The Politics of Art & Authenticity

Art is everywhere. That’s what I learned from this semester’s IDC class. It’s not just in museums or large theaters.

Art is in reading a book (Katherine Vaz), in moving around and saying random words (Barnard Fall project), and most importantly, inside every one of us (Me, being corny). There is no “right way” to make art, because it’s based totally on our personal feelings and perceptions. Also, with art, everyone can take it whatever’s most meaningful to them. It’s kind of like a Rorschach test, where what you see is based totally on your individual thoughts and experiences.

I loved that after going to a show, our class had a forum where we could post our unique impressions and opinions. It really taught me that  a) my way isn’t the only way and   b) people have really interesting thoughts, if you only take the time to ask them.
Also, the multimedia projects that we made proved that every person is in some way an artist. Whether they have sick moviemaking skills or an ability to make people laugh, everyone has their “thing” that they were able to display.

I think I kind of summed this all up through my own final project. In my movie, I tried to show how there isn’t one “right way” to learn. How learning is done through experiencing life, not just by sitting in a classroom. This overall theme especially applies to art. Art isn’t only in going to museums or in watching plays and films.  And there is definitely no one “right way” to make or view art. As with learning, we can experience art at any time and in any place. It’s just up to us to either recognize it or create it ourselves.

Congratulations you guys!

You are 1/4 done with your Interdisciplinary Minor with Honors in New York City Studies

See! You really are an artist!

I  visited the  museum at the Fashion  Institute of Technology and I highly, highly recommend it. The current exhibition is titled “Fashion and Textile History” and though it’s on the small side, it gives a comprehensive overview of the ways in which fashion has evolved together with technology.
I now I have a completely different outlook on the fashion world.

High fashion is not just about coming up with the wackiest designs possible for people to wonder “Um…am I actually supposed to wear that?” Designing clothing is truly an art form, which both expresses the designer’s comments and observations of the world and showcases unbelievable talent. It’s not just about stitching a piece of cloth together. Throughout the years there have been remarkable innovations in the types of fabrics used and the methods used to create them. At FIT I saw dresses made of cellophane, paper, and even steel wool. Today, the latest fad is using materials that can conduct electricity so that the clothing can literally shine.

One thing that really stood out to me was a video of a fashion show by Alexander McQueen. He used his line to show how technology is affecting humanity. He had one model stand on a revolving foor, while robots sprayed her with paint. I just thought it provided a very powerful image, and it was amazing how Alexander McQueen was able to get his message across through the art of fashion, instead of more typical artistic mediums like writing or music.

My visit to the museum at FIT (The Fashion Institute of Technology) was eye-opening. It was more than the regular trip to the museum to look at pieces of art. The exhibits are interactive and the experience was very different. I never actually thought about the way clothing is made, and how fashion is a constantly changing market. But I realize now that technology really drives fashion! Have you ever thought of zig-zag prints as being a big deal? Well, that was one person’s innovative idea, which was then enabled by technology. One really interesting piece was a printed tie, and I read that the designer created the print on Photoshop. That’s just amazing! There was a dress from a textile made with 3D shapes. Yet another great innovation was a men’s drip-dry suit, so they can take a relaxing bath in their suit and then run off to work! (At least that’s what the accompanying video showed, though I’m still not sure of it’s exact use…) All these concepts were enabled by new technologies. It’s really great what technology can do, and how much it plays a role in our world. I really enjoyed my visit to FIT, and I’d definitely recommend the museum to anyone looking for somewhere that’s fun and interesting.

Dare to try something new. You may never forget it.

Ignore the stale old couples; the ones who drink their “oh so very dry” champagne with pursed lips and looks of annoyance because “children” are at a “mature event.” They are the immature ones.  

Laugh to yourself  about the pretentious pretty-boy whose sole physical purpose in this world is to look like he “doesn’t care,” yet acts as if he breathes art, knowing its in’s-and-out’s.

Most importantly, cut through the bull. Do not “sign on” to an idea or feeling “just because.” Listen to what you think, do not be swayed. But acknowledge what others have to say and take it as it is worth.

Experience a new experience as if you have never experienced anything experiential. Walk through it with an open-mind and (pardon the cliche) an open-heart. Walk through it like a child, wide-eyed and eager.

Don’t be afraid to hate something.

Don’t be afraid to love something.

Explore.

These simple statements are the things I have learned about art and life over the few months in this class. 

