Blog Entry #5

Clifford Odets drama could be reconstructed to fit modern days by addressing the issues concerning the economic downturn of the past six years. Only the year of 2011 provided the best scenario do modernize Waiting for Lefty through the different groups that came to existent during the Occupy Wall Street movement. By using the same structure of the play by having different scenarios and short stories the drama could address the different groups advocating their cause during the gatherings. Really the age group that Odets aimed for was the young adults of the 1930’s. This is the same age demographic that made up the many factions of Occupy Wall Street. The best setting would probably having it in take place in New York where the movement began and having the different short stories represent the various groups that came to existent throughout the country. I think each story Odets used in his original wouldn’t need much tweaking because the main issue his play addressed was social class and inequality. Even though the play is set around “the Great Depression”, Occupy Wall Street was trying to address the issues with their main slogan “We are the 99%.” This new retooled drama would probably not have the same effect Waiting for Lefty had during its time but it would still be effective in persuading its audience on the issues it addressed. Simply because of the fact that the concept is still very powerful in the way it involves the different groups involved with the movement or the subject matter.