Cultural

Critic
A Cultural Critic is a critic of a
given culture, usually as a whole.
Cultural criticism has significant
overlap with social and
cultural theory.
While such criticism is simply part
of the self-consciousness of the
culture, the social positions of the
critics and the medium they use
vary widely. The conceptual and
political grounding of criticism
also changes over time.
Cultural Critic
• The Matrix
• Black Panther
• Coco
BACKGROUND
Jesus Christ Superstar is a
sung-through rock opera with
music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely
based on the Gospels' accounts
of the Passion, the work
interprets the psychology of
Jesus and other characters,
with much of the plot
centered on Judas, who is
dissatisfied with the
direction in which Jesus is
steering his disciples.
Contemporary attitudes,
sensibilities and slang
pervade the rock opera's
lyrics, and ironic allusions
to modern life are scattered
throughout the depiction of
political events.
Stage and film
productions
accordingly contain
many intentional
anachronisms.
CHARACTERIZATION
 JESUS
CHRIST
Title role, leader of
the twelve disciples,
called the "Son of
God" and the “
King of the Jews."
 JUDAS
ISCARIOT
One of Jesus' twelve
apostles; concerned
for the poor and the
consequences of
Jesus's fame.
 MARY
MAGDALENE
A follower of
Jesus who finds
herself falling in
love with him.
 PONTIUS
PILATE
Governor of Judea who
foresees the events of
Jesus's crucifixion from
beginning to aftermath in a
dream and finds himself
being presented with that
very situation.
CAIAPHAS
High priest who sees
Jesus as a threat to
the nation.
 ANNAS
Fellow priest at the
side of Caiaphas who
is persuaded by
Caiaphas into seeing
Jesus as a threat.
 PETER
One of Jesus's twelve
apostles; denies
Jesus three times
upon the night of
Jesus's arrest to save
himself.
 SIMON
One of Jesus's twelve
apostles; urges Jesus to
lead his followers into
battle against the Romans.
 KING
HEROD
The King of Galilee;
Jesus is brought to
him for judgment
after first being taken
to Pilate.
ACT 1
("Overture") has been directed
differently in nearly every
production.
Infamous apostle Judas Iscariot is
concerned by the increasingly
crazed followers of Jesus, correctly
predicting that they may threaten
the powerful Roman Empire and be
punished ("Heaven on Their Minds").
The other apostles anxiously anticipate entering
Jerusalem alongside Jesus and inquire of his plans,
but Jesus tells them to calm down and worry less
about what's to come. Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene
assists Jesus's relaxation. Judas warns Jesus to
avoid Mary, because a relationship with a sex
worker could be seen as inconsistent with his
teachings and be used against him. Jesus scolds
Judas, saying he should not judge others unless he
is free of sin. Jesus then reproaches the apostles
and complains that none of them truly care for him
("What's the Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying").
Mary reassures Jesus while
anointing him. Interspersed, Judas
fumes that the money spent on fine
oil should have been used to help the
poor. Jesus reasons they do not have
the resources to end poverty, and
that they should treasure what
comforts they possess ("
Everything's Alright").
Meanwhile, Caiaphas, the High Priest of Israel,
assembles the Pharisees and priests. Like
Judas, they fear that Jesus's followers will be
seen as a threat by the Romans, and that many
innocent Jews might suffer the consequences.
Thus, Caiaphas concludes that for the greater
good, Jesus must be executed ("
This Jesus Must Die"). As Jesus and his
followers arrive exultantly in Jerusalem, they
are immediately confronted by Caiaphas, who
demands that Jesus disperse the crowd. Jesus
instead greets them ("Hosanna").
Simon the Zealot suggests that Jesus lead his mob in a
war against Rome and gain absolute power ("Simon
Zealotes"). Jesus rejects this, stating that none of his
followers understand what true power is ("Poor
Jerusalem").
Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, has a dream in
which he meets a Galilean and then receives the blame for
the man's violent death at the hands of a mob ("Pilate's
Dream").
Jesus arrives at the Temple and finds that it is being used
as a marketplace; angered by this, he drives everyone out.
