Fall 2020: Essays
1
Vivian Maier, Street 1
Vivian Maier: Street Photography
Katherine (Kit) Smith
Art is an integral part of all child development. Children begin to express themselves through art, whether it’s finger painting, coloring, or simply drawing stick figures of their family members. Most children begin creating art long before they even start to write. Justifiably, art is an integral part of education. The plethora of different facets that art presents allows children to find themselves and it can help aid their education as well.
Personally, I never considered myself an “artistic” person growing up. I thought my older siblings got those genes and there wasn’t enough left for me. I watched as my siblings seamlessly picked up instruments and began playing them without hesitation. I also watched them create beautiful drawings and paintings and wondered how their minds even knew how to do that. Even though I kept trying, art never seemed to click with me until I was about 14 years old. When I started high school, I was required to take an art elective. Because sculpture, drawing, and theater all seemed so scary, I chose the least intimidating course: photography. Little did I know how much that choice would later affect me. From the start of my first class, I was hooked. I always knew I liked taking photos, but it wasn’t until then that I allowed to see it as an art rather than a simple hobby. I was infatuated with how cameras worked and how much effort went into getting a single shot. It was also through that class I learned about my favorite photographer, Vivian Maier.
The piece I chose to analyze is Vivian Maier’s Street 1 photograph. Vivian Maier was an American street photographer. Unfortunately, her work was not discovered and recognized until after her death. However, the work she left behind has greatly impacted this world. She used a film camera to photograph different street scenes in Chicago and New York City throughout the1950s and 1960s. The Street 1 photograph is a beautiful black and white shot of a woman in front of the New York Public Library. The quality is so clear it is almost hard to fathom that this was taken on a film camera. One of the most special aspects about Maier’s photography is that the subjects never knew they were the subjects. She photographed all different people throughout all different walks of life. To me, that’s what makes her work so special. The woman who is the focus of this particular photo seems to be dressed extremely well, wearing pearl jewelry, and holding a flower in her hands. There’s a large blur at the bottom of the shot, which makes it seem as though Maier was in a vehicle and happened to capture this moment as she passed by. One of the greatest parts about this is how perfectly framed the photo is and yet to Maier, it may have been a complete accident. This photo, like many others of Maier’s work, makes the audience question everything about it. It allows the audience to historically place themselves in that moment and try to understand everything that is happening. It is such a beautiful piece that can be scrutinized and studied for hours.
Vivian Maier was an inspiration for the types of photos I like to shoot. I love street photography and I also love experimenting with film. Photography helped me grow as a person and pushed me outside of my bubble. After taking my first photography course, I finally began to consider myself as an artist. I also learned a huge life lesson through finding a different interest in the arts. I was able to meet more people in my high school experience than I originally would have. Being exposed to the arts taught me just how important they are in shaping children into individual thinkers and creative human beings. I also finally understood what it meant to learn from a piece of art and how impactful the arts are in life.
I think photography is sometimes an underrated art. Like I previously did, people tend to downplay the intricacies of taking a good photograph. Because everyone these days has iPhones and it is so simple to snap a shot of anything, photography is accessible to everyone. However,
this is also what makes it so special. Art can be created anywhere at any time. Throughout my own experience with art and this class, TAL 324, I truly believe in the power of art and its profound impact in education.
2
Hamilton: An Art Performance of History
Natalia Noyen
Art has become a way of life and is crucial to all forms of being. Art is vital and is important to education as it opens the mind to different possibilities that are not graspable through other subjects. Through using art in education, students who struggle in more construct subjects such as Maths, History, and Science, can better understand. It assists with people’s motor skills, language and social skills, decision-making, risk-taking, and creativity. It is a subject that is incredibly fluid, meaning that it can be shown in several different forms; music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and literature, etc. This essay will focus on theatre in discussing the power of art in history.
Theatre can be defined as the visual presentation of a dramatic performance. It can be used to address monumental moments of history, whilst also being used as a form of entertainment, education, and representing religion. On January 20th, 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda released one of the most critically acclaimed musicals of the decade, Hamilton. In fact at the 2016 Tony Awards, Hamilton received the Best Music award as it gained 16 record-breaking nominations and won 11 awards. Hamilton depicts the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. It’s story focuses on Hamilton being an immigrant and his ascent out of poverty and he rose to power within the United States. Hamilton was a man who fought in the War of Independence whilst being George Washington’s right hand man and the first U.S secretary of treasury during the American Revolutionary War.
During the spread of Covid-19, theaters has been an industry that took a large hit. As public gatherings have been discontinued, the ability for entertainment industries to perform has become unlikely. Since 2015, I have been fascinated by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical, Hamilton, because he is a Puerto Rican playwright. Being Puerto Rican, I love seeing artists become successful from the tiny island I call home. My family lives in London, and went to see Hamilton when I was studying in Miami. They promised we would go again in the summer of 2020. Due to Covid-19, that became an inconceivable act. However, the producers of Hamilton decided that they would release the play onto Disney, an entertainment network similar to Netflix. I watched the art that depicted such a fascinating point of history online and was in awe. The lyrics of the music, the costumes, and the story-line was nothing short of incredible.
Miranda used rap to illustrate a dated story to attract people of all ages. The songs addressed the history of Alexander Hamilton in a manner that young people would understand. Not only did Hamilton communicate the history of Alexander Hamilton, but depicted parts of other American founding fathers. It was a highly educational musical. Additionally, the choreography executed by Andy Blankenbuehler, was incredibly notable. It highlighted how people use their bodies to express different periods of times and emotions. In addition, the lighting throughout the play really expressed the simplicity of history and I felt that the focus was clearly on the voices and the movement of the actors.
The costume designer, Paul Tazewell, did a fantastic job in portraying the style of clothing that would have been fashionable during the 18th century. Tazewell took a modern twist on the costume design in which hair and makeup would be modern whilst everything from the shoulders down would reflect the times. Tazewell and Miranda decided that Hamilton had to wear green to highlight money. Everything from costume design to the actual movement on stage was completely choreographed to perfection.
I believe that theatre is a strong tool in education. As history was so greatly represented in Hamilton the musical, I could see theatre being more greatly incorporated in educational institutions. It allows students to escape the reality of their lives and put themselves in other people’s positions. It encourages learning through incorporating dance, music, and acting all in one. Hamilton was an incredibly successful historical piece that stimulated interests in history for many people.
I chose this play as my inspiration for this essay because I have always been captivated by history and its ability to affect the way we live today. The War of Independence allowed the United States of America to flourish into what it is today. Miranda so perfectly captured this reality. Even though I have never seen the live performance, it is still a goal of mine because of the songs. They were powerful and so greatly written.
Had History been taught in my school through this form of Art, perhaps that would have instilled a fire in me to study History at the university level. Ultimately, through this class, I am inspired by how influential the arts can be in education. It can awaken a passion in students that perhaps rigorous and mainstream courses may not, depending on your type of learning. It is important to instill creativity in students and to encourage them to find what drives them. I believe this course should be taught to all teachers as it may help them to understand the importance of art for students.
3
The Analysis of a Song:
Mental Health Education’s Lacking Presence in Schools
Lily Glickstein
The song “Ok Not To Be OK”produced by Marshmallow and sung by Demi Lovato was released in partnership with the Hope For the Day Suicide Prevention Movement. The lyrics of this song, as well as the music video that accompanies the song, allow for a clear depiction and understanding of the debilitating effects of mental health, common among young individuals.After a devastating loss of a hometown friend of mine compiled with my experience of dropping out of my prior university because of a life threatening eating disorder and diagnosed depression, I am reminded of the lacking inclusion of mental health awareness in education, and how easy it is to suffer,as a result of the stigma of mental health conversations in schools and universities. Through analyzation of the lyrics of the song, “Ok Not To Be OK,”and the presentation of the music video,this paper will explain the importance of mental health education that is lacking in all learning institutions.
The music video depicts the mental struggles that define many individuals in young adulthood, a confusing time for many.Both the singer, Demi Lovato, and the producer, Marshmallow use their past and current struggles with their own mental health to bring awareness to the often shied away from subject.The video begins with a depiction of both artist’s self in their former teenage bedrooms. The presentation of both of these celebrities struggling at a younger age with mental health, they are opening up the conversation, and acknowledging the normalcy of struggling in adolescence.The younger celebrities in the music video’s character scream, throw things, question themselves in a mirror, and engage in many behaviors that are common effects of mental health disorders, or even simply the effects of feeling overwhelmed by emotions. While I am someone who understands mental health disorders, and the harsh side effects, I feel the music video exemplifies the sometimes harsh reality of what it feels like to suffer, and the commonality of not feeling like yourself, for those who may not understand.
With an education system that focuses so much on physical health and success, education institutions should also focus on mental health. Mental illnesses make it difficult for those suffering to succeed in education, let alone be fully engaged. As expressed in the song “When your high on emotion, and your losing your focus,”the effects of mental illness often make it difficult for those suffering to succeed at any extent. A person who suffers from anxiety may have common anxiety attacks. During an anxiety attack, you tend to breath in a way that causes less blood flow to reach your brain, further affecting your ability to concentrate. With a system that focuses so much on the success of its students, I personally do not understand how the education system does not acknowledge something that can be so hindering to someone’s educational goals. While current students learn about physical and nutritional health at a young age, health is not just what is going on in the outside world. This gap in curriculum on mental health is affecting upward rising trends in depression and anxiety which further affects the way students behave, interact in their communities, and make connections with others, further debilitating their future education and career success.
Specifically,the lyrics “It’s okay not to be okay”is the premise of what every learning institution should be emphasizing. I believe that every school should be required to teach a class on mental health awareness so those suffering, can acknowledge that it is in fact okay not to be okay,as Lovato sings. I also believe a course such as this could help friends of those suffering see the signs of a loved one who may be suffering and encourage them to seek help. Courses in learning institutions should emphasize the importance of talking about emotions, the commonality of therapy, and coping mechanisms for when faced with an overwhelming flood of emotions.
4
Alyssa Lepone
Coldplay is a well-known band known all across the country. Coldplay originated in London in the year of 1996. Coldplay’s music plays a huge role in the person I am and how I handle things. Their music brought me out of a dark place in my life and they continue to help me. Not only did/does their music help me, but attending their concerts had such a big impact on my life that I will never forget it.
