Not Throwing Away My Shot: Cultural Artifacts have Revised Founders’ Reputations

• In Event: Actors, Audiences, Aspirations: What Hamilton the Musical Teaches about Politics

Abstract

Hamilton: An American Musical has taken the world by storm.  Shows on Broadway and now across the country have sold out for months and tickets on the secondary market are selling easily for hundreds or thousands of dollars more than the list price.  The popularity of this musical about Alexander Hamilton not only has brought Hamilton himself to more prominence but also has allowed us to revisit the founding and focus on some of the “forgotten” founders. These productions have also brought forward the role of the women at the time, roles which had otherwise been obscured by the more traditional “great man” approach to such founders. This paper will explore the role that popular culture has had in the public of the reconsideration of these founding characters.  It will focus on how Hamilton: An American Musical and other performances like the HBO series John Adams have generated new interest and curiosity about these founders. It will also look at as the economic benefit and political impact of these sources of entertainment.

Author

• Mary A. McHugh, Merrimack College