To choose an artwork that spoke to me at this age is far too early. I haven’t had the chance to experience a lot of life’s gifts yet nor have I gone and explored the world around me. There are so many books that I haven’t read yet, and I still haven’t finished my own personal list.  But there is one artist that has affected me deeply: Epik High.

I was introduced to Epik High when I was in high school. That was the time when my mind was opened up to the world because of my friends. They helped me question things because before high school I accepted everything as it was. I did not question. But now, because of them, I question a lot. They showed me so many different cultures and religions that I never knew before. I was in my own little world where nothing reached out to me. Then they let me listen to Epik High.

I was drawn into this new world of music and words. I’ve never really liked rap before, but Epik High showed me that there is more that just the surface of a genre, a song, a book, a rhythm, a language, a culture a person, a life. Everything goes deeper. As you go deeper, the more questions that arise. They became my “Question to all Answers.”

Yes, the songs are in Korean, but that doesn’t stop them from affecting the world. There will always be translators to translate their meaning. Their dreams, my dreams, will not be stopped. They helped me see even more clearly. In a way, they are philosophical yet inspiring me to new heights. The connections they make with life, love, death, humans, government, and religion astound me.

Before Epik High, I would not be able to see the connections of different aspects of life, but now I do. Everything has become easier as they’ve become my inspiration to exceed my limitations and keep my dreams alive. Although I am not a writer, I’ll still keep the pen alive. It’s a sword, as they say.

My life perspectives have changed because of them. I question the ethics and morals of peoples’ actions. I ask myself, “How much are we willing to risk for just one thing?” What has made our lives so insignificant? Is there a higher purpose for that? People have ruined their lives for things that can and will be replaced. “Why can’t we accept the blame we created?” Humans are too fearful of the consequences of their actions, myself included. Then there is love. Nothing is as it seems. There’s always something deeper yet it can be as simple as an umbrella.  Then this umbrella can turn into a boundary that keeps people apart. “Why are there walls?” “Why do people keep to themselves?” Is there more pleasure with others or by ourselves? “Where does one receive the greatest happiness?” There are so many questions that run through my mind that it sometimes becomes black and tireless (Epik High). It is then that I stop and realize that all these questions may never have concrete answers. I need to keep reality by my side, but with its grim parts I have to see the light within them. To keep on moving and living is a piece of my goal.

But what they’ve really taught me is that within the complexities of life comes the simplest of life’s pleasures. It is with this thought that I have come to live by. It is what I believe others have seen through their pieces. It may be raining, but there will always be an umbrella over us, a rainbow to shine. With yin comes yang, and the flow of life continues. As I realize my lack of experience, Epik High has given me most of theirs and I have come to received them as my own.

“Teach the controversy.” A battle cry that rallied hundreds of people against the teaching of evolution in public schools, a societal taboo.

The clashing opinions over this issue raised heated debate in the year 2002.

Eight years later. The tension is still there.

For what reason do these people quarrel and bicker? What sustains their hostility among each other for so long? How is it even possible to disagree that long?

On a molecular level aren’t we genetically predisposed to be different from one another? Wouldn’t it make sense if our opinions differed from one another as well?

Why can’t we all just get along?

It’s really hard for me to believe that people could argue for years. I find it difficult to stay angry with someone for longer than a day. But again, this is just my opinion.

In reality, life is filled with controversy. Many of us choose to take a neutral stance, like me, but others fight strongly for what they believe in. It’s not uncommon for people to impose their beliefs on others; I mean it happens all the time in history. So what happens when people intentionally direct attention to certain issues, like what should be taught in school?

One writer, Adam Rapp, decides to do exactly that. Not only does he explicitly address the problem of censorship in schools, but he also simulates the consequences associated with these controversial decisions. Adam Rapp was the only “artist” that we studied that left a very clear voice resonating within my head. He was not only a writer but a social critic that used literature as his medium to raise awareness.

Censorship of taboo material in schools is actually quite common. As we see in “The Metal Children” written by Adam Rapp, some people take it to the extremes. The result of their behavior is what most people are afraid of. We have the conservatives and the radicals, and it is very uncommon for them to compromise.

In the novel we examine the disastrous effects one book can have on a community. It is unimaginable to think that little girls would react in such a way all because of a book ban. The string of events that occurred was so nonsensical that I don’t think it could happen ever, not even in a million years.

Vera was definitely not a visionary. She had to be on crack or something.

The reason Adam Rapp really connected with me was because of the issue he was presenting and the way he presented it. The story wasn’t pretty but it got the job done. By exaggerating the consequences of book censorship, I kind of got the feeling that adults really shouldn’t meddle with what their kids read. I mean they’re going to learn about these issues sooner or later. Why stop them and risk revolution?