One of the darkest places in my life was when I moved to Miami for school and had to leave all my friends and family behind. I lost and gained people in my life during this move and it was one of the hardest times of my life. I was so depressed, alone, and had barley any money to support myself through college; I attended the Coldplay concert all by myself in Miami, Florida. I only had $200.00 in my bank account and realized that money comes and goes but life doesn’t.
This concert was what I needed to help my mental health. When I arrived at the Hard Rock Stadium, all of my worries and sadness went away. I was so excited the moment I walked into the stadium and went to my seat. I remember sitting at my seat waiting for the concert to start and I had the person sitting next to me talking. It turned out that he also attended the concert by himself. We both were going through a rough patch in life and even though we were complete strangers, we had each other at that moment.
Sitting at our seats, I remember the lights going dark, our light up bracelets went on, and Coldplay running out on stage with fireworks and rainbow confetti which is in the picture shown above. The positive vibes, energy, the singing out loud, and love that the crowd had and what Coldplay was giving was a feeling I cannot even describe. At the concert, every single song had fireworks, confetti, balloons, and all different colored lights. Even when Coldplay was playing a sad song, the crowd and band turned the sad song into something positive.
The song, Fix You, is the one song that I would play over and over again to remind myself that I will be OK, and the lord will help fix my problems. When the song, Fix You played at the concert, I just cried. The guy sitting next to me just hugged me as we singed the song together. A line in the lyrics that really make me push to keep going is, “Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, And I will try to fix you.” When I heard those lyrics being said in concert, I knew I was going to be OK and I had people there for me no matter what, even if I did not know them.
5
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Nicole Ferruggia
I choose to observe Wicked , which began as a book written by Winnie Holzman and then later adapted into a broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz. Everyone knows the story about Dorothy, her infamous ruby red slippers, and her adventures in the Land of Oz, but not all people know the history of her emerald green nemesis, the Witch of the West, and the story of how she became so wicked. Luckily that all changed in 2003 when "Wicked" came to Broadway, as a brand new musical about the witches of Oz. The musical follows the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch before they became who they are in “The Wizard of Oz”
as a prequel to that classic story. To me, this musical exhibits how important and successful the arts can be to teach us about social and political topics. While captivating the audience for over
two hours, the story addresses issues of poverty, climate change and education.
The story begins with Elphaba, who from a young age was always a rogue child, was born with green skin color, as her mother had used the green elixir. Because of this, she was always known as the outcast. She also had a sister Nessarose who was in a wheelchair from birth. When the two sisters came to Shiz, the local bosses took custody over Nessarose. Despite the sociable character of Elphaba, the green color of her skin did not allow her to make friends.
Gradually, she became friends with her roommate, Glinda. She desperately desired to meet the Wizard of Oz, who allegedly was able to make her look like a usual person. Elphaba hopes the
Wizard won’t be blinded by her looks, but Fate is powerful.
As the story progressed to the end, Elphaba invented to die theatrically in the guise of the Wicked Witch. She asked her friend Glinda not to do anything to restore her good name. Because otherwise, all the people shall be against Glinda, friends parted forever, and Elphaba gave the previously stolen magical book back and promised never again to make good magic, as
only misfortune happened to her because of it. They retired with her beloved Fiyero and left in a secret that Elphaba has survived.
"The Wizard of Oz", the American musical fantasy film, never gives these characters this sort of backstory: but when you learn about "Wicked", you realize the complexities that
these archetypal characters have in a way that makes you see the story in a whole new light. And the witches aren't the only characters to be fully fleshed out. The beauty about Wicked, the
musical as well as the book it originated from:it shifts the focus fully from Dorothy and onto what was happening in Oz before she ever arrived.
In conclusion, I believe Wicked is a great example of how the arts can be used to address issues in society. Throughout the semester we discussed how integrating the arts into different subjects can spur creative problem solving that can help benefit reality. I learned about how experiencing the arts can aid in teaching students with different methods of learning. I hope to be able to use the arts to expand my knowledge and help others one day. The arts can captivate
audiences' attention so that it can help both the artists and the bystanders address these issues. Experiencing this musical gave me an appreciation of Broadway that I did not have before. I
look forward to the ability to visit Broadway again and see more incredible plays.
6
You Found Me : The Fray
Sarah Carraher
I think “You Found Me” by the The Fray is an incredibly moving and important song. The song has a message that is important for children, as well as people of all ages, to learn from and relate to. The song’s main theme is all about being let down. I know this lesson is a tad morbid, but it’s reality. Kids will be let down by their parents, parents will be let down by their kids, friends with friends, etc. I think the lesson to associate with this song is that it hurts to be let down, so try your hardest to not let people you care about down.
The song begins by talking about the narrator running into an old friend or family member, who has abandoned him in a time of need. The chorus of the song is a series of questions asking the man where he was when the narrator needed him. In an interview with the lead singer of the band he shed some light on the inspiration for the song. He said, “I dreamt I ran into God on a street corner. He looked like Bruce Springsteen and he was smoking a cigarette. I had it out with him and asked ‘Where were you when all this bad stuff was happening to these very undeserving, good people? There were tough times. I was questioning my faith, angry at things that had happened in my life and the lives of my friends. A friend had suffered a miscarriage, I had lost my grandfather. I was angry and the song felt angry and hopeless too. I imagined what I’d say to God, in the face of all the crap my friends have gone through in the last couple of years.” I love this quote and source of inspiration because I think a lot of people go through times like this in their lives. Not necessarily with God letting them down, but any source of comfort and support.
The verses of the song progress through the chaos that is his life, and repeat the questions directed at God. He talks about losing people and feeling “Lost and insecure.” I think these themes are very relevant to life at any age. The song is beautiful and tragic, but everyone can relate to relying on another person or religion and being let down by that person or religion. I think the real teachable lesson is that life happens, and it’s ok to be disappointed. With relation to the world of a child, a disappointment could be as simple as not making the cut for a school sports team or missing out on the role they wanted in a school production. Healthy ways to deal with these disappointments might be listening to a song like this or taking inspiration from a sad song to write some journal entries or paint a sad painting. Giving kids healthy outlets for sadness is essential.
This song means a lot to me because I think that the melody and the lyrics combine to create something magical. It captures a feeling that everyone has had or will have. This song came out when I was 10 years old. I could relate to it then, and I can relate to it even more now. Music is an experience that has no age restrictions, and I think it’s important to show children from a young age all the avenues that are available for expressing oneself and one’s emotions. I think this is incredibly relevant right now, COVID and other factors have unfortunately led the suicide rate to be on the rise. I am certain my classmates would agree that in light of the recent tragedy that struck our friend Himmy, that teaching children healthy ways to deal with sadness and disappointment is one of the most important things to instill in them. I found my outlet for struggles through art, and I think that music is a great art form to be taught for this purpose too, this song being one example.
7
Paramore and the Art of Evolution
Hunter Hawkins
Art does something few things in this world have the ability to do. Whether it is through a photo, painting, or music, art allows people to interpret it in a manner that resonates with them. But music does something even more special. It can connect people from all over the world who have nothing else in common besides their love for the artist they are supporting. There is something so incredibly special about being able to go to a concert, meet new people, and scream the lyrics of your favorite songs at the top of your lungs with a bunch of strangers.
However, even though concerts are one of the most exhilarating moments that come out of having a love for music., for me personally, my favorite part about music is how an artist evolves over time with their sound, lyrics, or style. This is why it is so frustrating to see people get upset and demand that artists go back to their old sound. To me, Paramore evolved exceptionally well, yet they still faced scrutiny for changing. Paramore has been on the music scene for 16 years, forming in 2004 in Franklin,Tennessee. Trying to categorize their genre has proved difficult over the years; some of the genres thrown their way have been pop-punk to pop-rock, to just full-on pop, but the one statement that has always been consistent is that they’re "too pop for rock, but too rock for pop."
This is thanks to their constant evolution. While they had changed their sound a little every album, nothing prepared the fan base for the jump they made from their Self-titled album“Paramore,” released in 2013, to their fifth studio album “After Laughter” released in 2017."Instead of the meaty, distorted power chords and hyperactive riffs of its adolescence, Paramore has dipped into cleaner, more rhythmic and synth-kissed textures of the ’70s and ’80s, owing torecent obsessions with Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Cyndi Lauper and Blondi (Coscarelli, 2017). When Paramore said they were releasing new music, I was ecstatic because it ha been years since they had released any. I had no idea what to expect, and honestly, when I first heard their single, "Hard Times" off the new album I did not like it.
Not only had they released the song, but they released the video for it too. It was something different that I was never really expecting from them. Though in their defense, I think that they had hinted at exploring a different sound on “Paramore” with songs like "Ain't it Fun,"and "Still into You." I had to listen to “Hard Times” three times for me to really enjoy it and look forward to the new album. Their fifth album forced me to sit down and reallylisten to it.
“After Laughter” is filled with unique instrumentation and heart breaking lyrics hidden by the hooks that either keep you singing and dancing from song to song or make you think about hardships, friendships, and life. It was not the Paramore I was used to, but it was the Paramore that I was ready to embrace. And I think more people should be open-minded when it comes to artists changing their sound. I think it is entirely unfair for people to bash artists for wanting to change. No tone person is the same for their entire life.
People experience things that continually shape who they are, and therefore it does not make sense for artists to not evolve as they grow older and become more mature and look at life differently. I think most people would constantly hate if someone told them to be who they were 15 years ago. They would think “why am I not good enough, or what is wrong with who I am today?” and the same can be said for musicians. So the question is: why is it so hard for fans to embrace change? Expecting a musician to stay the same does not prove artistry. In fact, it gets old pretty quick
Being able to evolve as an artist and still sound good, actually proves just how great of an artist you are. We should not want our favorite artists to stay the same because it puts them in a box with no ability to branch out and explore or express themselves in new ways. The beauty of music is that there is not truly a right o wrong way to create it and there are no rules that require artists to stay the same, and fan sshould welcome the change. Paramore front woman Hayley Williams put it perfectly saying, “The old Paramore is on YouTube.
