Adrienne Kennedy Project Website Created by English and Theater Students
By Nishat Sanjida
Students in a Fall 2021 Lincoln Center course called, “The Adrienne Kennedy Project,” created The Adrienne Kennedy Project website in conjunction with web designer Benjamin Viertel. The interdisciplinary capstone class, affiliated with both the English and the Theatre Department, was taught by Professor Daniel Alexander Jones and Professor Shonni Enenlow.
Throughout the semester, students collaborated to create an interactive website dedicated to dramatist Adrienne Kennedy and all of her works. With a website that’s easy to navigate and the menu appearing on the right side bar, individuals outside of Fordham are able to access the content and learn more about Kennedy and the students’ interpretations of her writings.
“The website is a culmination of our semester-long effort to engage with Adrienne Kennedy's plays and create a platform that will allow others to do so as well. The work you'll find on the website ranges from critical essays to original plays, all of which are grounded in a close study of Kennedy,” says Molly Henschke FCRH ‘22, an English major who participated in the project. She hopes that this website reaches out to as many people as possible, especially people who are interested in Kennedy and happen to find this website during their Google search.
Victoria Fanning FCLC ’22, a Theatre major, discussed how the professors played a role in the making of this website and encouraged students to put their own spin on it. She says, “Together, Professors Enelow and Jones created a beautiful balance between an English focus and a Theater focus that illuminated how Kennedy’s plays should be studied and experienced. As students, we watched our professors engage in deep discussion about the work and were invited to chime in with our own thoughts.”The creation of the website didn’t feel one-sided. There was a collaborative effort from both the teachers and the students and everyone was given the chance to contribute their own skills and work.
The structure of the website was also explained to not follow a linear pattern. When users come across the website, they will have the opportunity to explore it like the students in this class were able to explore Kennedy’s works. Reading her plays has been described as “putting together the pieces of the puzzle” and this website is able to capture that feeling. Once all of the different puzzle pieces are connected with each other, people will be able to see the bigger picture that Kennedy created and how the students were able to capture that.
Along with playing around with the site, users are able to indulge in new literary art along with taking a part in self reflection. When individuals consume a piece of art whether it’s reading a book or watching a film, it is very natural to see parts of themselves being portrayed. Fanning said, “Kennedy is brilliant and if you have the opportunity to read her words and go through that self-reflection, do it. You won't regret it. Approach her work with care and an open heart and you will fall in love with her words.”