Social Self and Self Discovery in Rogers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific
By Michael E. Marotta
Sociology 308: Social Psychology
Dr. Denise Reiling, Fall 2007
On the most obvious level, Michener was only a sociologist engaged in participant observation. He recorded through fiction what he perceived in real life. That was fine for a literary audience. The Broadway play drew other attentions and its message was toned down. The movie productions brought other changes.
According to Wikipedia: “James Michener claimed he was pressured to ask Rodgers and Hammerstein to remove the song “You've Got to Be Carefully Taught” because of its biting comments about racial prejudice.” However, the truth is somewhat more complicated. The song does, indeed, appear in the Broadway musical sheet music as well as in the RCA Broadway cast recording. Also, other histories assert that Michener, Rogers and Hammerstein were all in accord that the song was central to the story.
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