Oh and… Brian is a tool. 😉

The Politics of Art & Authenticity was a totally new experience for me. I have never taken an arts related course before. I usually just took Science and Mathetmatic classes.  I enjoyed going to all of the events over

 the course of the school year. I learned so much, and I can’t believe that it went by so fast. The Katherine Vaz event opened my eyes to a new experience of writing and reading. The Opera allowed me to experience something that I have always wanted to experience since I was a little child. My all time favorite was the Wild with Happy Event. House Divided intrigued me because it dealt with my interest of business and the stock market.

I poured my heart and soul into my video project. I spent over twenty hours on it making sure every detail was right and that it was perfect. I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right, but I was deeply disappointed to find out that I didn’t do it right. But, now I know what I did it wrong, and I would have did several things to change it to make it much better. I would have added a voice over instead of music. I would have explained in detail why the buffet, pirate show, and all the other great things about Vegas that make it special to me in more detail. I am glad that I learned a lot from this experience. College is more about grades. It is more about having enriching life experiences.

I am glad the Macaulay Honors College allows us to take classes dealing with arts, and allowing us to minor in the arts so we get a more balanced education.

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Visiting the New York Transit Museum was a truly rewarding experience! I strapped on my combat boots and went their with my best friend, Aaron Fung. The creativity and the way the museum was structured was truly brilliant! For example, the entrance to the museum looked like a real subway entrance. In fact, I got lost and couldn’t find the museum because I thought that the entrance was an actual subway entrance.

What I enjoyed most about the New York Transit Museum was the history of the subway system. I learned that the first subway system was in place in New York in the late eighteen hundreds. The subway system was mainly built by immigrants, and I found it fascinating how tunneling was used to connect the four boroughs by subway. The museum even had a interactive dynamite device that you could push down, and it would make an explosive noise! In addition to this, I got to move a wheelbarrow that weighted as much as the subway constructors would carry several times on a daily basis. I was surprised at the true strength that these men must have had.

The Museum also an interactive model that allowed you to see how solar power worked. I found this fascinating because in my English class I wrote a research report on solar power so I felt a connection to what I have learned in the class. In addition to this model, you could also generate mechanical energy by spinning a wheel. What was cool about this model was the fact that you could see the electricity move its way up the pole.

Another thing that I found fascinating about the New York Transit Museum is that it had old subway cars ranging from the early nineteenth century all the way up to recent times. What was unique about this subway cars is that some older models had cushioned seats or were more spacious. I liked how old advertisements could be seen in the subway cars. This made me think that I took a time machine back into the past, and I was actually there. I noticed that a lot of the products being advertised in these old subway cars do not exist currently. This can show that trends and products change over time. But what was really cool about this museum was the fact that it had old subway maps inside of the old subway cars. These maps allowed you to see the changes made on the subway system like trains being added or removed. Some stations and trains that used to exist currently do not exist today.

I also like seeing how the subway turnstiles have changed as well. Like in the early nineteenth century a ticket conductor would allow you into the subway, but now we just swipe our MTA card to enter the subway system. The subway turnstile system has been redisgned several times over the course of the subways history.

I have always been fascinated by the subway system and energy. This experience allowed me to strenghten my knowledge and allowed me to have great fun with my best friend. I cannot wait to go to the New York Transit Museum again to indulge in a fun, but educating experience. I loved seeing how things changed over time.

Image Source: http://www.mta.info/mta/museum/images/platform_Court.jpg

Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art was a truly rewarding experience. The Museum has something that everyone of all ages can enjoy.

I particularly like the George Bellow Exhibit because it was a special exhibit that will only be in the Museum until February.

I tried taking pictures of Bellow’s beautiful paintings, but the guards stopped me. I learned that the Ashcan movement inspired Bellows to create these marvelous paintings. The Ashcan movement was inspired by the a group of eight painters that portrayed the realistic elements of poor neighborhoods in New York City.

My favorite painting by George Bellows was called “Morning Snow” and it was created in 1910 by using oil on canvas. What struck me was how Bellows incorporated New York City and the Hudson River into a mundane setting of snow and trees. The painting used horizontal and vertical rhythms that allow the viewer to imagine life during a freezing cold snow day. Some abstraction elements can be seen by Bellows using elevated vantage points and horizontal and vertical elements. What I loved most about this painting the was the beauty of it and how real it looked. I particularly liked it because I rarely got to see snow when I was growing up and I love the snow.

Another painting that I loved by Bellows was called “Polo at Lakewood” and this painting was also created in 1910 by George Bellows. This painting depicts a group of men playing polo. I learned in my history class that during this time period the masculinity of men was being challenged by women. Men played masculine sports like the Polo depicted in this painting. I could feel the essence of the time period just by looking at the painting, and this shows how authentic Bellow’s paintings truly were. I also learned that this painting refers to Teddy Roosevelt and his clan of Rough Riders that embraced masculinity. But what I truly loved the most about this painting was how brilliant the sky looks. It looks as it is almost going to rain and might portray that a dark future is ahead for masculinity.

