Rent: The Education Behind Entertainment

Whether you are a fan of musicals or not there is a good chance you have heard of Rent. The popular broadway musical later turned motion picture has captured the attention of many with its moving storyline and emotional songs as it showcases the struggles of individuals living in New York City. The struggles depicted in this musical include drugs, sexuality, and paying the rent, but the most prominent one is living with AIDS. With four of the seven main characters being HIV positive the musical draws attention to a struggle that impacts thousands but is typically disregarded by those not affected.

The script and lyrics provide an insightful perspective of those battling the disease. One of the songs “Will I” presents the question of whether people care about those dying of AIDS without any help or if they will lose their dignity solely because they have the disease. Songs such as “Will I” allow individuals to better understand the difficulties and traumas that those impacted by AIDS battle with, something that can evolve our knowledge on how to support those with the disease.

Rent’s inspiration stems from the composer and lyricist, Jonathan Larson’s experience in New York City. Although Larson was not HIV positive, he was forced to watch as many around him, including some close friends, suffered from the disease with no help or treatment. While the musical is meant to build community among those shunned by society, including the LGBTQ+ community, Larson’s depiction of the suffering of those around him serves as a call for social change.

Today fans of Rent enjoy the heartfelt messages and catchy songs but at the time of its creation the musical served a much greater purpose than entertainment. The political and social themes throughout the musical connected to countless people and continue to do so to this day; therefore, it is important for us to look at the underlying messages and meanings presented by songs, characters and their stories. Rent presents a mix of entertainment and education, making learning about and understanding others much more interesting.

Sources

The relevance of ‘Rent’ in today’s world – Massachusetts Daily Collegian

Article By Alyssa Iovacchini, Graphic by Emily Myers