References
Coscarelli, J. (2017). Paramore bounces back with old faces and a new sound. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/arts/music/paramore-hayley-williams-after-laughter-interview.html
8
A Star is Born | Shallow
Christen Degel
I honestly struggled with choosing a topic for this paper because I love so many different art forms and think each offers something completely different than the other. After much thought, I decided on the movie A Star is Born released in 2018. The romantic musical drama film was produced and directed by Bradley Cooper and written by Cooper, Eric Roth, and Will Fetters. Bradley Cooper himself and Lady Gaga play the main two characters Jackson Maine and Ally. The movie is about Jackson discovering and falling in love with struggling artist Ally.
As Ally’s career begins to explode we see the personal side of their relationship breaking down due to Jackson's ongoing battle with alcoholism, drugs, and depression. What is truly remarkable is the emotions and power you can feel through the music all throughout the movie. Music has always been a passion of mine. Although I can’t sing or play an instrument very well, I find of music as an expression and a great escape from reality. One can truly express how they feel through lyrics and rhythm.
Music goes hand in hand with dance which is one thing I’m actually pretty good at. However, it doesn't matter your skill level when it comes to music and dance; it’s just about letting yourself feel and having your body follow the storm. I am so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to take this class, because; I learned that everybody is different. That means, they may express themselves differently than I do; or their learning style might be the polar opposite to mine. That is the beauty of education.
More teachers and education legislatures need to realize that a standardized test doesn’t measure someone's intelligence. Maybe someone better expresses what they know through song, dance, sculpture,photography, painting, etc. The song “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the film, is one of the most powerful performances I’ve ever felt. Every time I watch it, I still get the chills. The song has enjoyed one hell of a ride during awards season, picking up a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, two Grammys (Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media), and an Oscar for Best Original Song.
The song is about letting yourself free to be who you want to be and not being so afraid of how other people see you. When Cooper sings, “I’m fallin’ / In all the good times / I find myself longing for change. When listening to "In the bad times, I fear myself,” one can’t help but to think of the first time the film shows the singer with a bottle of alcohol in the backseat of his car after a show. He’s falling into darkness, one that will eventually consume him, it also foreshadows that he’s going to fall in love with Ally.
The verse “Tell me something, boy / Aren’t you tired tryin’ to fill that void? / Or do you need more? / Ain’t it hard keepin’ it so hard-core?” shows that Ally truly understands what Jackson is doing. The real Jackson is desperately trying to numb whatever inner demons he’s fighting all the while maintaining his music career and perfect persona, one alcohol-induced show at a time. The song means so many different things to so many different people that, that is the beauty of it.This is just one of millions of songs that have had the power to move people from all different backgrounds and all different places around the globe. This is why music should always be implemented in schools.
Various studies have found that music stimulates brain development in children. It also gives students the opportunity to engage with other people, this is especially important since COVID-19. Music can be used in any subject even math, physics of sound, historical songs that took place during past events, etc. Next, music teaches discipline since the student will have to practice outside of school helping to also teach them time management. Finally, music relieves stress which is extremely helpful for students who feel overwhelmed, also increasing endorphins and reducing burnout. These are just some of the many reasons why music education is so important and powerful for young students and even adults.
I will take everything I learned in this class with me onto the next stage of my life. This class has changed my perspective and taught me to be kind to myself and others; you never know what they’re going through. The lesson to never judge a book by it’s cover especially as a teacher getting to know students is so important. One can’t just assume the student doesn’tunderstand since they scored poorly on an exam. Instead offer the student a different means to express what they learned maybe through music, art, theatre, etc.
9
Analyzing a Piece of Art: The Power of a Woman
Haley Traub
The above video is a speech by Michelle Obama on the power of women. The video depicts different new videos and scenes from the movie “Hidden Figures”. The video was created by Zuciya.com. Michelle Obama recounts that growing up as a black woman was not easy. Her family pushed her to be the best she can be and constantly told her she could be anything she wanted if she worked hard. Unfortunately, others told her the opposite, but she persisted. She goes on to say that we need more girls to lead board rooms, courtrooms and parliaments. Many girls today still don’t have access to education. Michelle Obama says she knows the potential that women have. She knows that we can change the world and be some of the best leaders. It all starts with education.
This video is very powerful. Taking clips from “Hidden Figures” was a brilliant idea. “Hidden Figures” is a movie about the three Black women in NASA who were the brains of one of the greatest operations in history. They are the definition of powerful women. They broke so many barriers for women and having some clips added to the power of the speech. They embody everything that Michell is talking about. Michelle’s words are powerful. Taking from her own childhood, she establishes expertise in the field of breaking barriers and can convince almost any female that she can do anything they set their mind to. Any female who watches this will definitely feel motivated after seeing it.
Michelle Obama is completely right in the fact that the power of women will be unleashed especially when we commit ourselves to education. Women in the past have always been pressured to stay home and take care of the house and children. Many don’t want women to even get an education. There are many reasons as to why. The main reason for this is poverty. When a family doesn’t have much money, they typically make young girls stay at home doing chores to support their families. Another reason could be because of different gender disparities in certain laws. Some countries allow women to marry at a very young age leaving the idea of education underneath the effort to find a man. This is because a family can combine wealth. It is also important to note that there is gender inequality when it comes to pay after schooling. It would be more advantageous of a family to send a male than a female because of this fact. Another reason why women aren’t sent to school is because of sexual harassment. Women experience it fairly often and at school is no different. It has lasting mental health effects.
While all these reasons are understandable, it still is very sad as many women have the potential to be amazing. Females can be the strongest and most empowered people on this planet and it stinks that some countries and cultures are stuck on societal norms from the past. For me, I believe that every woman deserves a right to education. Growing up in a household where my mom worked and my dad was a stay at home dad, I learned to be empowered. Similar to Michelle, my mom told me I could do anything I set my mind to if I worked hard. I am very fortunate for this as now I am attending college majoring in STEM with intentions to go into the Air Force. Women are meant to be leaders and I will not stop until I reach that position. Women belong in any field they want to be in. This video speaks it into existence.
10
See You Again
Carrie Feltingoff
Music is one of those rare things that almost everyone has the ability to connect with. Everyone might have different music tastes, but finding love and connecting with some music is a bond most form with this medium. I am always turning to music and the artists and albums that I love in my hardest times. It is so important to have a few songs that we feel like we have an instant connection with, the ones that make us feel like the things we are going through are also being gone through by someone else who has the ability to put it into a song and turn that music into an art-form.
Since it was released, I have connected to the song "See you Again" by rapper Wiz Khalifa, featuring Charlie Puth. The song was a tribute to Paul Walker, the lead of the Fast and Furious movies, who tragically died in a car accident. This song is about saying goodbye to a loved one, whether it be a best friend, a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a family member, or someone we have spent time so much with and spent time caring for. The chorus starts with, "It's been along day without you, my friend / And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again." The songwriter looks forward to being reunited with his friend. He then sings, "We've come a long way from where we began / Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again." The narrator and Paul Walker have been friends for a long time and had many successes together. Those successes continue for the still-alive narrator, who looks forward to catching up with Walker.
When this song was first released in 2015, I vividly remember it being on the radio all the time. I would be in the car with my brother driving us to school, and he loved hearing and singing "See You Again." This past April, my sixteen-year-old brother was struck by a motorist while riding his bike and died hours later from the injuries he sustained. Over the past seven months, I've found comfort in particular songs that speak about losing a loved one. A few days after the accident, I heard "See You Again" on the radio. It immediately made me think of my brother and our daily car rides to and from school.
“Money cannot bring you happiness”
Jon Ford
I am analyzing the quote “Money cannot bring you happiness” because this is something that people deal with every other day. People feel that money could be something that could fix all their problems but over the years I have seen celebrities come out explain how they was not happy for years. I have watched videos and listened to people like Dave Chapelle (Actor) who came out about his famous “Chapelle Show” and told reporters that he turned down $25 Million because he felt his mind wasn’t in the right place to keep the show going. Chapelle felt his life was in danger and he did not renew his contract and he left the country to be in Africa for 5 years. This is a prime example of money do not bring you happiness because he easily could have taken the money and felt his life was changed but he wanted to get his inner thoughts and energy together.
The main theme of this quote is that people take life for granted and never find peace in their self. No matter if you have $100 million dollars and own plenty of properties, but if you are not happy and at peace you will forever feel like something is holding you back. For example, Boxer Mike Tyson, is one of the greatest fighters of all time but he felt the life he lived while he was at the peak of his career was a fraud. Tyson felt that he used the money he had to impress people and never showed that he was angry. The only time he felt he could show his anger was in the ring, but he explained that he gave people money and took them to nicest places to make his self-seem like he was loved and appreciated.
I chose this topic because I feel people need to start finding happiness and not looking for money to change their lives. You must find the happiness in yourself in order to enjoy the money or you will be like most of the celebrities that have a lot of money, but are not happy with their lives. Like Mike Tyson, you will not get genuine love if you are buying people things and taking them out of the country because they won't love you for who you are. They will love you for what you got. Depression is real and no matter how much money you have it won’t fix it unless you use the money to get you the help you need to love yourself.
12
Representation of the "taboo" in Musical Theater:
A Discussion of Hit Musical Next to Normal
Brandon Astor
Next to Normal is a musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The piece began in 1998 as a short sketch about a woman undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, under the title Feeling Electric. Over the next decade, the script and score grew and developed through a series of workshops and was retitled Next to Normal. The play debuted off-Broadway in 2008 and won the Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Score, with Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Score. After the run off-Broadway, the show was reworked, and then produced at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage from November 2008 to January 2009.
The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009. It was nominated for eleven Tony Awards for the 2009 and won three; Best Original Score, Best Orchestration, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, for Alice Ripley. It was also awarded the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming only the eighth musical in Pulitzer history to receive the honor” (“Next to Normal Study Guide”, Alliance Theatre). I chose to discuss this musical, as having been in a production of it, alongside with its strong messages and impact on the theatre community.
