Lesson plan; Exploring American Identity through Anna Deavere Smith’s “On the Road”

Anna Deavere Smith is a talented writer and actor known for her powerful solo performances. In her show titled “On the Road: A Search for American Character,” she brings to life four distinct American individuals.

Objectives:

1. Students will learn about Anna Deavere Smith and her unique style of “documentary theater.”
2. Students will analyze different characters portrayed in the show and what they represent about American identity.
3. Students will discuss themes of race, community, and individuality present in the work.

Warm-Up (10 mins):

1. Ask students to reflect on what it means to be “American.”
2. Have them brainstorm words, phrases, images, or ideas that come to mind.
3. Discuss as a class the diversity of perspectives, noting the range of ideas and how they reflect the complexity of American identity.

Background (15 mins):

1. Provide context on Anna Deavere Smith and her pioneering form of theater.
   • Explain her process: conducting interviews and recreating them verbatim on stage.
   • Discuss how her work explores issues of race, class, and American identity.
2. Show a brief clip exemplifying her performance style, highlighting her ability to embody different characters.

Main Activity (30 mins):

1. Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of the four characters summarized: Studs Terkel, Paulette Jenkins, Korean shopkeeper, or the bull rider.
2. Each group should analyze:
   • The background and perspective the character represents.
   • Insights into American identity offered by this portrayal.
   • Themes or issues related to race, class, region, etc., raised by the character.
3. Have groups present a summary of their analyses to the class.

Discussion (15 mins):

1. Facilitate a class discussion around the central question: What ideas about American identity emerge from these diverse portrayals?
2. Discuss how Smith’s innovative approach allows exploration of these themes.
3. Encourage students to share what resonated with their own sense of American identity.

Closing (5 mins):

1. Have students write a brief reflection on one idea about American identity that was new or striking to them after studying this work.
2. Collect reflections for assessment or further discussion in future classes.

Extensions:

• Extend the lesson into a unit with additional readings, writings, or projects around American identity.
• Consider integrating multimedia resources, such as interviews or articles about Anna Deavere Smith and her work, to deepen students’ understanding.

1. Studs Terkel: An author whose voice resonates through Smith’s portrayal.
2. Paulette Jenkins: A convict whose story is vividly depicted.
3. A Korean shopkeeper: Representing a unique perspective.
4. A bull rider: Adding an element of rugged Americana.

Essay questions

1. Analyze the Role of Documentary Theater in Exploring Social Issues:
   • Discuss how Anna Deavere Smith’s use of documentary theater in “On the Road” provides a unique platform for exploring social issues such as race, class, and American identity. How does her technique of verbatim theater contribute to the authenticity and impact of the characters’ stories? Provide specific examples from the play to support your analysis.
2. The Multifaceted Nature of American Identity:
   • Choose two characters from “On the Road” and compare how their individual stories and backgrounds reflect the diverse nature of American identity. What do their experiences reveal about the complexities and contradictions inherent in being “American”? How do their perspectives challenge or reinforce your own understanding of American identity?
3. Themes of Community and Individuality in “On the Road”:
   • Examine the themes of community and individuality as portrayed in “On the Road.” How do the characters’ interactions and personal narratives highlight the tension between collective identity and personal experience? Discuss how Smith’s portrayal of these themes encourages audiences to reflect on their own sense of belonging and individuality within the broader American society.

Through her performances, Anna Deavere Smith delves into issues of race, identity, and community in America. Her work is thought-provoking and impactful, making her a significant figure in American theater¹²

Summary: Anna Deavere Smith’s solo show explores the multifaceted American character through these compelling portrayals.

• Title: “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 on the Road: A Search for American Character”
• Author: Anna Deavere Smith
• Summary: In this stunning piece of “documentary theater,” Anna Deavere Smith uses the verbatim words of people who experienced the Los Angeles riots to expose and explore the devastating human impact of that event. Through nine months of interviews with over two hundred people, Smith carefully selects voices that reflect the diversity and tension of a city in turmoil. These voices include a disabled Korean man, a white male Hollywood talent agent, a Panamanian immigrant mother, a teenage black gang member, a macho Mexican-American artist, Rodney King’s aunt, beaten truck driver Reginald Denny, and former Los Angeles police chief Daryl Gates. The work delves directly into issues of race and class, offering stark insight into the complex social, economic, and political factors that fueled the flames following the Rodney King verdict. The play script, along with Smith’s introduction and character photos, creates a captivating work of dramatic literature that provides a unique first-person portrait of a pivotal moment in contemporary history¹.

 

If you’d like to explore further, you can find the book at WorldCat.org. Anna Deavere Smith’s powerful exploration of American character is both thought-provoking and impactful.