Assignment for December 12

• Blog Assignment:  Blog A & B: Please include answers to the four questions in your blog.  (Due Sunday, December 8.)

1. Do you think of Don Giovanni as a comedy or a tragedy? Why? 
2.  Were there class differences reflected in the libretto (Think about the relationships between the various “couples” as reflected in the   language of the libretto:
   
3. Did the music enhance the story? What does the music say about the story, the characters and their relationships? 
4. In your opinion, how does opera, as an older form of performance, compare to the more contemporary performances you have experienced?

Final Performance Presentation (to be performed on December 12 at the Cabaret Space at Macaulay

December 12, 2012 – Cabaret Space- Macaulay Honors College

• Review of the semester
• Final Presentation

November 21-No Class-Paper 2 Due by e-mail

Since many of you will be with the subject of your caretaker study over the holiday weekend,  please record your care taker (3 minutes) talking about what his/her desires are for you in college (or in life if that is what they prefer).

Assignment for November 28

• Watch a part of Mozart Documentary on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwxFvjU5vk&feature=relmfu
• Read Mozart’s Don Giovanni (the Dover Opera Libretto Series) (Paperback) libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte (available at Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore, 939 Lexington Avenue, between 68^th and 69^th Street)
• Guest lecturer Alexandra Cohn suggested things to think about when reading the libretto:
• 1. Do you think of Don Giovanni as a comedy or a tragedy?  2. Think about class differences as reflected in the libretto, if at all (We will be listening to some clips to see if those differences   are reflected in the music)  3. Think about the relationships between the various “couples” as reflected in the   language of the libretto:               Donna Elmira and Don Giovanni             Donna Anna and Octavo        Zerlina and Master    Don Giovanni and Leporello    Donna Anna and her father    Don Giovanni and The Commendatory
•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1OEGPxqrcY   Vladimir Jurowski on Don Giovanni (in modern dress)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZIzJzY3N04&feature=relmfu  Gerald Finley on Don Giovanni (modern dress)

There are many avenues (library, internet, etc) for you to listen to the opera or parts of the opera.  Cohn continues with the following suggestions when listening to the music:

When listening to the opera, give some thought to how the music enhances (or not) the story? What does the music say about the story, the characters and their relationships?  After all, thats what makes the difference between a play and an opera, or even a musical which has text and then musical interludes.  What is the difference in an opera where the entire thing is sung/accompanied by music?

The following are some famous sections of the opera.  Do not limit your listening research to the following four.  Expand your listening!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SotSKAYTyDw  the famous overture of Don Giovanni
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOw1NLizCZA&feature=related  – “Commendatore”
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqPcb1nKZYg&feature=related – well known duet “la ci darem la mano”
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2RRyr9ZGQU&feature=related

Assignment for November 14

• Send thesis statement for approval no later than Friday November 9^th to both Donna dnuchizono@mindspring.com and Jessica jesshamm@gmail.com.
• Prepare first page of Paper 2 to be turned in on November 14.
• Start to finish Paper 2 as they are due on Wednesday, November 21.  (I suggest that you do not wait till the last minute)
• Prepare draft of your Final Presentation to be viewed by the class on November 14 at Macaulay Cabaret Space.
• Go to the Metropolitan Museum (1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street) and view Jacques-Louis David – Death of Socrates (1787).  Browse the museum and compare works of art of the same time period.

Blog and Assignment for October 31:
• Blog B-discuss The House Divided in relationship to Dixon’s discourse on “liveness” referring to Benjamin, Barthes, Auslander and Phelan. Post by Sunday 12 pm.
• Blog A: comment and add to Blog B’s discourse. In addition, include in your discussion if the use of media enhanced the “live” aspect of the performance or dwarfed the non-mediated performers? Post by Tuesday 12 am.
• Get together with partner to record your “Smarthistory” version of classmate photo
• Make appointment with Jessica to review thesis statement.
• Research Jacques-Louis David, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in relation to the Age of Enlightenment to lead class discussion