Adam Rapp. Social Critic. Writer. One hell of an imagination ♥

A few weeks ago, the entertainment news (which is pretty much the only news I read), was buzzing with the story of Kate Perry’s “inappropriate” outfit on Sesame Street.  Parents were outraged with Perry’s outfit, which they claimed was too revealing and too inappropriate for younger kids.  PBS promptly pulled Perry’s segment with Elmo off the airwaves.

When I read this article, I also read other people’s comments on the article.  Most people were upset that other parents actually got so upset over such a small issue.  This got me thinking that these days, the smallest things can set people off.  You can say the wrong word or wear the wrong outfit and all of a sudden, you will find a pack of animals lashing out at you, attacking you from all sides.  People always find some reason to say that some form of artistic expression, or any type of expression for that matter, is too “inappropriate” and somehow dangerous for their kids.  I think that this is what attracted me so much to “The Metal Children”.

While reading this play, it was fascinating to see all the parents’ reactions to the banned book because their reactions were so over-the-top.  The parents’ reactions were actually not that far off from how people in the real world react today to things that they deem “inappropriate”.  Some of the most popular books in our culture today- Harry Potter and Twilight, for example- have faced opposition from parents who call these books “inappropriate”.  Now no one has gone far enough to purchase all these books and lock them up, as the parents did in “The Metal Children”.  However, such stories get me thinking, ‘What are all these parents so afraid of?’  ‘Is the content of these books really so terrible?’

In “The Metal Children”, the parents are outraged against all the racy content in the book and the way that it “glorifies” teenage pregnancy.  I thought that this topic was a great way to connect to our world today and to get people to think.  Teenage pregnancy is of course, an issue in our society today and not something that you can shield kids from ever knowing about.  The way that the parents react to this issue being discussed in the book, however, gets you to think ‘How much can you protect your kids from today’?  Parents today always raise arms whenever the slightest inappropriate behavior is displayed or whenever the truth is discussed through some form of artistic expression.  However, I don’t think that people can shield their kids forever.  In our world, it’s just too easy to have kids exposed to certain racy content.  The media and the school can expose kids to things that parents might not want their kids to know about.  In “The Metal Children”,, for example, the book that was banned was going to be read in school.  This made me think that because kids can’t really be protected from certain information, instead of focusing on shielding kids, parents should focus on telling kids how to take care of themselves when they find out this information.  In “The Metal Children”, for example, the parents were all so busy trying to keep the book banned that they didn’t even listen to their children.  The teenagers, such as Vera, ended up taking charge and starting their own society and getting pregnant.  This made me think of the consequences that can arise when someone tries to control a child’s knowledge too much.  You can intend to protect them, but push them to rebel instead.

“The Metal Children” was an interesting play to read because of all the drama and controversial content in it.  I questioned the characters’ actions, such as when Vera seduced Tobin, and I wondered who was right and who was wrong.  Were the parents wrong for trying so passionately to protect their kids, or should the racy book never have been assigned at all?  “The Metal Children” got me thinking and questioning and talking and if a play can manage to do all three, then it is well worth reading.

Just this morning I was listing out the classes I am taking this semester to someone I know, when she stopped me to ask exactly what the Arts in New York City class is. I explained to her the main premise of the course, sharing with her the performances I’ve seen, and the museums I’ve visited. An artist herself, she was intrigued with the philosophy of the program, and thought I was especially lucky to have had the opportunity to see a performance at the Metropolitan Opera.

Today was another adventurous day for me, and for that I have HNRS 125 to thank. In order to complete a requirement for the class (visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and to take full advantage of the other establishments of the Upper East Side (Bloomingdale’s), I took a total of three trains and two buses. Of course, I must say, it was well worth the effort in the end. But now I’m just getting off topic.

Back to the task at hand…

When I first read the assignment for the blog, my first thought was to write about Beirut Rocks, the third play from Theater Day of orientation. In our society, many of us view conflicts between countries from only one point of view. Each time I read or hear about the Israeli Palestinian Conflict, it is from the same perspective, but it was interesting to be exposed to the other side’s point of view.

However, after much more deliberation, I decided another piece of art this semester had a greater influence on me.

Let me preface my choice, and reasons for it, with a small anecdote. In my high school, just outside of the library of the school, is a small display where, periodically, the librarians create exhibits for the students in the school related to reading and books. One display, from freshman year, really struck me. It was a history and listing of banned books. Up until that point, I viewed the library as a haven of books, in which authors were free to speak their minds and readers were free to listen. I never realized that there is an authority out there, monitoring books that are published and distributed to the public, nor do I believe that any such authority should exist. For this reason, of all of the art we have been exposed to this semester, The Metal Children had the most significant impact on me.

