The essay I read was called The Hamilton Cult, and it discussed the popular historical musical that is taking over social media. The essay questions the idea that the musical celebrates that our current society is “post-racial,” and that the narrative of an immigrant who arrives to America with nothing and works their way up is one that works with millennials. The essay explained that most people, politicians included, love the show and can’t stop raving about it. William Hogeland, a historian who has written about Hamilton, believes that the musical urges the audience to love a man they know nothing about. Hogeland explained that actual history is downplayed in the musical, especially the lack of attention to the Whiskey Rebellion. The essay then goes into detail about how Alexander Hamilton and his views have been applied in politics throughout history. Hamilton’s viewpoint was at the ultimate peak during Bill Clinton’s presidency. After an extensive look into history and different times The American Revolution had been written about throughout history, the essay goes back to Hogeland and how what he knows about Hamilton is not accurately portrayed in the musical.
The main voice in the article is of William Hogeland. Hogeland is a historian who agrees with the public about how theatrically brilliant Hamilton is, but said there are some historical imbalances of what actually happened during The American Revolution.
The other voices in the article comes from an unnamed a teacher and an executive from the Rockefeller Foundation, which sends high school students from low-income families to see the play. A teacher who went with his class is quoted in the essay as well, stating that he believes the play was a great experience for his students. He also deemed the play “a spectacle,” which Hogeland can agree with in some respects.