutwith,looklikeor withwhomtheysharethesametalents.Wealsotendtocategorizeasthesamethosepeoplewhoshare thesamegeneralage,ethnicbackground,gender,religionorneighborhood. 1. Makealistofinstanceswhereyouhavelabeledanindividualforoneofthereasonsmentioned aboveoranothersimilarreason.Doyouthinkyourlabelimpactedhowyouinteractedwiththe person? 2. Makealistoftimesyouhaverealizedthatyouhavebeenlabeled.Forexampleasasillyfemale, asadumbjock.Whenyourealizedthatyouhavenotbeenjudgedonyourownmerits,what wereyourfeelings? 3. Howmightapersonwhocomplainsaboutbeinglabeledbeperceivedbyothers?Sometimesthe perceptionisthattheyareoveractingoroverlysensitive.Studentswhocomplainmaybe stereotypedaswhiney.Whatotherlabelscanyouthinkof? AFTERTHEPLAY 8

StudyGuideforSpinningIntoButter
HorizonHighSchoolsSpringPlay2009 Discusstheviewing.Refreshstudentswithdefinitions. Topictodiscuss:Equivocation.Provideexamplesofhowstudentscanequivocate.Roleplayingcanbe done,withonestudentusingtheskillsofequivocationinadiscussionabouttheworldbeingroundor flat. ColoradoModelContentStandardinHistory. History3.2Studentsunderstandthehistoryofsocialorganizationinvarioussocieties.
Ifteachersareinterestedwehavecopiesofnumerousclassroomactivitiestodoaftertheplayviewing,allprovidedbytheeducational departmentoftheDCPA.