Posts by marinov98
Club Insanity
This picture challenged my ability to judge the message of the exhibit. My biggest issue was understanding whether this image was supposed to portray an emotion or a theme. At the first glance, I thought the image was supposed to represent the craziness associated with the club. That the face was the aftermath of exposure to alcohol and drugs. The facial expression of the person leads me believe that the person is either suffering or feeling a great deal of anxiety. The way his teeth are clenched and the way his eyes stare leads to believe that this person is not aware where he is. The way his hair looks leads me to believe that it is the a representation of what is going on in the persons mind. The long bright strands of hair could indicate that the person is experiencing a multitude of strong emotions. These emotions hinder his ability to focus and comprehend what is going on around him. I felt like this picture perfectly fit into the museum because it represented the craziness in clubs, theatres, and perfomances. There is so much anxiety when auditioning for a play. There is also a lot action and social interaction at the clubs. Additionally, clubs can also secretly deal in drugs. Finally, perfomances involve a lot of emotions. One character responds to another and vice versa. Essentially, I believe this picture is a prime example of insanity, how having fun and expressing yourself can sometimes lead to your own destruction. What challenges me the most about this picture is the background. The contrast between the dark blue and the light blue could mean the lack of perception of time. It could also mean the cycles of thoughts that run through the person’s head: going from calmness to anxiety. Nevertheless, this is a picture that has the title of “taboo”. Perhaps it was a representation of what sin looks like.
The unseen butterfly
Watching the production of Madame Butterfly shocked me more than I ever thought it would despite the fact that I had a lot of prior knowledge of the play beforehand. The first thing that intrigued me were the costumes. I thought they did a wonderful job at showcasing the difference between European and Chinese fashion. It was also very relevant to the time period. The traditional Chinese clothes versus the revolutionary Chinese clothes was also made very clear, especially in the scene where the they performed a play where they tore the traditional clothes from one the actors who had revolutionary clothes underneath in order to send a message. That play made think critically about how determined the revolutionaries were in changing the traditional ways of way.
What also intrigued me was the acting. There was a lot of passion in the words of the characters. I could tell Gallimard was in a desperate search for “his butterfly” and he would do anything to find her. The acting also made me think about what Song had really accomplished over the years. He was in fact a man who loved another man. Despite living in China where homosexuality is considered a disease, he devoted his life to theatre and hoped for the best. He lived and carried the burden of never being able to be his true self. What shocked me the most was the court scene. His blunt words and description while having intercourse with Gallimard really surprised me. What surprised me even more was when he took off his clothes in front of Gallimard. It takes great bravery to strip in front of an entire audience over and over again. In the end I was impressed with the bluntness of this production, how it really did not hold anything back. It contained so many more meaningful messages and themes that the original production did not.
The Subway dream
After experimenting with different shots and locations in the subway, my group has decided to do a story based around a girl passing through the subway. She dreams of almost every situation possible whether is bad or good. We filmed outside the Q station in avenue H. There, we saw a rocking chair which we used to show the girl (Michelle) sleeping and waking up from the dream. While in the avenue H station, we shot a clip of her experiencing a bad event, which was her being followed by a creep. This is one of the several unfortunate situations that could be experienced in the subway. Interestingly enough, most of our situations will be negative since the best thing that can happen in the subway can be going to your destination as fast as possible without experiencing any delays. The upcoming negative events could possibly include : bad A/C, loud passengers, angry beggars, and, of course, train delays. Fortunately, this picture that is displayed here is a positive side of visiting the subway. This picture was taken after the journey to the Q was taken and 42nd was visited. Here, we see a band playing in the center of the station. The significance behind this is that these people had the freedom express their music. They also let out some inspiring quotes before transitioning from songs such as “Do not let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do”. I noticed one other group singing in this station when I took the pictures. The difference was that they were college kids and I knew they were college kids because they had a sign that said “broke college kids, ya feel?”. I feel like this is a remainder that everyone is working hard to make a living and they will do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams. I’ve started to see that taking the subway is a symbol of “the grind” the never ending journey to achieve one’s passions
The subway of opportunity
Our space mainly consists of the New York Subway. This picture, in particular, is taken in the 42nd street station. The reason why I chose 42nd is because it has a lot variety. It contains multiple lines including the S(shuttle) line that helps transport people from the West to the East side or vice versa depending on which 42nd station you go into. You will not find this line on other subway stations.Actually walking and analyzing the space has made me realize that how unpredictable it can be. The West 42nd subway line has numerous spaces where there are either stores or performances going on. The performances can range from singing (both modern and traditional) to dancing (hip-hop to tapping). You can find practically anything in the station. It is almost like the space is a city on its own with its own way of life. The picture that is shown represents a woman walking by a poster. The reason why I thought I should use this picture is because it shows a very important aspect of the 42nd station subway. The picture shows people of different ethnicities and different classes. The woman walking symbolizes the everyday life of a New York citizen. It showcases all the people that are working hard and trying to achieve their own American dream. I believe that the 42nd street station represents the entire state of New York. Never have I seen people from so many backgrounds in one station. I can usually pinpoint where most of the people come from in a station, but this is an impossible task when I am at 42nd. It is also impossible to get a picture that displays all the aspects of this versatile space. Not to mention that the events change every time the space is visited! It would take several more visits to fully grasp what can happen in this station.
