Between Two Worlds: Jewish Assimilation in Pop Culture

Jews have often wanted to be accepted into and contribute to a larger society, while maintaining a connection to Jewish identity and culture. We will explore this dichotomy in light of recent plays and films: “Barbie,” the pop-culture phenomenon; “Oppenheimer,” the nuclear race by Jewish physicists; and “Parade,” the recently revived Broadway play about the Leo Frank lynching. Through an exploration of these pieces, we will discuss why the question of assimilation is so pronounced in Jewish cultural creations.