Next to Normal, can be such a valuable educational tool. It represents a story that can be considered “off the beaten path.” I say this lightly, as in education we often highlight happy ending and “seemingly happy” family dynamics. The themes, messages, words, and lines of this musical contrastingly highlight a life that needs to be shown more in the mainstream entertainment. Next to Normal establishes many of these prevalent themes in society that can be considered “controversial.”
The musical covers themes of mental illness. This includes subthemes such as grief, suicide, drug abuse, and ethics of modern psychiatry. This musical follows a “normal” appearing family in the 2000’s. The show is comprised of 6 actors in total. The musical follows the loving family of a mom, dad, son, and daughter – Diana, Dan, Gabe, and Natalie to be exact. We are centered in the beginning of the show of one of many breakdowns of diagnosed “bipolar depressive disorder with delusional episodes”, Diana - the mother of the family. I also have major connection to these themes of mental illness, those who are affected, and suicide. It is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24, and yet there is such a disconnect in education about such awareness and knowing that it is okay to ask for help.
Personally, I know that I was not exposed to much mental health education until high school, or until there had become increasingly many suicides within my senior year of high school. This is a problem; We need to have a humanistic approach to what we teach, and Next to Normal is the perfect example of reference to such issues. The “taboo” and topics we often refrain from, can lead to ignorance – and as we all know “ignorance is bliss.” Having a talk about politics, mental health, drugs, such exposure to these topics are essential – and can gear people to make solid decisions. Many will argue that it is not the place for teachers to do, but I think it is essential in curriculum to include these topics. Working on such a masterpiece and heavy show like Next to Normal, has always stuck with me. It is one of those musicals, like Dear Evan Hansen, Spring Awakening, Heathers, and many more that will bring you to tears.
It is also important to note that the world around is changing very fast, and younger generations have access to any of these topics at the click of a button – which can be dangerous. Technology in our lives – is beneficial, yet dangerous; with proper inclusion into curriculum, we can help to give accurate information to younger students and teens who may even watch musicals on the “darker edge” of the spectrum. My sister is a 3rd grade classroom teacher in a area facing financial hardships, crime, and food insecurity. What I witness when I go in – prior to a global pandemic – is the way in which she reads pertinent and present stories – ones that are beneficial to the discussion of government, human rights, life in other countries, and much more. Inclusion of such materials can be a proven way to teach the future leaders of the world. Especially with the inclusion of Next to Normal, I find the direction, stage pictures, music, and set so powerful that it really will resonate and draw light on these particularly underrepresented pertinent issues.
Concluding my remarks about such a brilliant musical does nowhere near the justice it deserves in both the world of the arts, the classroom, and the public. The song “You Don’t Know/ I am the One” is the epitome of emotions that run inside these characters head in a developing tension in the musical leading to the climax at the end of act one. The clip above shows the length that Dan [husband] will go for his wife, Diana amidst such a strong struggle she faces. This theme of infinite love is timeless and ageless to the society we live in. Love always wins amongst fear and distraught. As an educator, I would fight and fight to the end to highlight these important themes in the classroom, because the world is a dark place; we need to care more about humanitarian views to build up a community.
Bibliography
“Next to Normal (Musical) Plot & Characters.” StageAgent, stageagent.com/shows/musical/227/next-to-normal.
“Next to Normal Study Guide.” Alliance Theatre, https://alliancetheatre.org/sites/default/files/N2N%20Study%20Guide.pdf.
13
A Creative Analysis of “Howl”
Alexa Shabinsky
When I think of the arts, dance is the first thing that comes to mind. The movement of the body to music encompasses all aspects of art and creating. The dance piece, titled “Howl” was choreographed by Brandon Croisetiere in 2016 and performed nationwide by the dancers at Kali Andrews Dance Company. I first saw this piece live in 2016 and have not stopped thinking about it since. This piece moved me, from the storytelling, creative choreography, and immense commitment from the performers. The contemporary piece explores the philosophical ideas of a pack of wolves, but there is always one wolf out of line. Through the use of a variety of isolated movements, from one dancer at a time, the theme of this piece explores that even when you are together, some are alone. The song, Croisetiere chose, encompassed this same theme: sung by Bon Iver, titled “The Wolves.”
Although some might not see it, dance definitely is a form of education. Behind every movement, there is a story that the choreographer wants to tell, and without words, a story is sometimes even more powerful. Similar to the re-enactments we explored in class this semester, dance is exploring movement and situations that have previously happened or in some cases yet to happen. In this case, the dancers are essentially re-enacting what it is like to be a wolf and a wolf in the pack. Many aspects of the story are told through movement, but also the song lyrics. The song begins with “Someday my pain, someday my pain. Will mark you. Harness your blame, harness your blame. And walk through.” These lyrics, along with the facial expressions and commitment from the dancers draw your emotions into the story right away.
With such an emotional and progressing storyline, the choice of costume and costume design by Croisetiere was perfect for the piece. The simplicity of a tight neutral bodysuit allowed the dancers to create shapes with their bodies with no distractions. The grey neutrality color was also a very good choice, white and black are the neutrals most people attract towards normally, but those colors tell a story within themselves. The grey color carries a negative connotation in reference to depression and loneliness. The seclusion of certain individuals throughout the choreography does in fact allude to loneliness and a sense of loss, which portrays why I believe the costuming choice on this piece is perfect.
It is evident that everyone has different forms of art that speak to them. Although, anything created by a human, or human activity in a creative way and setting explores this idea of art. From sculptures, paintings, performances, theater, dance, music, song, and literature, to name a few, the opportunities are endless with art. Every individual interprets art differently, and every piece of art shares a story, in most cases without words. The power of art especially dance in this case proves that storytelling can be told through movement, and every storyline is up for interpretation. Personally, dance has always been my creative outlet and form of expression, thus why I chose to analyze this art form and this piece in specific. The act of non-verbal storytelling through movement resonates with me and my emotions.
This past semester, we have explored art in many different forms, many mentioned above. We have been taught to critically think about the pieces and enjoy the moment of creating them. I used the VTS theory when analyzing “Howl”, because there is so much more than just the surface level performance. Every move, every costume detail, and every musical note was done for a reason, Croisetiere, explored how he wanted to tell his story using these main categories. Art encompasses education, storytelling, and creativity and I am very grateful for the experience to study and analyze it on a deeper level.
14
“What a Wonderful World”
Hannah Eiger
“What a Wonderful World” was recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1967 and is still one of the most well-known songs internationally. Written by Bob Thiele and David Weiss, the piece discusses all that is beautiful and worth cherishing in our everyday lives. I chose to focus on this song due to its timeless message, historical significance, and impact it has had on me. Whether inside or outside of the music classroom, “What a Wonderful World” has great potential to impact students and relate to all cultures and backgrounds.
As featured in the attached video, Louis Armstrong says a few words in an introduction to the song. He mentions how young people keep asking him how the world could be so wonderful when there are several wars occurring, hunger in the world, and pollution. Armstrong discusses how the world is not really bad, but what we are doing with it is. The purpose of the song is discussing the world’s potential, as noted by his line “see what a wonderful world it would be if only we gave it a chance.” This is a timeless message that speaks to me personally. Sometimes the world’s larger conflicts can get overwhelming, especially when I am directly involved with the issue. In those cases, I find that I need to choose joy to re-center myself and put things in perspective. Choosing joy means shedding light on all of the things Armstrong sings in the song: the beauty of nature, friendship, younger generations, and love.
The song was written during the Vietnam War among countless struggles as mentioned before. While the message of the song may span generations, it was originally written and produced in a purposeful way. Thiele and Weiss wanted Louis Armstrong to sing is because they thought the message would best be conveyed by an older and wiser man. While it came out in 1967, it did not become popular in the United States until 1988 when it was featured in the movie, Good Morning Vietnam, thus emphasizing the song’s original historical significance.
Considering the song’s historical context, including this piece within a history lesson would be a great opportunity to bring the content to life and make the lesson more relatable. History class often feels distant and boring, being that the lifestyles of the figures students learn about contrast greatly to their own. Bringing in music from the era of each lesson gives the students the opportunity to relate to the people and gain an understanding of how historical events impact art and cultural phenomena. “What a Wonderful World” mentions the beauty of things that all students experience: the sky, flowers, darkness of night, brightness of day, and friends shaking hands. The reason why the song was so popular internationally is the same reason why so many students would connect with it: the message is universal.
Music in general is an educational tool that can enhance the learning experience for students. Incorporating music into lessons is a great way for teachers to be more culturally responsive and engaging to all learners.
Too often, education is only seen through a traditional lens, failing
to allow so many students to express themselves and their knowledge in
more creative ways. Music is a great avenue of expression and exposing
students to songs in academic classes maybe inspire deeper learning and greater expression. As educators work to incorporate music and arts in all sectors of schooling, we will being to live in a more ‘wonderful world.’
15
The Greatest Showman: An Analysis
Anna Davis
The Greatest Showman, directed by Michael Gracey, is a musical based off of the true story of Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum, played by none other than Hugh Jackman. This film dives deeper into P.T. Barnum’s life, from early childhood, to marriage, then to the creation of the infamous Barnum & Bailey circus. Through emotional acting, song, and dance, this film is able to transport viewers right into the life of P.T. Barnum and see firsthand how his story unfolds. I chose to analyze this musical specifically because I feel that it can be used to teach students not only about the arts, but the importance of being yourself.
The film starts out in a flashback, where P.T. is still a child living in poverty with his father the tailor. Young P.T. meets and falls in love with the daughter of a very wealthy, very important man, who does not approve of their relationship, but they run away together anyways. Wanting to give his wife the live she had become so accustomed to living, Barnum set out to prove his worth and make a name for himself by purchasing a museum. According to his daughters, the museum did not have enough living things in it, so Barnum came up with a new idea- a freak show of sorts, where he would seek out and employ unique personalities and talents to perform. These were people that typically would be cast away as “freaks” or “weirdos”, such as the bearded lady, a hairy “dog boy”, a 500 lb man, and so on. Though Barnum encountered many obstacles along his way, his show was soon deemed the title of “circus” and it became a success.