I agree completely and whole-heartedly with Vera and the other high school girls. Their teacher chose to have the class read the novel for a reason, and the parents should be a little less involved with what is taught in the classroom. The issues addressed in the novel are challenges that teenage girls face each day, and for this reason, they should learn about it in school, along with ways to prevent and deal with such problems.

There is proof that the reading of the novel was important to the students – they were willing to take drastic action to prevent the banning of the novel. Vera respected Tobin for his willingness to take risks in his writing, and although he did not write the novel with the intention of helping these girls, he assisted them in allowing their voices to be heard. I personally believe that had this book not been banned, these girls would not have            started this mission – they would have continued to lead the normal lives they were living. When parents and schools place too many restrictions on kids, they rebel to claim their independence. The response to the novel was the epitome of this theory.

Overall, The Metal Children was a well-written play, and if given the option, I would definitely watch a performance of it. The clash between the banning of books and freedom of the press is an ongoing debate that is illuminated in this great work of art.

Now, this class from the start has been an intense learning experience. When I heard I had to take Arts in the City, I thought to myself, what the hell kind of honors requirement is that? It sounds too fun for honors. So although it’s been fun, it’s taught me a how to look past the superficial facts into what is behind the thoughts and motions of actors and the reasoning for the choice of such simplistic things as colors and clothes.

Taxi Driver. Sounds boring, right? Well that’s what some people thought the first time they watched it. But not me. I thought it was the sad and interesting tale of this man, Travis, who has lost everything he wants. He blew his chance with the girl he wanted, and because of this, turned a negative eye on life in general. Throughout the movie, the scenery is dreary and bleak, with the exception of Betsy and the voter’s office area, which is always bright, usually red. Travis tried to make himself less depressing when visiting this office by wearing a red jacket over his drab clothes. Now, personally, I never would’ve noticed this if it hadn’t been brought up in class.

Whereas I wouldn’t say this movie was life-changing, it definitely impacted me emotionally. Watching the movie, my heart tore for Travis when Betsy turned him away. Even though I thought it was hilarious that he tried to take her to a porno movie as a date, the poor guy didn’t know any better. After being turned down, he turned to a life of crime- buying guns and attempting assassinations…This seems a little extreme, but Travis had an almost childlike mentality about these types of things, throwing a sort of “tantrum” when he didn’t get his way. This movie taught me a lot about people’s mentality, and how people react to disappointment, rage and jealousy.

As a social critic, Travis is a prime example. He absolutely DESPISES society and all that it stands for. To him, society represents the love he lost, the brutal reality of prostitution and pimps, and the disgustingly boring lifestyle of a cab driver living in the city. Every chance he gets, he battles society. Whether it’s in the attempted assassination of a political figure, or the actual assassination of a pimp, he fights to the death…literally. I mean, Travis was always a loner. He finally tried to come out of his shell when he attempted a relationship with Betsy. But in his naive state of mind, he took her to an inappropriate movie, and ruined his chance. Because of this, he becomes even more bitter, and tries to kill Palantine, to whom he believes he lost Betsy. Despite his foiled attempt, he moves on to Iris’ pimp, Sport, and ends victoriously, and unexpectedly as a hero.

Travis acts rashly and emotionally, going with his feelings, and not caring about the consequences. He figured that since society was so horrible, and his life was destroyed already, how much worse could it get? So he buys some guns and heads out with plans to kill-plans to do what he thinks is right…even if he could end up in jail for it. His fury over the police’s unconcerned attitudes towards the prostitution rings caused him to take matters into his own hands.

Although his case is extremely rare-people don’t exactly go around buying guns and planning assassinations all the time because a girl turned them down-this movie shed light on the idiosyncrasies that all people have. This movie made me think about other people’s and even my own reactions to society and the people in society.

When applying to the Macaulay Honors College, I faced a similar essay topic that required me to reflect upon a piece of artwork and it’s impact on my life. For my life-altering piece I chose the classic Spielberg dino-flick, Jurassic Park. A favorite movie of mine since age three, Jurassic Park had everything a good children’s movie required: a strong female character, an adventure, a moral and of course a bloodthirsty T-Rex.

After reading this blog topic I contemplated recycling my admission essay, but then it hit me. Was my favorite science fiction flick commenting on anything? If I wanted to continue writing about Jurassic Park for this blog post, I would say that it was. Jurassic Park, as I said before, has a moral. As Dr. Grant tells Billie in the third movie of the series: “Some of the worst things imaginable can be done with the best intentions.”  Whether it is to revive a species from extinction or educate paleontologists is it right for human beings to assume the role of God?

