ANTHROPOLOGY SKETCH:
Power/ Hierarchy
-Maura’s perspective
-Hierarchy (in regards to most worldly) goes: Jack, Anna, Pete, Maura
-How do you describe Maura’s power in the play?
Economic Systems
-Main form of currency-- independence/ freedom
-What does freedom look like for Maura versus the other characters?
Borders/ Territories
-Specifics are TBD
-Think Oswego-like: small, pretty, quiet, a downtown area, a more rural area… A basic, boring, humdrum town.
Relationships
-Best friend dynamic between Anna and Maura--how do they act that distinguishes their friendship from basic friend activities?
-Pete and Anna -- Why might Pete take a liking to Anna? Why doesn’t she like Pete? Does this make the friendship awkward?
-Jack and Maura… Does Maura look up to Jack? Does Jack admire Maura in a way? How? Why maybe?
-Jack and Anna -- Why is there some distance between them? Does this distance positively impact their characterization?
Justice System
-Who makes the rules in this play? Is it Maura or is it the society she lives in?
-Would her society accept her discovering herself--masculine side and all?
Religion
-The belief that we grow up right after high school.
-To follow that statement up, why do we believe this, in the play and in general?
-Does this mean Maura is immature for living in her imagination, or does this make her more mature from the rest of the others?
-Silver Linings Playbook and Neutral Milk Hotel -- what do they represent for the characters?
Work and Labor
-What is Anna’s job really like?
-Does Anna like her job?
-How about Pete?
-Jack? Is Jack happy with what they do?
-Why doesn’t Maura have a job?
Gender and Sex
-What are the gender norms in this play?
-Why does Maura draw a mustache on herself in her room?
-Is Maura uncomfortable in her gender and/ or sexuality?
-How about the other characters?
-Does society accept Jack?
-If society accepts Jack, why can’t Maura accept who she is if society isn’t the problem?