One of the things I love so much about this musical film is the song and dance component. Each song on the soundtrack is extremely unique and tells its own story through various emotions, tones, and rhythms. The film begins and ends with the same theme song “The Greatest Showman”. This really ties the whole movie together and allows the viewer to come full circle with the story. The song “This is Me” is performed by the circus members when they are being taunted for being different. In this performance, you can truly hear, see, and feel the pain that these people feel- it’s in the intensity of their dance movements, the sound of their voice, and the expression on their face. The lyrics of the song tell the listener that you do not need to apologize for being yourself, and the powerful dance movements reflect this.
Another memorable and educational performance occurs towards the end of the film, when Barnum has realized the mistakes he made on his path to fame and goes to correct them. The song “From Now On” plays, and the lyrics tell a story of a man who is making a change in his life and will no longer be blinded by what’s not important. It starts out with just Barnum performing in a somber tone, but as the song progresses and Barnum rights his wrongs, the tempo changes and everyone joins in for a large dance scene. The emotion and intensity expressed through the rhythmic dance moves creates such a powerful final scene that represents a celebration. The songs and dance choreography throughout the musical help to portray feelings deeper than would be possible in a non-musical film.
I chose this musical out of all because I feel it has a strong application in an educational context. Not only does it expose students to the art of song, dance, and theatre, it teaches them the importance of being yourself and accepting those who are different from you. In this musical, people who are typically labeled as freaks because of how they look, dress, or act, are instead glorified and praised. When kids see this, they will learn that just like the circus performers, they too can be successful just by being themselves.
16
Hamilton Musical Performance Review
Alex Budka
Hamilton, a musical about the American Revolution, has revolutionized Broadway ever since. Premiering on Broadway in January of 2015, Hamilton still reigns supreme for one of the best musicals ever written. I was lucky enough to have won front row tickets in a raffle back in December of 2016, and to this day I still believe it was the best musical and piece of art I have ever seen and will ever see. Hamilton was written, directed, and composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Hamilton broke records at the 2016 Tony awards, with 16 nominations and 11 wins.
What makes Hamilton stand out is its use of all different types of music. Hamilton strays from traditional show tunes, and draws upon pop, R&B, Hip Hop, and soul. As the title suggests, Hamilton is about the life of Alexander Hamilton. When hearing this for the first time, one would assume that it would be boring. History is almost always boring to most people. With the dynamic mixture of all of the music, choreography, and acting, Hamilton is anything but boring. The use of Hip Hop to portray history is a mixture that would never be expected, but it was extremely successful. I was able to relate to the characters even though the musical is set in the 1700s.
Hamilton is amazing from an educational standpoint. It has an incredible ability to encapsulate the audience and make them interested, even though it is history. The way the songs are set up, in that the actors are acting through song, instead of reciting any lines normally is super interesting. Through theater, one can learn the entire story of Alexander Hamilton, his strengths, his weaknesses, his friends, his enemies, how the United States sought freedom from Great Britain, and much more. I learned a lot about early American politics, history, and life in general. It was very educational and entertaining at the same time.
I remember that Hamilton also made plenty of current day pop culture references that were very funny. Lin-Manuel Miranda definitely knew his audience and knew what would make people laugh. I was entertained throughout the entirety of the show between jokes, music, and acting. I became emotionally invested and also provoked to go out and learn more. Hamilton is different because it is written in the perspective of the antagonist- Aaron Burr. It’s humorous, especially during the parts sung by King George III, who treats the U.S. and Great Britain’s relationship like a toxic relationship going through a break up. Each and every character is deeply developed and has their own story.
Hamilton is easily the greatest musical I have ever seen. It will continue to go down in history as a not only educational, but thoroughly entertaining performance. It is no shock to me that it has been talked of so highly by the world’s best critics. It is a piece of art that genuinely inspires me greatly. TO this day, I have every single line of the musical memorized because of how catchy and beautiful every song was.
17
The Road Not Taken – Sliding Doors
Madeline Leeds
Art is a very important piece of education. Although many school systems don’t include art in their curriculum, a lot can be learned from it that can’t be learned from lecturing. Art leads kids to be creative and think outside the box which is what expands their brain and allows them to grow. Including arts into education can help students gain a greater understanding of topics and bring new viewpoints into the classroom. A movie that taught me a really good life lesson, that I could have never learned from a lecture in a classroom is Sliding Doors. The movie Sliding Doors, made in 1998, the year before I was born, was written and directed by Peter Howitt.
The film stars Gwyneth Paltrow who plays Helen Quilley, and John Hannah who plays James. Helen had just been fired from her PR company and was rushing for her train. Two hypothetical scenarios are presented within the film, resulting in two different outcomes. The first being that Helen just misses the train, and the second being that Helen just manages to make the train. During the scenario where Helen makes the train, she meets and talks to a nice man named James. As she arrives home, she catches her boyfriend, Jerry, cheating on her with another woman. She then decides to move in with her friend and turn her life around. She then falls in love with James and he motivates her to start her own PR company and become very successful.
Meanwhile in the second scenario, Helen misses the train and arrives home after the woman has. She is suspicious of something but doesn’t confront her boyfriend about it. When she is not able to find another job, she starts working two jobs to pay the bills. She lives a miserable life and has no trust in her boyfriend but also has no proof that he has done anything wrong. This shows that two different choices can lead to two completely different life paths which is crazy to me.
Ultimately, this movie uses two different scenarios to explore the different paths one’s life might take. It shows how one split second can change your destiny. This movie also depicts “the road not taken.” You never know where another road could lead you. This movie was super influential to me because it shows how to be brave and pave my own path to see what is out there. There is fate, destiny, and taking charge of your own life. Me, being a huge believer in fate, am a huge fan of this movie and it inspired me to take risks.
This movie can be used as an educational tool in the classroom for a variety of reasons. It teaches kids how different life can be if a different path is taken. Although this is not necessarily a children’s movie, it goes to show what people (any age), can learn from the art of film. This movie really made me think about what I should do when there is a fork in the path of life and I have a decision to make. People always think about the road not taken and how things might turn out if the choice had been different. That is just how life works and this movie did a really good job depicting that in a funny way that really spoke to me.
This movie goes to show that a lot can be learned from the arts in education. This is something that I could have never learned from a teacher, I had to learn it from seeing it and experiencing the emotions in the movie. I will really value TAL 324 because it has taught me that there is so much learning that can be done through art weather it is music, dancing, film, literature, etc.
18
Youth by Daughter
Ritika Abraham
This dance performance to the song Youth by Daughter is extremely relevant and inspiring to what is occurring nowadays due to social media and technology. A survey conducted by Pew Research concluded that 90% of teens believe that online harassment is a problem for people their age. Even further, 20% of people that have at least one social media account admitted they feel the need to check them at least once every three hours to avoid feeling anxious. This is not just a fear of missing out, and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America labeled it as Social Media Anxiety Disorder.
This piece means a lot to me and I am sure to many others because of how applicable it is to today. It revolves around the notion that we, as humans, are addicted to our phones. Every day we spent countless seconds, minutes and even hours mindlessly scrolling. That idea is what inspired the choreographer, Bonnie Su, to create this live production piece. There are two main messages that Bonnie aimed to get across with this piece. The first is that there is an extreme difference in the pictures that are posted on social media and what the person actually feels. This really stuck with me because of how true it is. People only post on social media when they are at their very best moment, so for someone just scrolling through social media they are only seeing people at their happiest.
The suicide rates have increased exponentially especially amongst the youth and teens. Social media has an effect on mental health and there is no question about it. The second message that I took away from the performance is the sadness and struggle that can occur as a result of the need to feel validated by likes and comments. I’ve heard many of my friends before saying “This didn’t get any likes”, and as much as people try not to, likes give people a numerical value for direct comparison. This also has a direct effect on people’s mental health. Overall, this piece was a much-needed reminder for me to take a break from my phone.
The main part of the piece that helped convey the inspiring message was the emotion. This is an aspect that often gets brushed past and looked over but is crucial to whether the performance is a success or not. This dance is led by emotion and the dancers did not hold back on displaying every ounce of emotion. Throughout the piece the dancer’s facial expressions as well as body movements showed the emotion of the story. At first it looks like the dancers are just moving around the room, but when considering it in a closer fashion it becomes visible that each movement has meaning. The viewer could see and feel the pain, suffering, and struggle that each dancer portrayed throughout the song. Through the dancer’s body movements, the audience can go through the story and understand not just what is going on but the deeper meaning behind the “why” of the dance. Each movement is premeditated, and you could watch the five-minute dance over and over and each time discover something new.
I thought the interpretation of this dance was extremely interesting. They did use a phone as a prop, but it honestly was not necessary for the audience to follow along with the message. There was a lot about the piece that is open for interpretation but at the same time it was easy for the audience to follow along. Because there was so many people involved in the dance you could really feel the loneliness that social media can bring upon some people which is ironic because the whole purpose of social media and technology is to connect people together.
Overall, I really enjoyed this dance performance. I think it is really amazing how something as simple as body movement, which we are all capable of, can be creatively interpreted to tell any kind of story. It can teach critical thinking. When just looking at the dance at its face value you can just think “Oh, this is beautiful” but after analyzing it at a deeper level you can achieve a much deeper meaning of it. This is an extremely important skill in life. I think watching and interpreting this dance is a great example of how education in the arts can affect people’s level of critical thinking, creativity and interpretation.
19
The Musical: An Effective Tool In Education
Guwen Xu
For most people, education is not merely a traditional way to learn new information. It is also a tie between teachers and students. The way teachers teach can affect students dramatically. As time goes on, more and more different ways of education are developed by people. Using art as a tool is one of the most effective ways to develop education. Nowadays, the musical has drawn widespread attention.
The debate of the relationship between musicals and education has been under discussion for a long period of time. Some people think the elements of the musical can promote educational development. Others don't favor it, holding a totally different kind of view. For talking about a kind of art that inspires me, I totally agree that the musical can be a useful tool to develop education.
The first time I saw a musical was on Broadway in New York. After several days' visit, my friends and I decided to watch a musical to take a break. Finally, we chose Chicago as our first musical. The playwright of Chicago is Bob Fossee, and the music is written by John Kander. Fred Ebb is the lyricist of Chicago. As one of the most famous musicals on Broadway, plenty of people are attracted to Broadway by it. Although the setting of the stage was not as resplendent as other musicals, its composition, story or performance were enough to leave a deep impression on me.
