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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Perlita help Joey in Scene 10?

2. Which character is the owner of Studio 54?

3. What is the occupation of the person Barbara and Nestor interview in Scene 2?

4. Why does Avila think he is safe from Marcos' retribution?

5. What type of frame for the narrative of the play is introduced in Scene 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Scene 9, how does Rio's story about her grandmother reflect the changing Manila?

2. How does Imelda Marcos defend herself in Scene 11?

3. Describe the montage of Scene 15.

4. How do Trini and Romeo meet in Scene 6?

5. What is a dogeater?

6. What role does a real historical figure play in Scene 10?

7. How does Scene 11 end on an incongruously upbeat note?

8. What is peculiar about the tryst between Trini and Romeo in Scene 15?

9. At the beginning of Scene 10, what do Perlita and Chiquiting gossip about?

10. Describe the speech that Avila delivers in Scene 7.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the world of Studio 54 and its ambiguous relationship to the zeitgeist of Manila. Describe the world that Perlita has created. How does it reflect a progressive attitude that is anathema to the Marcos platform? Why is the club valued by Imelda Marcos and her people? In the end, how does the club allow Perlita and Chiquiting to pass between two worlds?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the character of Daisy Avila. To what extent does she exist in the intersection between the workers and the ruling class? Why is she dangerous to the powers that be? Chart her character arc. How does she transition from uncertainty to certainty about her role in society? Where does she end her journey?

Essay Topic 3

In the Manila of Dogeaters, dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda rely on the use of entertainment to pacify dissent and codify their power. Write a three part essay about the way the Marcoses use entertainment to consolidate power:

Part 1) Discuss the purpose of Imelda Marcoses film festival. How does the first lady characterize this festival? What are her aspirations, and how does the populace react to the arrival of stars and auteurs?

Part 2) Discuss the characters of Tito Alvarez and Lolita Luna. What are their entertainment personas and how do these personas dovetail with the Marcos aesthetic? How do these movie stars become entwined in the political?

Part 3) In summation, explore the way Imelda Marcos interacts with the media in the play. What image does the first lady want to project to her people, and how does she use the radio/television interview to do this?

(see the answer keys)

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