#8 Reading Assignment Test "The Ground On Which I Stand"

Which statement best paraphrases Wilson's sentiments concerning the black community and black theatre?

Due to the abundance of resources alloted to white culture, the concerns for black theatre go unnoticed. However, this is not to say that the black community should place blame. Instead, by fostering an awareness of this unintentional disparity, there is a strong promise of success for equal funding between black and white playhouses across America.

Which statement best paraphrases Wilson's philosophy concerning the "subscription audience"?

Subscription audiences are often at the mercy of the producing organization whose tastes can sometimes be compromised in the wake of commercial success. Moreover, there is a sense of entitlement among these subscribers because of their financial contributions (either purposeful or accidental) which can inadvertently prohibit diversity in favor of frivolous entertainment.

Which statement best paraphrases Wilson's perception of casting an all black production of Death of a Salesman?

Why on earth should a black producer consider doing an all black version of Death of a Salesman? Color blind casting robs audiences (both white and black) from truly experiencing diversity. Indeed, the human condition is a constant punctuated with certain undeniable cultural universals, but we should not overlook the fact that their are observable differences in culture as it pertains to origins, traditions, myths, and overall upbringing.

In other words, Wilson believes that Eurocentric cultural imperialists have the unintentional potential to:

all of the above

It is safe to say to that August Wilson is a(n) ___________ playwright because he was a witness to racial social injustices of the 1960s.

all of the above

Which of the following themes best describes Wilson's point-of-view concerning the 'condition' of the black American community?

all of the above

Inspired by August Wilson's philosophy, we see that using a play to educate audiences on diverse "[cultural] behavior patterns" becomes an effective sociological tool for ______________ and, consequently, __________________ as a result of exposure to diversity.

cultural awareness, cultural acceptance

Which of the following contributors does Wilson hold responsible for the divide between blacks and whites?

economics, privilege

Wilson says that black playwrights should "confer with one another, to come together to meet each other face to face, to address questions of aesthetics and ways to defend ourselves from the naysayers...however, there is no need to develop guidelines for the protection of cultural property, our contributions and the influence they accrue."

false

Which emotional response best describes Wilson's attitude towards the treatment of the Black Power Movement?

frustrated

Wilson postulates that "...race matters...Race is also the product of a shared gene pool that allows for group identification, and it is an organizing principle around which cultures are formed...[this includes] the behavior patterns, the arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought as expressed by a particular community of people". Which sociological construct best describes this idea?

moral imprinting

According to Wilson, which of the following is not a common value of the American theatre?

stagecraft

"All of human life is univrsal, and it is theatre that illuminates and confers upon the universal the ability to speak for all men." --August Wilson

true

August Wilson posits that the idea of the 'ground' of which he speaks of in his address to the Theatre Communications Group biennial conference, is to be considered both in his work as a playwright and as an activist in the black community. That there is a sense of commonality--or shared ground--on both fronts.

true

When reading August Wilson's article, one can safely posit that he believes a majority of black Americans to be African Americans.

true