Buried Child – The great Renewal
The 1996 production of Buried Child does an astonishing job at showcasing the characters and themes of Sam Shepherds play. The production was very adept at displaying the disconnection within the family and the sad truth about the American dream. Throughout the production, we could easily see how disappointed Dodge and Halie were in both of their sons since one of them was physically handicapped(Bradley) and the other was mentally handicapped (Tilden). Their dead son, Ansel, represented a hero, one who had achieved the American dream. Bradley’s tone towards Dodge and Tilden implies that there is little respect between the family members. On the other hand, Dodge’s attitude towards the corn and carrots that Tilden brings in displays his inability to accept reality and most importantly, to be optimistic. The corn and carrots represent a chance of renewal, a new beginning almost.
The first aspect that I thought was strongly portrayed was the disappearance of ethics. In the final act, Halie simply walks in with father Dewis, implying that she had an affair with him and cheated on her husband. Bradley shamelessly teases Tilden and steals Dodge’s couch while also screaming whenever he feels like it. When Shelly is in the house, the family ignores her until she decides to throw a cup and break it against the wall. Additionally, she raises her voice and begins screaming, almost mimicking the way the family members treat each other. Finally, the family was only able to recognize Vince, when he was drunk and acted like a hooligan. Essentially, the family only paid attention to an individual when they acted like them.
The second aspect that was strongly portrayed in the production were the character’s personalities. I could clearly see that Tilden was mentally damaged from his trip to New Mexico. It was obvious that he had trouble standing up for himself especially when Bradley scared him away. Dodge on the other hand, was shown to be a character that was thoroughly depressed. He constantly smoked and wanted a bottle of whiskey. Bradley acted like a spoiled brat, as if everyone owed him something just because he was missing a leg. Finally, the personality change of Vince was made crystal clear. His calm self turned into a self-proclaimed alpha male that was going to carry out the family legacy.
BAM BAM showdown
Seeing the two Bausch pieces challenged me in every way possible. I was completely shocked at the performances. The movements and the characters caused me great confusion. The first performance Bluebeard, however, felt more ambiguous for I struggled to find the meaning of the play. The characters came in and out of sleep walking, expressing their innermost desires. It was not until the end, where I realized that the play was more about one’s dreams. On the other hand, the second performance Rite of Spring seemed more straight forward as well pessimistic. I could clearly see that there was some sort of ritual going on. There was a girl that was going to be offered up as a sacrifice. The story behind the play states that the girl needed to be offered in order to please the gods. The tempo Rite of Spring was more fast-paced compared to the more slow-paced dreamy tempo of Bluebeard. The two plays caused two different reactions from .I felt emotions of sadness and anxiety as I watched the girl being sacrificed. On the other hand, I was just baffled at Bluebeard. The entire play consisted of me trying to understand why the characters moved the way they did. Bluebeard also definitely challenged more than Rite of Spring. It gave unusual shock due to the fact that it was really something that I never would have expected out of a musical. Its form and content were slow yet mysterious. It seemed like a story without a rhythm or meaning was being displaced. Every single event seemed arbitrary, like it was there to just be there and keep the audience engaged. To contrast, Rite of Spring seemed like it had an actual story. The characters seemed to have a purpose to advance the story and sacrifice the girl. All of a sudden, you stopped being confused and you allowed yourself to be moved by the performance.
Life on the High line
Going to the High Line was an unforgettable experience for I have never witnessed such surreal performances. The most memorizing performance was the first one and it was called “Alexandra Pirici”. This performance consisted of several actors of all kinds of racial backgrounds. They stood together and moved slowly in an unorthodox manner. You would be completely intrigued by their acting for you do not know what to expect nor have you seen anything of a similar fashion before. When you read the description of the play, you realize that their movements are referencing “images of war, loss, vulnerability from art history.” They also bring to mind “The separations that we build between people and areas of privilege that are sustained at the expense of others”. Essentially, the play seems to be indirectly showcasing the flaws of the modern world. Today, the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing and there is still a war on terrorism all around us.