I also  was enamored with the Egyptian art. I learned that art can take many forms, and that each culture has a different form of art. I loved seeing the ancient hieroglyphs and this reminded me of the Luxor casino in Las Vegas. This experience made me a little homesick, but it was worth it since I love ancient artifacts.

I also enjoyed looking at the Medieval art and armor. This art reminded me of my days of playing Runescape, a game that is set in the Medieval times. It reminded me of all my friends that used to play it and the different types of weapons and armor that we would use in battle.

I thought this experience truly enhanced my knowledge of art and history. I got to see amazing works of art that transformed me through several time periods. I cannot wait until I visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art again so I can strenghthen my knowledge and have fun!

Image Source: http://www.newyork-hq.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/metropolitan-museum-of-art-01.jpg

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This year in the beginning of December I saw Wicked the broadway play for the first time in my life. To say it was amazing, spectacular or fantastic would probably be an understatement. Let’s just say that I have been caught singing along to the Wicked CD in my grandmother’s car. I loved everything about the play from the special effects to the singing and the dancing. Everything was perfectly executed. But personally I’m not usually into musicals because I tend to get bored with the plot easily. I think that is what made this play so amazing for me-the plot.

Even though I had nightmares of the witch for years after first seeing the film, The Wizard of Oz is probably my favorite childhood movie, so once I heard that it was the backstory to The Wizard of Oz I was interested. Luckily for me the play did not disappoint and  I loved watching the drama unfold between Glinda the good and Elphaba, also known as, the wicked witch. It gave The Wizard of Oz context and I now viewed the film in an entirely different light. Not only did the backstory shed some interesting insight unto the entire story but it also enabled me to get offer my fear of the “wicked witch of the west.”

But aside from the plot, the singing was phenomenal, and as cliche as it is to say, I was blown away by their performance,especially of the song “Defying Gravity.” I actually was once on an elevator humming that song and I heard someone quietly singing the part where I left off. It was a girl around my age and ever since that experience I have vowed to marry her, obviously the wedding will wait until after I graduate.  In all seriousness though my entire experience of Broadway was extremely positive and it left me praying for a sequel.

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Dragging my friend along to another IDC event because I never like to go home late at night all alone. After all, all of the ones I did drag him, he did enjoy and this one was just another one to add to his list of things that I dragged him he enjoyed.

I have to say Cindy Blackman Santana Trio was simply amazing. I’m really not a fan of jazz music and I’m still not, but the sound and her passion for the drums really caught my attention. Throughout majority of the performance, her eyes were closed as if she didn’t need to watch herself play. She knew exactly what she was doing just by her instincts. That is the one thing I love most about musicians. The fact that they don’t need sheet music in front of them to play a great performance, they use their own instinct to know when to play, when to pause, and when to just go with the flow. I find it amazing and that is the one thing that makes me wish I stuck to playing the piano.

After watching Cindy Blackman play her heart out, I really just wanted to start playing the piano again. As a kid, I grew up playing the piano but I didn’t have much heart into it, but after seeing all these musically talented people performing, I just wanted to find my musical talent again. I wanted to be able to play a song by heart with my eyes close. I wanted to play every rest and every note with my instinct and not have to read sheet music to know when to play a pause or when to pick up the pace or not. Her passion for the drums made want to find my passion for the piano. To be able to play an instrument like her and to show everyone my passion for that instrument just by the way I play.

Her intensity as a musician inspired me to find my passion for the piano and for music in general. Great way to end my first semester.

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In the beginning of the semester our anthropology teacher forced us to go to the American Museum of Natural History and I really welcomed the occasion. Honestly it was because I though it would be a great opportunity to stare at the enormous blue whale exhibit. I could stare at that thing for hours. Unfortunately I found out that we were required to go to the human origins exhibit. I mean who cares about human origins when theres a giant whale hanging from the ceiling?! But a certain classmate of mine ahem… ahem… Jackie Diaz did not share my point of view and would not let me linger on the giant blue whale because apparently the museum was closing and we had to visit the exhibit.

As it turns out I enjoyed the human origins exhibit. It allowed me to realize that I know absolutely nothing about our origins. I had no idea where the first humans were discovered and from what species we evolved from because quite frankly I didn’t care. But my experience at the museum changed my view on where we come from and surprisingly enough it made me care. I found myself intrigued at when the first carvings showed up and when exactly we first appeared in world history. It was an extremely enlightening experience and it wasn’t all bad as I did get a couple of minutes to just stare at that giant blue whale.