While I could continue discussing this and prove my point with endless quotes and my personal theories about the effects of human greed, I think I’ll spare you and instead bore you with my ideas on a more appropriate piece of artwork. But here’s my problem: is there a more appropriate work that has impacted me more so than the horror movies I watched with my mom as a kid? What have I read or seen that resonated with me at a personal level?

The truth is, most of the books and plays I have read for school and pretty much all of the classics I’ve read independently have had absolutely no correlation with my life whatsoever. Sure, I could make something up and say that I was deeply affected by Lord of the Flies, but who the hell wants to read a bunch of crap I made up so I would have something to say in my blog. If it’s not true, then why post it.

Yeah, I thought Lord of the Flies was a fantastic novel and furthermore a superb allegory for the savage world we live in, but it has had no lasting effect on my character or my ideas about the modern world. In all honesty, before I read Lord of The Flies in high school, I had already begun to lose faith in humanity.  The book did nothing but add fuel to my growing frustration.

In philosophy class, my Professor asked us to read an article in the New York Times by Peter Singer entitled “Should This Be The Last Generation.” Whether journalism can be considered an art form is up for debate, but I can honestly say that this article had an impact on all of my preconceived notions about wanting to raise a family. In this article, Peter Singer criticized modern day parents and claimed that people have children for selfish reasons. He continued to discuss the beliefs of philosophers Arthur Schopenhauer and David Benatar who both held that having children will inevitably “harm most children severely and benefit none.” Singer postulates that if having children jeopardizes the happiness of the children themselves, maybe it’s better to not have any at all and spare them the torture of living.

For the first time in my life, after reading this particular article I questioned my motives for wanting a family. After being conditioned by society (playing with baby dolls, toy strollers, and fake baby food as a little girl) I had always held that having a kid is what you’re “supposed to do,” but I had never wondered if it was the right thing to do.  I still want to be a mom one day, but Peter Singer’s thought provoking piece made me look for valid reasons for my unexplained desire. Unfortunately, I haven’t come up with any yet but I’m working on it.

Last year my English class read a play entitled “Death and the Maiden”. In this play the stage directions in a key scene involved a giant mirror coming down and a spotlight illuminating the faces of random audience members.

Everyone puzzled over this for an entire class. Why would the playwright include that in there?

Although there were many different interpretations for this, there was one that stuck in my head: he did this in order to bring the audience into the situation of the play; to emphasize that the situation and distortion of morals could happen to anyone.

I think this is a feature of most plays (although not as direct). They absorb the audience into the plot and leave them questioning their own society. I think the play “Little Foxes” did a great job in doing this.

The aristocrats continually belittle their servants and others of a lower class. They call African Americans a derogatory name, and each time they do so, you can see the sneer on their face and feel the disgust in their voice. Especially in the beginning of the play this is surprising to hear, particularly because we are still trying to ascertain the time period. The characters have modern clothing, which is critical in the social criticism it produces. By staring at these characters we at first think we are looking at people of our time period (at least I did, since I had no previous knowledge of the play). Then we hear them say the “N” word and we are shocked. By having the characters appear as if they are from current times, Van Hove makes the audience wonder: does such racism as this still exist in our society?

Another element of the play that reminds the audience of their own society is the selfish desire the brothers, and Regina, have for power. They cheat honest working people out of wages in order to make themselves richer. This, of course, still happens today: there is such an uneven distribution of wealth, and in our capitalist nation there are those who strive to stay on top by sometimes using unethical means. When the audience is exposed to the disgusting animalistic attitude of the wealthy aristocrats they reflect on their own society.

Regina’s struggle is also the struggle of a woman trying to gain some power in society. When Oscar hurts Birdie we see just some of the oppressiveness women face. Regina is in a male-dominated world. As she struggles for power and goes against society’s gender roles her husband Horace ruins her attempts. When he dies she is finally able to have control, but she has gained it at the cost of her family. This makes us wonder: is she happy now? Was it really worth it for her?

“Little Foxes” is a play that criticizes a time period far before ours, yet the actions, dress, and dialogue indicate that the play is pointing out flaws that both time periods have in common.

Regina’s daughter Alexandra says to her mother: “there are people who raped the Earth, and those who stood around and watched them do it”. Alexandra did not stay around to watch her mother do it, and we should not stay and watch others do it in our own society. This play motivates people to take action, and teaches that there are more important things in life than power and money.