Homosexuality and Its Time

Angels in America by Tony Kushner first premiered in 1991. Although, the play was set in 1985-86, the year of its debut was one that was an earthshattering year for AIDS history. Not only were two cases presented of AIDS being contracted from a dentist, but this was the year that Freddie Mercury confirmed he had AIDS - and died the next day. At the end of 1991, nearly 450,000 cases of AIDS were reported to the World Health Organization and the end of this year also marked the red ribbon as a global symbol for the syndrome. Angels In America was a staple of its period, as it was opening the doors even wider for the exposure to this deadly illness that was becoming an epidemic.

A more chilling report came from The New York Times, where they were quotes as reporting, "Some experts are sceptical that AIDS will spread as rapidly among heterosexuals as it has among homosexuals. Yet other experts, taking their cues from data emerging from preliminary studies from Africa showing equal sex distribution among males and females, are less sure," in an article published in 1985. The equailvalency of knowledge that was attained from the years 1985-1986 was not as cohesive as it was during Kushner's debut; however, Kushner's decision to re-examine AIDS almost a decade prior was enough to bring about an immense level of controversy. Not only was AIDS a large theme of Angels in America, but so was homosexuality. One of the more taboo topics was Joe's heterosexual marriage, upon later realizing he is actually gay. The exposure to this problem was so new during this time period that, although I am speaking free from research at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised if this was something that sparked somewhat a movement within closeted homosexuals who were settling with heterosexual marriages.

The one thing that struck me was how closeminded some of the characters were to accepting homosexuality. The problem is that many people believe it is a choice, rather than something you are born automatically knowing and feeling but later on in life realizing. And Joe's mother, Harper, was a good indication of how many mothers, wives, and sisters often feel about those who go out on the limb to "come out". Angels in America was an amazing interpretation of how difficult it is to battle with self-identity and health crises without the additional pressure and criticism that they have to deal with from their families.

A "fantasia" is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
1: a free usually instrumental composition not in strict form
2 a: a work (as a poem or play) in which the author's fancy roves unrestricted
b: something possessing grotesque, bizarre, or unreal qualities

Although, all three of the aforementioend definitions can be attributed, the definition that I feel best describes what Kushner was trying to relay in his title for the play was the one possessing bizarre or unreal qualities. There were several dream sequences, due to drug-enduced states of mind, that were strategically placed throughout the first and second parts. One of the most outstanding sequences was when Prior meets Harper and Harper realizes that her husband is gay. Prior is more of a symbolic character who appears to Harper as the person who initially "ruins" her life. These are the on-going challenges and themes that Kushner exposes his audience to.