"All That Jazz", as Chicago’s opening dance, caught all my attention. At the beginning, the actors swayed on the stage with the rhythmical music. As the music became more and more intense, their dance steps were more and more quick. At this moment, all the peoplewere immersed in the music by the performance of actors. The actors on the stage devote their passion to guide the audience into the story. The audience engaged in this fantastic performance.
This is the first thing that I learned from musicals. For me, the role of teachers is more important than students in education. They are more like the actors on the stage. Their passion is the most effective assistance for helping students engage in class. Students are like the audience. They pay their tuition for seeking knowledge. Being responsible to this “audience” is a teacher's duty.
Students are also important. Their engagement is an encouragement helping teachers light passion. The second thing that I learned from musicals is the cooperation between students and teachers. Like Chicago, a perfect performance needs the perfect cooperation between actors and the band behind them. Actors need to remember all the drumbeats and follow the bass’s instruction to dance.
A harmonious class needs students and teachers’ cooperation. The content in class and the reaction from class are both vital. Students need to follow the instruction of teachers to learn new things. Teachers also need to listen to students' feedback to teach better next time. The last thing that I am inspired by Chicago is to be responsible as students or teachers.
Like I mentioned in the second paragraph, students are the audience. They pay for new knowledge, so the teachers should be responsible to students. Teachers need to be like the actors on the stage, using passion to let students fall in love with the study. Students also need to be responsible to teachers, like the audience, respecting teachers’ passion and trying their best to learn.
All in all, Chicago and this assignment make me rethink the relationship between art and education. There are three things that develop our class. The first thing is having passion. The second thing is the importance of cooperation. The third thing is being responsible to each other.
“The Problem We All Live With”
Lilly Johnsen
Using art and art expressions are key tools to helping students within the classroom. Using art can further enhance learning experiences and engage students. Paintings are a good use of art for the classroom. Paintings give students the opportunity to analyze the picture based on different colors, contrasts, themes, shapes, and compositions present in the art. They can then use what they have taken away and apply it to cultural and social history. Students can learn how to understand multiple perspectives as well as vividly grasp what the past signifies. A painting that can be utilized in the classroom is “The Problem We All Live With” by Normal Rockwell. This painting became an iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement and carries a heavy, but important message.
“The Problem We All Live With” depicts a black girl walking with school books surrounded by faceless U.S. Marshals. It was inspired by the story of Ruby Bridges. After the 1954 Brown V. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, Bridges was one of a few students selected to start the desegregation process in New Orleans. On her first day of kindergarten, she was escorted by U.S. marshals and met with a violent mob. The painting shows Ruby Bridges and the marshals walking to school in front of hate speech written on the wall behind them. The picture also shows a splash of red, indicating a tomato was just thrown at her. I chose this picture because of it’s powerful message. I came across this picture recently because of the Black Lives Matter Movement. I was researching paintings about racial injustices and this picture really stood out to me. From the moment you look at “The Problem We All Live With” you can tell that it is about racism. When you dig deeper, you learn that the painting has an actual story behind it.
This picture has a great use of contrast. The little girl is painted in a dark brown, representing her race. She is wearing a white dress, which further pronounces the color of her skin. I think Rockwell decided to paint her in a white dress because it immediately focuses your attention on the girl. Once noticing the girl, you are drawn towards the word above her on the wall. The words show the audience that the painting is clearly about race and relations. The U.S. marshals are painted as faceless men, which I think is important to the message. They represent an institution that is boxing her in. Although the marshals are there to protect her, they are defining her in her space. I think this represents the confined box and space black people find themselves in. They are confined by our institutions and systems. They are there to protect the little girl, but she is still getting harassed by tomatos and hate speech.
I think “The Problem We All Live With” by Normal Rockwell is a great educational tool. It can be used to help students learn about racism. With the Black Lives Matter movement taking huge strides in the last year, it is crucial to bring these topics into classroom discussions. This painting is a great way to spark the conversation, raise awareness, understand multiple perspectives, and have students question what they know. “The Problem We All Live With” can be the beginning of the class discussion. Students should be asked to evaluate what they see, what they think it represents, and how it makes them feel. Then, the conversation can be brought to talk about Ruby Hall, the girl in the picture. Sharing her story can be an introduction to desegregation, when the incident took place. Since this picture became an iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement, it can be used to educate students about it. This painting, and art in general, can help bring emotion into the discussion of racism. I think this would encourage students to learn more about the topic and be more invested in learning about it. A teacher can also integrate the Black Lives Matter movement while showing this picture. It is a good way to bridge how systemic racism was effecting Black Americans in the 1960s and how it is still effecting them today. These are all important topics for children at any age to learn. They help us further understand systemic racism, how it impacts our lives, and how we can work together to change it.
“The Problem We All Live With” is a powerful piece of art that can be used in education systems. It brings up discussions of important issues that children need to understand. Racism is still very prevalent today. With movements such as Black Lives Matter, it is crucial that children are exposed to the past and what is still happening in society today. Showing students art from the 1960s can help them visualize what they are learning and can bring emotion into the conversation. Emotional discussions can be very good for learning and understanding others perspectives. This is one of many pieces that depict racism, systemic racism, and racial descrimination. The story behind the painting can introduce these topics in the classroom. Overall, “The Problem We All Live With” is an iconic piece that depicts racism in the 1960s. As a classroom, students can connect the Civil Rights Movement with the Black Lives Matter movement. It is an exceptional piece that can be dissected by students to guide their learning about these topics.
21
Judith Beheading Holofernes
Valerie Daccach Cuellar
For my final paper, I wanted to write about one of my favorite paintings, Judith Beheading Holofernes, painted by Caravaggio in 1600. The work was created in the early baroque period. The biblical story about Judith was often painted during this time period by many artists. During the baroque period, many painters used biblical narratives because they contained very dramatic and emotional moments. Judith looks like she is concentrating hard as she beheads Holofernes, but she also looks very graceful. Holofernes, the enemy of the Israelites, is painted in a very grotesque way and is a contrast to Judith’s beauty and idealism. There are dramatic contrasts between the light and dark to show that Judith is the heroine and main focus of the work. Holofernes’ side of the painting is much darker.
The biblical story being portrayed is about Judith, who is an Israelite woman, and how she is able to behead the Assyrian general, Holofernes. It is from the Old Testament. Judith pretends to go to Holofernes to seduce him, but really she is able to kill him and save her people. The other person in the painting is her servant who had to take the head back in a basket to avoid being caught. Throughout the bible, the Israelites are always the underdog compared to their enemies, so miracles and smarts have to save them.
In the painting, Judith is very light and beautiful; she has a very symmetrical face to show her perfection. She is the focus of the painting as the lightest part. The background and other figures are very dark with muted colors. She has a sexual appeal showing how she was able to outwit the General. She is very rounded in her shoulders and face, which was considered womanly and beautiful. Although her posture is very graceful, her arms are strong and able to hold the sword and the head.
Caravaggio has her as a representation of the beginning of Christian triumphs such as Christ’s victory over death. He also has painted other triumphant subjects, such as David holding the head of Goliath. David was a small shepherd who slayed the giant Goliath with a slingshot against all odds after no other soldiers were brave enough to stand up to this giant. The Holofernes has a grotesque facial expression to represent the evil side. There is not much blood from the neck; there are only a few lines. His heavily bearded face makes him look barbaric as well. The face of the servant, who was named Abra, also looks somewhat grotesque and slightly evil. She is old and very wrinkled, and her complexion is made of a muddy tan with almost a tint of green. She is in the shadows of the painting. She is included in the painting to make sure viewers know what biblical story the painting is narrating. .
Caravaggio typically uses realistic looking human figures rather than overly idealized or overly grotesque. Both Judith and Holofernes have aspects of these, but they are also realistic. He also uses dramatic chiaroscuro to highlight good and evil and make the painting dramatic. Also he chooses to paint the scene in the moment of Judith beheading where other artists mostly paint the aftermath of her holding the head. Caravaggio also makes Judith very innocent looking in her white dress; she looks less like a seductress and more like an innocent maiden.
The baroque period was marked by using exaggerated motion and easily interpreted narratives to produce dramatic works of art. The catholic church influenced the art of the time because they wanted more biblical narratives to be painted that really drew in the viewers by giving them an emotional connection to the story. The focus of this period was highly dramatic and emotional scenes such as the Judith narrative. Judith is meant to represent strength and is a symbol for the church.
Similarly to what the Catholic church found to be true at the time, art is a great way to get people more engaged in stories. Art can be used as a learning tool in a similar way. During the 1600’s, when the painting was done, many people went to church, but they could not read the bible. So the church would want these biblical narratives to be painted to give people a better understanding. Sometimes painters would use people from the time who commissioned the work to portray their likeness in a painting depicting a heroic act or great beauty. It is also interesting to compare the same biblical narratives that were painted again and again to better understand each artist's specific perspective on how they depict the scene.
22
XXY: Educating about Intersex
Isabel Long
In 2020, it is more important than ever to educate ourselves about the various gender identities and sexual orientations that exist in our society. It is imperative to become aware of the unique differences in all of us and the ways that we can respect those around us. One way that we can learn about gender and sexuality topics is through film. XXY, a film directed by Lucia Puenzo, tells the story of Alex, an intersex individual. This film takes us into the world of a family whose loved one has a unique gender, and a unique sexual orientation. This story sheds light on a topic that many people may be unfamiliar with, and therefore it can be considered a powerful education tool.
Alex is first introduced as a 15 year old girl living with her parents in a scenic beach town in Uruguay. We learn a few things about Alex: she is exploring her sexuality and she was born with both male and female anatomy. It is revealed that, like is the case with many other intersex individuals, gender assignment surgery was considered when Alex was born. Her parents decided that they would not have the surgery performed, and that they would wait until Alex was older for her to decide if she wanted any kind of surgery relating to her sexual organs.
