2025 Theses Doctoral

Mathdramatics: Mathematicians in Plays

LaPlace, Emma

Existing studies have explored the portrayal of mathematicians in various mediums (movies, books, television shows, etc.). However, little, if any, research has been conducted on how mathematicians are depicted in plays. This study utilizes sequential mixed methods content analysis to discover: 1) How female and male mathematician characters are developed in plays (i.e. the methods that the playwright uses to build the character); and 2) How female and male mathematician characters are represented in plays (i.e. the specific traits possessed by the character).

Overall, the findings indicated that dispositional traits (traits relating to general attitude and personality of a character) are the most common in the development of both female mathematician and male mathematician characters. However, there are also some differences in the ways in which female and male mathematician characters are developed in plays. Playwrights are more likely to use motivational traits (traits relating to goals and desires of a character) when developing male mathematician characters, and are more likely to use physical traits (traits relating to the appearance of a character) when developing female mathematicians characters. Furthermore, results revealed that female mathematician characters are represented as being inferior to males socially, vocationally, and academically.