Another interesting part about the high line was looking at art pieces. One in particular, showed what it looked like a person eating an animal that was eating another animal and another animal after that. The artwork really caught your eye due to the fact that, similar to the play, it was an unexpected sight. The High line walk brought about a lot of nostalgia from Bulgaria due to the smell of all the plants and small trees that surrounded the walk. Finally, the nose brought the trip to an end. An unexpected finish to an extraordinary exhibit where open-mindedness is accepted and judgments are not tolerated.
Comments by marinov98
"This blog post is contains very similar interpretations to mine despite mine being a completely different image. I do agree that those pictures showcase the social aspect of clubs. I am also glad that you touched on drug dealing. It is something quite shady, but it is always lurking around clubs and I also mentioned it in my blog post. Finally, I am impressed that you talked about the "negative" space creating a feeling of isolation. Looking at this as a "bubble" is actually a very accurate interpretation. These people could be going to the club to get away from personal issues, just have fun, or even because of peer pressure. Whatever the story is, the club is an ambiguous place..."
--( posted on Dec 3, 2017, commenting on the post
57 Drawings )
"I find your thoughts to be very similar to mine. I also greatly enjoyed the humor throughout the scene. I actually thought that was the best part about the play. Without the humor, it just wouldn't be the same. The breaking of the fourth wall was also a strength of the play. I agree that the flirtation scene was one of the funniest and enjoyable parts of the play. I really thought it brought the character to life and we knew exactly what kind of person he was. Finally, the switching of props was also quite amusing. I too thought that they switched everything very quickly and efficiently, allowing us to experience every part of the play smoothly."
--( posted on Nov 20, 2017, commenting on the post
M. Butterfly Response )
"I am impressed with the fact that you took the time to examine a different side of Coney island. I also like that you noticed how Coney Island changes based on season. This place actually interests me more now because of how you talked about everyone sharing food. Seems like a very welcoming environment that promotes altruism. In a sense, this place crushes the New York stereotype of people being mean. I am surprised that people of different ages are willing to participate in physical activity during the winter. Finally, I think you captured the space beautifully in this one picture. The seagulls are a really nice touch. I cannot wait to see how your iMovie turns out!"
--( posted on Nov 6, 2017, commenting on the post
Coney Island and its Transformations )
"I think it is very interesting that you realized how important the island really is. I also find it interesting that you experienced the exact opposite of what you thought you would experience. I also thought my space was just a simple subway station, but I was completely wrong. It turned out to have so much variety and opportunity that I regret ever denouncing the place. I am glad that we both found meaning in the spaces we live in and that we are going to learn even more about them now. I think you realized that even the journey to the space is quite significant and can add a lot of flexibility to your project."
--( posted on Oct 25, 2017, commenting on the post
The Rosevelt Island Tramway )
"This analyzation is very detailed. I completely agree with the fact that the actor's tones are angry and that the atmosphere is quite gloomy. I found myself feeling the depression of all the characters while I was watching the play. The second part which I found that you pointed out perfectly was the mystery surrounding the play. It is clearly evident that the characters are hiding a secret and constantly try to neglect reality.By the way, Dodge is the one buried under the blanket for most of the play. His health is indeed constantly deteriorating as he takes every moment he can to smoke and drink whiskey. I also pointed out that the play does an amazing job at displaying Shepherds themes. Finally, I love your analysis of Halie. I never thought that her voice could be such an important part of her character."
--( posted on Oct 8, 2017, commenting on the post
1996 Broadway Production of Buried Child )
"I completely agree with you on the "somber" mood of the first one. Other than sheer confusion, I felt like melancholy played a role in the play. I too to see its purpose even after reading the dance's description. I also agree with the more "lively" performance of the second play. Definitely could feel more rhythm and purpose. I almost felt like I was reading my own piece of writing while reading yours because I had the exact same thoughts about the two plays! I also was not used to being exposed to interpretive dance. I'm glad, though, that we both found this experience rewarding. I think that next time we should just try to enjoy the play rather than spend the whole time analyzing the play."
--( posted on Sep 26, 2017, commenting on the post
Two Fantastic Works of Art )
"I am astonished by how much you were able to write about one picture. I never really thought about the plants the way you did. Interestingly enough, I always thought of the park as a "new world" just because it provides us with that we are not used to. Everything about the park showed things in a different light. I also really like your analysis of the gate. I knew it had purpose, but I did really think about how it is used as a distraction. You really captured the essence of the High Line!"
--( posted on Sep 12, 2017, commenting on the post
There is Nothing Untouched by Materialism Even Here )