October 31
Bring in the first paragraph of Paper 2 to share with the class
Be prepared to lead the Conference -The Age of Enlightenment – Jacques-Louis David, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Assignment for October 24:
• Research Pina Bausch and review post-modern choreographers Steve Paxton and Trisha Brown
• Blog A –discuss Pina Bausch in relationship to post-modern dance-Post by Sunday 12 pm
• Blog B-comment on Blog A’s postings-Post by Tuesday 12 am
• Finish reading John Steinbeck- The Grapes of Wrath for Builder’s Association’s-A House  and be prepared to discuss the book.
• Read Steve Dixon’s Digital Performance: A History of New Media in Theater, Dance, Performance Art and Installation (Chapter 6-pgs 122-134.) Re-read and review first part of Chapter 6 (previous reading 115-122) Concentrate on discussion of media with the unmediated figure in performance, Peggy Phelan versus Phillip Auslander.  (The PDF’s were given to you previously-downloaded straight from my thumb drive onto your computer)

October 24

Class Discussion of the two performances

Be prepared to discuss Steve Dixon discussion on “liveness”. What are the general opposing views of Peggy Phelan and Phillip Auslander in terms of mediatized and non-mediatized?

Discussion of media and performance

Discussion of Paper 2

Assignment for October 17:

• Post your Snapshot Photo under Project Archive by Sunday, October 14th, 12 pm.
• Prepare Caretaker Studies-study in stillness and space to be presented on October 17th at Cabaret Space at Macaulay Honors College
• View Jerome Bel’s “Veronique Doisneau”!  Research Jerome Bel and be prepared to discuss his work in relation to contemporary dance.
• Begin reading John Steinbeck- The Grapes of Wrath for Builder’s Association’s A House Divided

October 17-Meet at Macaulay Honors College – Cabaret Space-Bring Computers

• View Caretaker Studies
• Discussion of Jerome Bel and Pina Bausch.
• Composition Exercise in Stillness, Space and “Ways of Seeing”
• “Sharing your art as a gift”-Extending Studies to be given to the caretaker

Assignment for October 10:

• Blog B Go to website http://www.masters-of-photography.com and look at André Kertész and two other photographers of your choice.  Choose one photo to analyze. (it’s possible to drag the image either to your desktop or straight into your post. In your discussion include why you chose the photo, what specific elements drew you to the photograph and why you believe it is compositionally strong?  Explain how do you plan on framing your shots in relation to the lecture by Professor Grimaldi?  Post by Sunday 10/6 12 pm.
• Blog A:  Go to website http://www.masters-of-photography.com and look at André Kertész and two other photographers of your choice.   Comment on one of Blog B’s posting in relation to the photo you chose (it’s possible to drag the image either to your desktop or straight into your post.   On the post page there is an upload/insert option.  After the photograph is uploaded there is an option at the bottom to insert into post).    Discuss how you plan on framing your shots? Post by Tuesday 10/9 12 am.
• Join Netflix (it is free for the first month) and order dvd PINA!

October 10- Hunter Closed – No Class But Snapshot Day is October 11

 October 11 – Take Photograph for Macaulay Honors College Snapshot Day (Review notes from Photography Lecture)

Post Photo on class website (There will be a separate tab to post photos)

Post your photos.  Write about what interested you in taking the photo and what elements did you keep in mind while taking the photograph?

Choose a photo of a fellow classmate to discuss in a “Smarthistory fashion” and find a partner with whom you will discuss the photo.

Assignment for October 17: 

• Prepare Caretaker Studies-study in stillness and space to be presented on October 17^th at Cabaret Space at Macaulay Honors College
• View DVD Wim Wender’s Pina! Be prepared to discuss Pina Bausch in relation to post-modern dance?  What are the differences in artistic intention between Pina Bausch and the choreographers we viewed in Beyond the Mainstream?  At the same time, are there similarities in terms of intention?
• Begin reading John Steinbeck- The Grapes of Wrath for Builder’s Association’s A House Divided

October 17-Meet at Macaulay Honors College – Cabaret Space-Bring Computers

View Caretaker Studies

Discussion of  Pina Bausch in relation to post-modern dance?  What are the differences in artistic intention between Pina Bausch and the choreographers we viewed in Beyond the Mainstream?  At the same time, are there similarities in terms of intention?

