In my lecture video on Show Boat, I emphasize how problematic Show Boat may seem to us today but how influential it was in its time. Musicologist Todd Decker’s article on Show Boat (assigned this week) does not deal with specific productions of the musical, but instead Decker analyzes its reception at distinct historical moments. He focuses on the idea of race in Show Boat in the minds of historians, critics and scholars.

For this week’s discussion post, please share your “take” on this musical or any another musical covered in this week’s readings. For example: do we “cancel” Show Boat? Or, is there a way to look at a show’s original historical context, understanding what was different then, from our attitudes today? It’s your call.How does our present moment, in summer 2021, influence how we look at the past?

Please include in your response any one example from the reading (any reading this week) OR one example from lecture (either Lesson 2 or Lesson 3).