The Arts in New York City

This course explores the arts and cultural events in New York City. Each of the units–theater, opera, literature, music, and visual arts–is based on a performance or exhibition. We will observe the way stories are told through opera, theater, poetry, music, and visual art. Our activities will include engagement with art forms, including interpretation, analysis, and creative work. We will focus on the ways in which the work of art fulfills and departs from tradition and expectation. This class will focus not only on the pleasure of art experiences but on landscape and neighborhood, memory and tradition, and the individual and expectations of family and society. We will explore the ways in which such themes as longing, passion and constraint, convention and taboo, identity and creativity are depicted in experimental ways in narrative, opera, music, dance, poetry, and the visual arts. The class will consider questions about the creation, enjoyment, and social function of art from the perspectives of maker, spectator, and critic.

You are also expected to participate in course-related events through Macaulay Honors College:
Seminar 1 Technology Workshop: each student must attend one of these, which will be scheduled for late September or early October.
Snapshot NYC 2014, Photo Day: Saturday, October 11.
Snapshot NYC 2014, Exhibition Day: Sunday, November 23 at the New York Historical Society.

There will be several short writing assignments, including “creative” writing, reviews, and a community arts project/presentation–culminating in a portfolio due at the end of the term of your best work (selected by you) of approximately 15 double-spaced pages. This class combines experiential learning and class discussion. Your attendance is required in class and for all outside events. All writing assignments must be completed and handed in on time.

This is your class, which means that the class will be shaped by your contributions, through discussion in class, through writings and presentations, and through the blog that we will develop together.

Objectives:
*understanding the works of art in their contexts;
*close, thoughtful reading of literary texts; viewing of visual arts, and responses to performing arts;
*creating an inclusive classroom, which means developing trust in oneself and other members of the class;
*developing an aesthetic, a consciousness of art from elite institutions to street art, community art, and found art;
*developing writing skills, creative and analytical.

Required Texts:
Art Is . . .
Smith, Patti. Just Kids.
Libretto of “The Magic Flute.”
Gay, Peter. Mozart: A Life.
Spiegelman, Art. Maus 1 and Maus 2.
Pinsky, Robert, ed. The Best of the Best American Poetry.

Community Arts Projects:
Community arts project: may be done in pairs, groups, or singly.
Select a neighborhood in New York City, e.g.: Williamsburg, Brighton Beach, Harlem, Borough Park, Chinatown, Soho, Astoria; and/or cultural community in New York City, e.g.: Cuban-American, Italian-American, Hasidic, Caribbean, Russian, Greek etc. Explore its relationship with and expression of art: its museums, performance arts, music, exhibits, rituals, and crafts. This may include food, fairs, parades, and other acts of creativity. Your report may take many forms, but must include a presentation and a written paper.

Previous community arts projects include: subway arts; Caribbean costume and step-dancing; Greek folk dance; Indian dances, food, and dress; orthodox Jewish ritual, music/food; Chinatown art; Soho street artists; Brighton Beach/Sheep head Bay Russian community; arts and the homeless; breakdancing; jazz culture in NYC; Staten Island architecture; Brooklyn visual artists; Williamsburg—the two cultures (hipsters and the Chasidim); Italian festival—photography and food, Catholic, Hindu, Moslem, and Jewish weddings: art and culture, Tibetan culture, particularly the art of mandala, and Fan Art.

Schedule of Class Readings, Activities and Events:
August 28: Introduction.
9/2: Art Is . . . projects.
9/3: Museum night.
9/4: Discussion of Museum Night and Art Is . . . projects.
9/9: Visit to the High Line. We will go from class.
9/11: Visit to Poet’s House. We will meet in our classroom on time and go from there together.
9/16: Art Is . . . projects.
9/18: Poetry.
9/30: Poetry and preparation for theater.
10/2: Opera lecture at Woody Tanger Auditorium, Library, first floor.
10/6: Opera, The Magic Flute.
10/7: Discussion of the opera.
10/9: Poetry.
10/14: Poetry.
10/16: Discussion of Fall for Dance. Just Kids research.
10/21: Just Kids.
10/23: Just Kids presentations.
10/28: Just Kids.
10/30: Just Kids.
11/4: Maus I.
11/6: Discussion of Open Mic. Creative Writing workshop.
11/11: Maus I.
11/13: Guest visit from Noah Hoffeld, cellist and rock guitarist/singer;
11/18: Maus II.
11/20: Discussion of concert.
11/25: Maus II. Presentation of our own comic strips.
12/2, 12/4, 12/9, 12/11: Community Arts projects.

Events:
9/3: Museum night. Brooklyn Museum.
9/9: High Line. We leave from class.
9/11: Visit to Poet’s House. We leave from class.
9/30: The Valley of Astonishment. Theatre for New Audiences: 262 Ashland Pl., Brooklyn. 7:30.
10/6: The Magic Flute. Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center. We will meet in front of the fountains at 7:00 p.m. Be there on time.
10/14: Fall for Dance: New York City Center. 131 W. 55th St, bet. 6th and 7th Ave. NYC. 8pm.
11/6: Open Mic at Brooklyn College: 12:15-2:00, Woody Tanger Auditorium, Library, first floor back.
11/18: Carnegie Hall concert: Anne Sophie Mutter, violinist. 57th Street and 7th Avenue, NYC. 8 pm.

This is a unique class and a wonderful opportunity for all of us. I am so happy to share this with you.

I expect to meet with each of you individually at least once during the term, hopefully more often, in my office, 3416 Boylan, X5374. My email is rnatov@brooklyn.cuny.edu, and my office hours are:
Mondays 11-4:00; Tuesdays 10:00-10:45, 1:30-3:30; Thursdays 10:00-10:45, 12:30-3:30. There may be times when I have meetings that can’t be rescheduled so please check with me about setting specific times to meet. You are always welcome to stop in and to contact me.

Jennifer Corby will add her office hours.