A group of lepers ask Jesus to heal them. Their number
increases, and overwhelmed, Jesus rejects them ("The
Temple").
Mary Magdalene sings Jesus to sleep afte
his encounter with the lepers ("Everything'
Alright (Reprise)"). While he sleeps, Mar
acknowledges that she is in love with him
and it frightens her (
I Don't Know How to Love Him").
Conflicted, Judas seeks out the Pharisee
and proposes helping them arrest Jesus
believing that Jesus is out of control an
that Jesus himself would approve of thi
action.
In exchange for his help, Judas is
offered thirty pieces of silver.
Judas adamantly refuses, but
then accepts upon Caiaphas's
suggestion that he could use the
money to help the poor, a noted
desire of Judas's ("
Damned for All Time/Blood Money
ACT 2
Jesus shares a Passover meal with his disciples,
where they drink and pay little attention to him.
He remarks that "for all you care" the wine they
are drinking could be his blood and the bread his
body. He asks them to remember him, then,
frustrated by their lack of understanding, he
predicts that Peter will deny him three times that
night, and that another one of them will betray
him. Judas admits that he is the one who will
betray Jesus and, saying that he does not
understand why Jesus had no plan, leaves ("The
Last Supper").
The remaining apostles sleep as Jesus
retreats to the Garden of Gethsemane to
pray. He tells God his doubts about
whether his mission has had any success
and angrily demands to know why he
should continue and suffer the horrible
death that awaits him. Receiving no
answer, he realizes that he cannot defy
God's will, and surrenders to God.
("Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)").
Judas arrives with Roman soldiers and
identifies Jesus by
kissing him on the cheek. When Jesus is
brought to trial before the Sanhedrin,
Caiaphas and the priests send him to
Pilate ("The Arrest"). Meanwhile, Peter is
confronted by three witnesses of Jesus's
arrest, to each of whom he denies that
he knows Jesus. Mary observes that
Jesus had predicted this ("Peter's Denial
Pilate asks Jesus if he is the
King of the Jews. Jesus
answers "that's what you say".
Since Jesus is from Galilee,
Pilate says that he is not under
his jurisdiction and sends him
to King Herod ("
Pilate and Christ").
The flamboyant King Herod pressures
Jesus to prove his divinity by performing
his fabled miracles, but Jesus ignores
him. Herod angrily sends him back to
Pilate ("King Herod's Song"). Mary
Magdalene, Peter, and the apostles
remember when they first began following
Jesus, and wish that they could return to
a time of hope and peace ("Could We
Start Again, Please?").
Your texJudas is horrified at Jesus's harsh
treatment. He expresses regret to the
Pharisees, correctly dreading that he will
forever be remembered as a traitor.
Caiaphas and Annas assure him that he
has done the right thing. Judas chucks the
money he was given to the floor, and
storms out. He curses God for manipulating
him, and commits suicide ("Judas' Death").
t here
Judas is horrified at Jesus's harsh
treatment. He expresses regret to the
Pharisees, correctly dreading that he will
forever be remembered as a traitor.
Caiaphas and Annas assure him that he
has done the right thing. Judas chucks
the money he was given to the floor, and
storms out. He curses God for
manipulating him, and commits suicide
("Judas' Death").
At Jesus's trial, Pilate attempts to interrogate
Jesus, but is cut off by a bloodthirsty mob
which demands that Jesus be crucified.[a]
Unnerved, he tells the mob that Jesus has
committed no crime and does not deserve to
die, but to satisfy the mob he will have Jesus
flogged. Pilate pleads with Jesus to defend
himself, but Jesus says weakly that everything
has been determined by God. The crowd still
calls for Jesus's death and finally Pilate
reluctantly agrees to crucify Jesus ("
Trial Before Pilate (Including The 39 Lashes)").
As Jesus awaits crucifixion, the spirit
of Judas returns and questions why
Jesus chose to arrive in the manner
and time that he did, and if it was all
part of a divine plan after all ("
Superstar"). Jesus is crucified, recites
his final words and dies ("The
Crucifixion"). Jesus' body is taken down
from the cross and buried ("John
19:41").