Conclusions

There is something to be said about appreciating older art works in the context of their societal and temporal norms. However, the idea that something is  "a product of its time" and that we must simply accept its wrongdoings takes away from the very real harm perpetuated by the racial and cultural insensitivities present in pieces such as Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. It is important that we continue to re-evaluate these pieces with a modern lens. And so, this exhibit was created in the hopes of highlighting the adaptations that honor the original The Mikado, while acknowledging that there are new and more socially cognitive ways to interact with the material.