In the Arts and Entertainment Learning Community, students interested in the creative and performing arts will explore connections between works of art and the real-world contexts in which artists make and share their creations. We will examine how musicals engage in the construction of national identity. We will also consider how musicals' representations of "outsiders" can foster empathy, solidarity, and inclusiveness. Students will explore intersections of art and identity as they develop independent research projects and share their ideas with peers.