At 15, Alex is clearly exploring her sexuality and expressing curiosity. This curiosity is catalyzed when family friends and their son, Alvaro, come to visit the family from Buenos Aires. Alvaro’s family is not immediately aware of Alex’s situation, but soon a romance sparks between Alvaro and Alex. It becomes apparent that Alvaro has also been pondering his sexuality, and it seems that he might be gay. The unique romance between Alex and Alvaro brings about the discussion of the meaning of love and romance and it does so in a raw, emotional way.
Turmoil ensues as parents become involved and Alex’s becomes exposed- against her will. XXY highlights topics such as the meaning of empowerment. Alex has tried to hide her secret for all of her life, and it is not until she takes the reins and exposes her secrets on her own terms that she truly owns her identity. This film explores family, loyalty, and trust, and it does this from a truly unique angle. A Spanish-language film set in South America, it is also interesting to analyze the various cultural factors behind this story.
I watched this film recently because my roommate was required to watch it for a Gender Studies class. At first, I did not pay much attention to it, as I was not required to watch it. As the film went on, however, I realized that the themes and topics in XXY were completely new to me and I was curious to learn more. I think that films like this one are important educational resources because they help viewers to empathize with those who are going through experiences different from their own. XXY educates viewers not only about a medical condition they might not have known about, but also about social issues such as how LGBTQ+ or gender-queer are treated in society.
23
Exploring the Meaning Behind “Les Voyageurs”
Sophie Vos
I have been surrounded by art my entire life. My mother is an artist and artistry spans for generations in my family. As a result, a great portion of my childhood was spent either in art classes or at art museums with my mother. Looking back on it, I believe experiencing these exhibits and developing my own skills has granted me a unique eye for art that I am so grateful for. While it changes daily, my favorite art form at the moment is sculpture and my favorite sculpture is “Les Voyageurs” by Bruno Catalano. In my paper, I would like to explore my interpretation of the sculpture as well as lead way for a discussion on the meaning behind Catalano’s work.
To understand the full meaning of an art piece you are examining, you must always ask: who is the artist? Where are they from? What experiences have shaped their life? As in many cases, art is a reflection of the artist’s life. This evident in Bruno Catalano, a French sculptor who was born in Morocco. As a teenager, Catalano and his family were exiled to Marseilles. Being forced to leave his home at a young age impacted Catalano and this trauma is visible in his art. There is an intense psychology behind the work of Catalano and we can see this in “Les Voyageurs”.
“Les Voyageurs” which translates to “The Travelers” is a collection of 10 life-size, eye-catching bronze sculptures that span along the Port of Marseilles. What makes these sculptures so extraordinary and unique is that huge portions of the bodies are missing. Each traveler carries a suitcase that seems to weigh them down, but also serves as their only means of support. Fragmented and fractured, the sculptures seem to defy gravity, giving them an enigmatic appearance and thought-provoking presence. The craftsmanship of “Les Voyageurs” is utterly flawless and ethereal. When examining the pieces, the large omissions ignite feelings of emptiness and loss and the expressive subjects gazing into the distance, looking lost in thought leaves me with a weary feeling. They are all on their own path, with a suitcase full of memories yet something so crucial is missing.
The large amounts of negative space make the viewer ask: what are these sculptures missing? However, when examining these pieces within the context of Catalano’s life, having been forced to exile his hometown at a young age, we could interpret the intended question instead as: what have they left behind? The Port of Marseilles is France’s historical entrance and exit to hundreds of thousands of people, both emigrants leaving in search of a better future and immigrants arriving, running from misery and war. I believe Bruno Catalano thoughtfully placed his collection along the port to share the idea that every traveler inevitably leaves a part of themselves behind, as he had when being exiled.
This is the message I receive from “Les Voyageurs”; however, the beauty of art is the room the artist leaves for viewers to use their imagination and create their own interpretation. This is one of the reasons why Catalano’s work is so remarkable. “Les Voyageurs” captures your attention and tells a story, yet also allows the viewer to interpret their own meaning to the piece. The missing omissions in the piece leave room for the imagination and forces the viewer to ask questions. In a classroom, exploring and interpreting art using the imagination is a powerful tool as it empowers students and allows for their voices and perspectives to be heard. Art as an education tool also leads way for conversation as students may have completely different interpretations of a particular art piece. In the case of “Les Voyageurs” I would love to hear other students’ interpretations of the piece. What is their reaction to the piece? What message to they believe Catalano is trying to transmit? In general, art pieces should allow viewers to form and explore their own opinions and ideas and Bruno Catalano’s sculptures serve as an excellent education tool for students for these reasons.
24
Lewis Capaldi: “Someone You Loved”
Tavo Roig
I chose to analyze Lewis Capaldi’s hit single “Someone You Loved.” This single is about heartbreak in any of its various forms. Whether the death of a loved one, or the ending of a friendship or relationship, the listener is able to resonate with any form of loss. Capaldi is able to take the listener into a world where they realize that the person they loved so much is no longer there, and they took them for granted. He tells the story of how people’s issues start to bubble when their support system that they once knew starts to fail them.
The reason I selected this song was the vagueness that it carries. Any person can listen to it and have their own personal takeaways, and Capaldi mentioned that was his goal. I think a work of art truly shines when it’s not just trying to tell you something, but actually making you feel something. And the fact that Capaldi was able to write a song that can resonate differently with just about anyone is extremely important. Sometimes artists write about their own struggles, which people can relate to, but that doesn’t always mean the song will work. Capaldi is inviting people to insert their own struggles into his art.
Another aspect about Capaldi, is that while his songs carry very deep meanings, he himself is quite the clown. I think that it’s important to show how people have some sort of a duality to them. Meaning that while he is writing about these very heavy topics, that does not mean that he is a very sad and depressed person. I think he uses his songwriting as an outlet for his feelings and is able to always joke around with his friends and fans. What also intrigues me about him is that his image is the opposite of his sound. When people hear his voice without seeing his image, they are expecting something that is not him. In fact, I think that’s part of the reason that he is so successful today. Capaldi is on the larger side, and says himself he is not the best looking. Which I think brings a reality check to many people. He does a fascinating job of overcompensating with being extremely relatable, and that’s where many pop stars fail.
I think if I were to analyze this work of art in a classroom, I would want students to heart the song, and then write about how it makes them feel. If the song elicited any memories, or emotions, I would want them to jot that down. Then I would go through the song verse by verse trying to get a pulse on what my class thinks the song is not only trying to tell them (the message), but how the song is trying to make them feel. I think that more people should understand the meanings of the songs that they are singing, and I would try to cultivate that practice in my classroom.
I think the reason that Capaldi’s art works so well is because his persona and his music are polar opposites. I think that the lesson there is that no one needs to fit into any type of mold. His sound and personality haven’t really been seen before in the music industry and in art as a whole. Sometimes people want what’s referred to as the “whole package” but in this case, Capaldi’s package is completely different, but it’s exactly what people want because they can resonate with his art.
25
The Lion King Musical
Noah Klar
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film. I have been lucky enough to see the show in person and thoroughly enjoyed it. The show has been performed globally for over 100 million audience members and is the 3rd longest running Broadway show. The director of the Lion King production is Julie Taymor, the music is by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice, and the choreographer is Garth Fagan. Within the context of education, the plot of the show, includes songs, dances, acting, and costumes that can teach children about expressing themselves and their beliefs.
Within the art expression of theatre, plays and musicals are a great way for students to be exposed to a combination of song, dance, acting, costumes, and more art forms all in one. All plays or musicals are forms of reenactment. In this case, the Lion King musical is a reenactment of the original Lion King movie. Within musicals and plays they must insert their own interpretations and opinions into the performance which could potentially encourage others, especially young children, to be more open to expressing themselves and their beliefs in any way they please. On top of this, the Lion King musical is proven to be very entertaining and fun experience for children.
One of the most important aspects of plays and musicals is the songs and dances that are performed throughout them. Elton John and Jim Rice ensured that every song in the Lion King is unique and has its own dance specially choreographed by Fagan to go along with it. The songs are very catchy and memorable for children and older audience members to enjoy. While performing each song the singer would use a variety of tones, emphases on different words, rhythms, and emotions to really give the audience an idea of how each character is feeling. Each actor within the play uses song and dance as an expression of how their character is feeling. Through the use of song and dance in the Lion King musical, children can learn different ways to express their own feelings.
The last thing that stood out to me about the Lion King musical was the costumes. Every costume was very colorful, extravagant, had tons of details, and had accessories which made the show much more entertaining and engaging for the audience. The costumes are a form of expression for each of the characters in the show. It was interesting to see the slight changes in costumes throughout the show to express different moods and emotions depending on the scene. The settings and background decorations also added to giving the audience a better sense of the mood for each scene.
Overall, I chose the Lion King musical because I felt a strong connection to it since I was a kid, and it is known as one of the most popular children shows of all time. Children can more easily relate to this show and remain engaged throughout. There are strong lessons within the plot of the musical about standing up to injustice and for what you believe in, which are important lessons for all children’s development. The Lion King has many important lessons to offer and I would recommend it to any child or adult to see this show.
26
Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece Reflection
Lexie Alpeter
Born in 1933, Yoko Ono is a Japanese artist known for her performance art, song writing, film making, and activism. She is seen as a key contributor to the Fluxus art movement which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and was led by George Maciunas. The international movement consisted of a community of different artists, poets, and composers who created pieces of art which emphasized the artistic process rather than the finished product. Part of the intention of the Fluxus movement was to break down the distinctions between art and life with the use of the body creating a fusion between art and reality. The Fluxus movement transformed art from “an object of aesthetic contemplation to a gesture of political action” (Art in Time). The piece of art work I chose to reflect upon is Cut Piece. Cut Piece is a conceptual performance art installation by Yoko Ono that was first performed in 1964. The performance is seen as a keywork within the Fluxus movement as well as a feminist narrative.
