AMERICAN HISTORY REWRITTEN: CONTEMPORARY OPERAS BY BLACK COMPOSERS

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Niven, Katherine
Graduate Program:
American Studies
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
March 23, 2026
Committee Members:
Mary Zaborskis, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies
Charles Kupfer, Major Field Member
Kevin Pyon, Outside Field Member
Shirley Clark, Outside Unit Member
John Haddad, Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Keywords:
Contemporary Black Opera
American History
Abstract:
Abstract This dissertation examines four operas by contemporary Black composers and their influence on interpreting American history. Drawing on librettos, critical reviews, media studies, and personal observations of the operas, the project argues that the works, based on actual events, offer a new perspective on American culture and history through a hybrid musical structure that combines classical Western opera with Gospel, Jazz, African, folk, and Hip hop. The study shows how operas by Black composers, performed by Black singers and musicians, enrich our understanding of American history. By analyzing primary sources such as newspapers, films, literature, and opera performances, this dissertation reveals how underrepresented voices challenge dominant ideologies and redefine our understanding of American history. The project contributes to American Studies by bridging cultural analysis with social history, critical theory, and the arts. It advances the existing discussion of Western opera through a close reading of newly created works. It proposes a revised interpretive framework for understanding American history as a more inclusive narrative that embraces Black culture and history in a genre traditionally considered the provenance of the White elite society.