Why is Gilda depicted as such as naive woman? Her actions are taken without any consideration. When she falls in love, her actions nearly cause her father to be killed. Is this Verdi’s own opinion of women, or just the patriarchal views of society at the time?
The article contradicts itself on the subject of leitmotivs. They are initially described as “easily to ridicule” (270). Later, leitmotivs “could state or suggest ideas in emotional terms, over and above the intellectual terms provided by mere words…[and] were guaranteed to impress audiences of the nineteenth century” (272). Were leitmotivs considered art during Wagner’s time, or just nonsensical bits of music? If they were considered art, why could they be easily ridiculed?
The vocals of opera are stronger and there is a greater emphasis placed on their technique when compared to a typical musical theatre show (140). How does the acting in an opera compare? Is there just as much emphasis placed on acting technique, or are vocals much more important?
The Armory Show at 100 at the New York Historical Society displayed various types of artwork that were all connected to a similar historical context. These pieces were originally displayed in 1913, and were created close to that year. One part of the show that stood out to me was the original floor plan of the Armory Show as it was in 1913. This is not considered an art piece; however, the added element of the show’s history allowed the viewer to develop a better understanding of just how important these works were, and still are, to modern and post-modern society.
“Leopard and Deer” 1912
The painting Leopard and Deer by Robert W. Chanler was one of the first pieces that the gallery had featured. The most stunning aspect of this piece is the contrast in colors. It is evident that the artist viewed the deer as the innocent animal who was ruthlessly attacked by the leopard, as the deer is painted white and the leopard is black, which represents evil. The color of the trees in the background are also intriguing. The trunks of the trees are blue, which is an unusual change from the traditional brown. Further research showed that Chanler used unique colors to capture the “true spirit of nature.” This piece stood out because of the color, which conveyed the motif of good versus evil, which is essentially how nature truly works.
“Circus” 1912
The other work of art that was alluring was Circus by George Bellows. Unlike Chanler’s Leopard and Deer, this piece is a lot softer and much more appealing. It conveys the childlike excitement of the circus through specific details throughout the painting. Bellows painted facial expressions on certain circus performers and members of the audience in order to show the emotion that each individual is feeling. The woman standing on top of the white horse is smiling because she has to; her profession requires her to entertain and be energetic. The other performers’ and audience members’ facial expressions differ from hers. While some are intrigued by the stunt in front of them, others appear to be frightened, such as the woman in the bottom right-hand corner. Bellows attended this circus because his wife had organized it, but it was a “financial flop.” He painted the circus from the perspective of a spectator, which is why it can be a bit overwhelming with mass amounts of performers on the stage, as well as different performances going on at once. In addition to the woman on top of the horse, there are also trapeze artists dangling from the ceiling.
The part of the Armory Show that I enjoyed was that even though the paintings and sculptures all varied in mediums and motifs, they all stemmed from the same historical context. This allowed the viewer to understand the purposes behind each piece of artwork and led to a deeper understanding of the messages conveyed.
Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Auignon” uses sharp lines and angles to portray the women. This is a stark contrast from the soft curves that many early twentieth-century artists used to draw and paint women. Why does Picasso depict women in such a harsh manner?
Shvo’s “Getty Station”
The three galleries that I visited in Chelsea all contained beautiful artwork. Some were sculptures, some were photographs, and others were paintings. The exhibit that was the most powerful was not indoors, trapped behind a door. Lalanne’s sculptures of sheep that were on Michael Shvo’s Getty Station provided insight into how we as a people are treating the environment, both through the exhibit itself as well as the reactions it caused.
When I first passed by the exhibit, I was drawn to it because of the grass. The shade of green was so brilliant and bright that it immediately made the entire station seem out of place. Once I realized that there were sheep sculptures occupying the colorful lawn, I was puzzled. I asked myself, “who would put sheep in the middle of Manhattan?” It dawned on me that we built a city where animals once freely roamed. People took the animals’ homes from them, and though I was able to grasp this concept, other passersby certainly did not.
One man approached the people handing out information about Lalanne’s project and loudly announced, “I demand to know the meaning of this!” Others said that it was an “outrage” that someone would take over a gas station with something “as useless as sheep.” It was very ironic; not only did people take over sheep’s habitat, but New Yorkers themselves can be considered similar to sheep. We walk in herds, crossing streets in bunches and gathering around each other on crowded city sidewalks. Lalanne’s exhibit was meant to make people think, and it certainly did. Unfortunately, some people are not very open-minded. Still, the piece did its job, and was by far the most evocative and visually pleasing piece that I came across that day in Chelsea.
I remember learning that during the Shakespearean era, men often played women’s roles. Does that mean that the character of Viola/Cesario was a man playing a woman playing a man? I’m curious to find out how the character was portrayed.
Why did Bidart choose to write this poem from the perspective of a woman? Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are more common among females; however, many men also suffer from eating disorders. Did he choose to write the poem from a female point of view out of ignorance of eating disorders among males, or was there another reason for this decision?
How can a choreographer use a “logical basis” (211) for his or her dance, and yet create an abstract dance? Wouldn’t the “exaggeration, distortion, substitution, and symbolism” (214) contradict the logic behind the dance?