Cut Piece begins with Ono kneeling silently on the floor in a traditional Japanese pose wearing her nicest dress suit with a pair of scissors beside her. She invites the audience to come forward and use the scissors to cut away pieces of her clothing. The size of the cuts is up to the viewer and they also are invited to keep the piece for themselves. She remains motionless throughout the performance and surrenders herself to the different actions the audience members decide to take. This vulnerability she portrays depicts the role of a “fragile object” that women had long been forced upon in art and media. It became a symbol of female passivity and showed how sometimes in art the subject can be reduced to an object to the viewer. Ono explains how women “are now at a stage where we are eager to compete with men on all levels. But women will inevitably arrive at the next stage, and realize the futility of trying to be like men. Women will realize themselves as they are, and not as beings comparative to or in response to men. As a result, the feminist revolution will take a more positive step in the society by offering a feminine direction”.
Cut Piece is a valuable educational tool that could be used in a multitude of ways in the classroom. The piece can be used to teach children about performance art and the weight that it can hold. Performance art is a powerful medium that can encourage students to explore their emotions, expand their imaginations, develop their own voice, and convey important messages. Beyond the value of performance art, Cut Piece can be used to study and teach about the feminist movement as well as the Fluxus art movement in the 1960s. Ono used the piece to expose and address issues of sexual aggression, gender subordination, and violence against women. The piece could be used while teaching students about feminism as an example of how feminists used art to convey their frustrations and garner attention for the cause during this time.
I chose to write my reflection on Cut Piece because I admire Yoko Ono as both an artist and an activist. I think that when learning about art we often are taught only about paintings and sculptures and things like performance art are often overlooked. I believe that performance art can often leave a more significant impression on the viewer and evoke emotions that a still piece of art could not. Cut Piece is both shocking and thought provoking and perfectly combines art and activism making it a work that should be appreciated as well as studied by students today.
27
West Side Story Speaks to Me
Krikorian, Markar
Theatre can do many positive things but most of all it can unite us. When it is compelling, this powerful, multi-disciplinary art form entertains, inspires and educates. Its unique nature makes it capable of taking us on amazing journeys, connecting us with deep emotions and offering us new insights into ourselves, those around us and various cultures. One of the main reasons I chose West Side Story is because it is one of the most compelling musicals I have ever seen. Conceived in 1949, West Side Story has a serious message that pleads for racial tolerance delivered in unforgettable song and dance. West Side Story resonates with me because it could represent any racial or religious conflict anywhere in the world.
In fact, it was originally written as East Side Story depicting the conflict between Catholics and Jewish groups on the East Side of Manhattan but the story did not gain traction. However, when Latin teenage violence erupted in L.A made the news, the story was re-written to capture the conflict between the Puerto Ricans and White gangs on the grungy Upper West side of NYC. When the project finally took off, the composer Leonard Bernstein said “suddenly it all springs to life. I can hear the rhythms and pulses and most of all I can feel the form.”
West Side Story tells the story of a love affair between Tony, a Polish American and Maria, a girl from a Puerto Rican family set against an urban background of interracial warfare. With its gritty story and volatile dance sequences, West Side Story was the opposite of the traditional American musicals of the time. Bernstein’s scores run though out the play and keep the tension and emotions high. When West Side Story opened on 9/26/1957 there was a mixed critical response. It debuted one day after the forced integration of Central H.S in Little Rock, Arkansas. The musical’s story of racial conflict was too uncomfortable for many. West Side Story won just two Tony Awards for choreography and set design but made an impressive run of 732 performances. In 1961, a film version starring Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno and Richard Beymar was an enormous hit and brought home 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The stage version was revived and the musical is still performed to this day.
For those that are not familiar with the plot, I will relay some of the racial overtones that makes this musical of incredible relevance today especially given all the interracial and religious conflicts in our society and around the world in 2020 alone (including Black Lives Matter (BLM) in the U.S, the Armenian conflict with Azerbaijan and the Uighurs and China to name a few. The two rival gangs are competing for the West Side territory, a New York working class neighborhood which could represent any territorial conflict in the world. On one side is the White Jets led by Riff and depicted in the Jet Song “We’re draw’in the line so keep your noses hidden, we’re hang’in a sign says ‘Visitors Forbidden’ and we ain’t kidd’in.” and the other is the Puerto Rican Sharks led by Bernardo who states “Every one of you hates every one of us, and we hate you right back”. In the middle is the love affair between Tony (a former Jet’s member) and Maria (Bernardo’s sister). The song Tonight lyrics “All the world is only you and me! Tonight, Tonight, it all began tonight. I saw you and the world went away.”
The Shark’s leader is against this love affair and challenges the Jets to an unarmed fight but the fight evolves into bloodshed as Riff gets stabbed and Tony reacts by killing Bernardo. Maria, hearing the news of her brother’s death initially rejects Tony. When she realizes he was a victim of circumstances out of his control, Maria sends a messenger out to find Tony. While looking for Tony, the messenger is harassed by the Jets and falsely claims that Maria has died. Tony, desperate to avenge Maria’s death, goes in search of the killer. Discovering his beloved alive, he runs towards her when a gunshot avenges the death of Bernardo. Only over Tony’s dead body do the groups finally make peace.
Perhaps given my Armenian heritage and hearing about the historical territorial conflict of my ancestors my whole life, I have an acute understanding of warring sides and what America means to those immigrating to the U.S to pursue the American dream of freedom. In the song America the well-known lyrics depict this sentiment “I like to be in America, O.K by me in America, Everything free in America, for a small fee in America.” During BLM protests this year, I often thought about what will enable the two sides to come together? Are the two sides even listening to one another? After all the rioting and protests, will there be a winner or will all sides lose? In West Side Story, all sides lost and peace was not found until this became reality to both sides.
Again, given my heightened sensitivity derived in my Armenian roots, West Side Story speaks to me on a level that allows me to have an understanding of all sides. As Doc says in the play “Fighting over a little piece of street is so important?” and Tony Mordente responds “to us it is.” The point being that every side in a conflict has a reason why they would die for their cause. Every side wants to be free, included and heard. Those that know me well know that I gather people of all diverse backgrounds around me and am proud to call them all friends despite differences among us. Key to my life experiences so far is to listen to all sides and lead especially in the face of conflict.
28
Kinky Boots
Michael Steier
For my final essay, I chose to discuss the Broadway musical Kinky Boots. Kinky Boots is a musical with the music by Cyndi Lauper and based off of the book by Harvey Fierstein. It’s become an uber successful musical and is now a mainstay on Broadway. I visited New York City about five years ago with my family and my mom dragged my brother, my dad and I to this musical. I was never a fan of musicals and dreaded sitting in this theater for three hours watching grown men frolic around. My perception immediately changed within 15 minutes of the performance starting. This musical is about smashing gender stereotypes in the face of outright discrimination. It forces people to embrace ideologies that they previously despised and embodies the mantra of “adapt or die”.
The musical is about a fourth-generation family owned men’s shoe company that is currently failing. The owner dies suddenly, and his son is thrust into the role of owner and operator. He sees no way to turn around the business and explores different opportunities to sell the business. His hard-working employees resent him for this way of thinking as they view it as the easy way out. Out of pure luck, he meets a drag queen named Lola and partners with her to transform his shoe company from a typical men’s shoe wear store to a store that specializes in men’s fetish footwear, kinky boots. The company becomes profitable again and this tiny town of Northampton is enlightened and have their mind’s opened to a new perspective.
The reason I chose this performance is because it had an impact on me and as I left the theater I had new perspective on musicals in general. Instead of viewing Kinky Boots as a bunch of feminine men dancing and singing, I realized that the deeper message of acceptance and new perspective can change your world. This shoemaker embraced a product that completely opposed his previous product and went against what his employees wanted. One employee in particular is a gay-hating, hard-working man who feverishly opposing the new direction of the company. These types of prejudice and ignorant people exist in our society and everyone will encounter them at some point in their life. The way to overcome this hatred to spread love and believe in what you stand for.
Children these days are growing up in a world that revolves around the internet and social media, which are two tools that are littered with hate and misinformation. Using a performance like this in the classroom at a young age such as 10-14, can help these kids understand to approach the world with acceptance and understanding. They don’t have to be massive supporters of drag queens or any other progressive idea, but they need to learn how to accept people for who they are and coexist with another. Just because someone believes in something opposite to what you believe, doesn’t make them a flawed individual or a waste of human life. As a society, I believe we’ve lost the ability to have a healthy discourse with two individuals of opposing viewpoints.
Another important lesson that I took from this performance, is that you must allow others to live their lives in a way that makes them happy even if you don’t agree with their stance. Whatever someone does on their own time is their business and I have no right to condemn them without understanding where they’re coming from. Although I’m personally not a drag queen enthusiast, I accept that they’re profession is something provides joy to many in the world and that’s what’s needed today. The amount of divisiveness within our society is alarming and I only see that trend increasing as technology becomes more advanced. It’s imperative that we teach our youth to embrace others rather than reject them. Acceptance doesn’t happen overnight as the performance showed.
The blue collared workers at this factory do not immediately embrace the new direction of the company as it opposes their small-town traditional views. The way to help enlighten these folks is to teach them and allow them time to understand your viewpoint. Humans are creatures of habits and it takes time and effort to break a life-long habit. Despising and hating those with close minded views with only further their hatred towards your cause. You must approach with love and sympathize with their concerns.
This performance raised several social issues that we confront head on and this musical does an excellent of doing so. Kinky Boots also teaches an important lesson in business. You must be willing to change the way you think and be flexible in what your business is producing. The son knows his business is failing and eventually will go bankrupt if it continues down the course it currently is on. He never thought he would be making stiletto boots for drag queens, but he slowly embraces the idea and reinvigorates his business. He adapts to the tough circumstances he has been given and embarks down a path that he has no knowledge of where it will end up. It’s this leap of faith and adaptability that allows him to transform his company and help change the perspectives of many close-minded individuals. In today’s current social climate, all of us will encounter issues that force us to reevaluate our current way thinking. Each of us have the choice to embrace these issues or reject them. Acceptance will not only benefit others but will help you live a happier and healthier life.
This musical is very progressive in the way it attacks social issues head on. It blends the old traditional way of thinking with the modern progressive ideologies in way that helps us understand both. The traditionalists are not bad people by any means, they’ve just lived their entire lives one way and it takes a transition period to help alter their perspective. Kinky Boots has many important social and life lessons that we can all benefit from especially in today’s volatile and hate infested climate.
Comments
Post a Comment