Art and History: “Hamilton” by Gordon-Reed

After reading the article “Hamilton: The Musical: Blacks and the founding fathers” by Annette Gordon-Reed, it seems acceptable for a work of art not to always have a responsibility to be historically accurate, even on issues central to American life. The reason for such a claim is that history and art are interconnected, but they are not the same and have distinct pursuits. While the former is meant to educate, the latter can capture the past but is used as a form of self-expression to communicate ideas. Gordon-Reed suggests that Hamilton is an ingenuine narrative that many individuals like, but it wrongly represents the founding fathers and slavery. Accordingly, one can argue that enjoying Hamilton’s engaging lyrics is alright if people engage in meaningful conversations about it. The problem is not about the exactness or rightfulness of art, it is about the nation’s knowledge of its past. Requiring all art to be historically accurate may cause unnecessary restrictions and hinder imagination, jeopardizing the freedom of expression. However, allowing artists to present history in a different manner may promote inventiveness and encourage valuable debates, leading individuals to reflect on certain aspects of life.

Moreover, it is acceptable to take pleasure in a work of art but disagree with the author’s politics and creation. As mentioned above, art and history have distinguishable goals, and the dispute should be about how something is publicized and presented rather than what it portrays. For instance, Gordon-Reed states that despite having troubles with the play’s authenticity and the choice of the cast, she enjoyed Hamilton, its lyrics, music, and energy. Consequently, one can appreciate the originality and talent of an artist, even if a person’s creation presents an event in a contradictory way. Nonetheless, there may be limited cases for works of art that are so politically offensive that they produce discrimination or physical violence in society instead of generating meaningful, even if contradictory, discussions. Personally, I make a decision about art based on changes it makes in public and me and whether a certain composition encourages me to learn more about the circumstances and people involved in it.

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StudyCorgi. 2023. "Art and History: “Hamilton” by Gordon-Reed." May 22, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/art-and-history-hamilton-by-gordon-reed/.

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