Composition Exercise in Stillness, Space and “Ways of Seeing”

“Sharing your art as a gift”-Extending Studies to be given to the caretaker

Blog and Assignment for October 3:

Both Blog A & B (you will not comment on each other’s review)-Review Oliver’s Writing about Dance and Deborah Jowitt’s Handout and critique Roseanne Spradlin Post by Monday, October 1 12 pm.

Go to following website and read Rule of Thirds, Asymmetry and Dynamic Balance www.dpreview.com/articles/6426089447/compositional-rules

Go to following website and read Golden Thirds
www.dpreview.com/articles/6426089447/compositional-rules/2

Read the photography reading (e-mailed to all, if you did not receive it please e-mail me as many of the e-mails are coming back to me as undeliverable)

Paper 1 Due October 3

Remaining Panel Presentations-Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art

October 3 – Roosevelt House – Bring Computers!

Remaining Panel Discussions Presentations-Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art-Please note:  no more than 15 minutes for the “complete” Presentation  (Whether you are a two person or three person panel, the culmination of your discussion should not exceed 15 minutes total.)

Discussion of Roseanne Spradlin’s performance and Fall for Dance.

Guest Speaker Michael Grimaldi-Photography

Discussion of upcoming Caretaker Studies-A study in stillness and space

Assignment for September 26 (no class):

On Wednesday, September 19, we viewed choreographer Steve Paxton, the founder of “contact improvisation” demonstrating aspects of the practice and two small excerpts from choreographer Trisha Brown.  1) “Glacial Decoy” (with sets and costumes by Robert Rauschenberg) and 2) “solo olos”-(one dancer calling out directions to the other three dancers).  The video we viewed is not available on Youtube.  If you need a refresher, there are some contact improvisation videos on Youtube, though they are not with Steve Paxton and not as strong.  One is a video of KJ Holmes teaching a contact class http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2u_BtJYdO4&feature=related.  There is a version of Glacial Decoy on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYkuyTAkT8.  Unfortunately there is not a video of solo olos on Youtube.

• Blog B -From the Sally Banes reading last week, describe in your own words what is “Analytic Post-Modern dance” and either Steve Paxton or Trisha Brown’s relationship to that movement.  Post under the Blog A/B tab by Sunday 12 pm (9/23).
• Blog A- While adding your description of Analytic Post-Modern dance, discuss if the other choreographer that Blog B did not mention,  is considered an Analytic Post-Modern artist.  Why or why not?  For example, if you are commenting on Blog B who talks about Steve Paxton in relationship to Analytic Post-Modern, you will discuss Trisha Brown.  Post under the Blog A/B tab by Tuesday, 12 am (9/25)
• Start to work on Paper 1 – Due October 1
• Once you have a thesis topic, you are invited to contact Jessica for feedback on topic.

We do not have class on Wednesday, September 26 but you still have assignments for that week-please check assignments (scroll down to Pre-Performance assignment and Assignment for October 3)

September 26-Hunter Closed-No Class

Pre-Performance Assignment:  We will see Roseanne Spradlin on Friday September 28.  She practices Body Mind Centering (BMC) though it may not be readily apparent in her work. Read about BMC at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-body-mind-centering.htm and view a discussion by Spradlin about her work.  Though she is not discussing the dance we will see on Friday  will give you some insight into her work.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU0MdrICUVA  Please view before the performance on September 28

Please be reminded that we will meet on Friday, September 28 to see Roseann Spradlin at New York Live Arts and on Sunday Sept 30 for Fall for Dance (see details below for location and time).

 Friday, September 28-Meet at 9:30 pm in lobby-Performance starts at 10

Roseann Spradlin-New York Live Arts

219 W. 19^th St (between 7^th and 8^th Avenue)

 Sunday, Sept 30 at City Center for Fall for Dance Meet at 6:30 – Performance starts at 7:00 Pam Tanowitz, Twyla Tharp, Peter Quanz, Martha Graham

Lobby of City Center West 55^th Street, between 6^th and 7^th Avenues.

Blog and Assignment for October 3:

• Both Blog A & B (you will not comment on each other’s review)-Review Oliver’s Writing about Dance and Deborah Jowitt’s Handout and critique Roseann Spradlin Post by Monday, October 1 12 pm.
• Read Photography Handout (ER)
• Paper 1 Due October 3