The Arts in New York City

No other image epitomizes my idea of wealthy New York more than a regular image of the magnificent city. A birds-eye view of large skyscrapers, the luminous shots of nighttime New York, these are the images that signal to my brain: Wealth! This is similar to the first thoughts that pop into my head when someone mentions New York. When those words hit my ear I instantly think of wealthy businessmen, wall street, grandiose apartment complexes, art museums, finely dressed men and women walking along busy sidewalks, and all that glamorous stuff. Now one might ask me: What about the poverty in the city? What about the large disparity between upper class and everyone below? What about all the budget cuts in education? Aren’t these more pressing issues in New York that should be consuming my first thoughts of the city? Now this is where I look at the birds-eye view pictures of our city; the bright night time shots of our skyscrapers; the beautiful sky lines of New York; and I answer: Where do you see that here?

Now I’m not trying to say that I have a blind eye for many of our city’s important issues. Rather, I’m just trying to express the fabulous idea of New York that I, and probably many others, perceive when we look at a picture of the city. Actually, maybe I’m one of few New Yorkers who think this way. I was born and raised in Queens, and Manhattan was just a place I never explored too much. I would only go there once or twice every couple of weeks for special occasions like dining or shopping. The city to me is still a wonder and as a result my mind is wired like that of a foreigner who’s never experienced the city. Foreigners often times derive their judgement of New York City from the movies and shows they watch, and what they see are, a lot of the time, depictions of upper or middle-upper class New Yorkers. This would explain my judgement of the previously mentioned city images.

However to be completely honest, even though I have my visualizations and ideas of what the upper class New York is like, I haven’t personally witnessed the magnitude of this wealthy, high and mighty class, save a couple of experiences. A lot of how I portray the upper class, is exactly how I imagine them from the movies: condescending, egotistic, narcissistic, and always expanding on topics which have minimal importance. (There are nice rich people too! I’m not trying to make them out to be evil if that’s what you assumed.)  I have never seen the people in the Plaza hotel. I have never been to a restaurant that serves wealthy guests. I’ve seen shows and movies with them in it, but that is all. I cannot garner much personal experience sadly.

So when it comes down to it, the big city and its upper class inhabitants will be mere projections to me. However, I draw motivation from it. Just like a foreigner first moving into New York, I have a feeling within myself that this is the city where my success is to be made. In my head, this will always be where I too can become a part of those that call themselves wealthy.

Now quick, what were the first things that came to mind?

Donald Trump is undeniably one of the richest men in New York, whether you love him or hate him. Trump has his made his imprint all over the upper class New York. When you hear “Trump” some might see a pompous egotistical older rich man with a ridiculous hairstyle, or you might see a genius business tycoon who takes advantage of what New York has to offer. I personally see Donald Trump as the latter. Trump can mean many different things. It can mean staying at five-star hotels, living in luxurious apartment complexes near central park, and being able to blow thousands of dollars at one time at those extravagant stores on Fifth Avenue.

Trump’s image most definitely epitomizes my idea of a wealthy New York because it represents absolutely everything upper class from five-star hotels such as Trump International Hotel and Trump SoHo New York to designer ties and shirts. As a kid, I’ve always dreamed of being able to live in these places where I would have my own bathrobe with my name written across it and be able to order Chinese food without leaving my suite. You can do all these in the five-star hotels that Trump owns in the heart of wealthy Manhattan.

I’m a fan of reality television (even though most of it is actually fake), and one of my favorite reality T.V shows has to be “The Apprentice” or “The Celebrity Apprentice” by Donald Trump. In this show, upper class New Yorkers compete with each other on various different tasks and sometimes, their knowledge of New York plays a vital role. Most of the people on the show are already wealthy businessmen and women who are looking to make even more money by working under Donald Trump.

In movies I always saw rich people with their briefcase in hand with their expensive suit and ties wandering around Manhattan and thought that everybody lived like this in NYC. I realized that not everybody is like that and you have to work your way up. The Trump image for me symbolizes wealth and prosperity, which is exactly what I wish to achieve (without the pompous and egotistical part).

"I am an opera singer!"

“Figaro, Figaro, Figarooooooooo!”

Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” is probably one of the most known operas in the world. I think we are all somewhat familiar with the storyline and a few of the songs. And why shouldn’t we be? Hasn’t “The Marriage of Figaro” been parodied by a number of our childhood cartoons, like Arthur and Hey Arnold?

But why do people go to the opera? Why do they purchase expensive tickets to watch a musical in a language most of them probably don’t understand?  Is it to just enjoy the visual and sensory art? Or is it to be seen?

The opera is an image that I’ve always connected to the upper class of New York. I’ve always thought the purpose of the opera (besides providing entertainment, of course) was to gather together people of high society. They had to establish who had the most money. Intermission, I imagined must be the preferred part of the spectacle. Because it is then, during the break, that they are able to converse and compare and compete.

“We’ve just gotten back form Milan, dahhling.”

“Well, how did they manage to attain those seats?”

“My goodness, look at her gown, it is simply dee-vine!”

I can visualize them now, dressed up in their fancy suits and gowns, wearing the very best in jewelry, and sipping ridiculously expensive champagne. But such must be the life a New York socialite. What else would they do with their time?

And I have to wonder how much of them really enjoy what is happening before them onstage. Do they find the opera genuinely interesting? – Because of course, the Upper Crust of New York must be extremely cultured and fond of all the classic arts – Or do they find the whole idea of the opera mandatory? They sit through it because it is simply what people of their status do.

I think I’ve always associated the opera to wealthy New Yorkers because the idea of me, a regular girl from a regular middle class family in Queens, attending such a performance has never really fit in my head. People of status attend operas, people of wealth. I’ve always stuck to school plays and off-off Broadway productions. But apparently for this class we’re supposed to see “Don Giovanni” at the Metropolitan Opera House. I’m nervous, I don’t think I’m going to have a gown “dee-vine” enough for the setting. Oh well.

I have a stereotypical view of uptown/wealthy New York. When I first think of wealth on the Upper East Side I think of rich white people in lavish penthouse apartments. Many images come to my mind of narcissistic women who hide behind their designer bags, shoes, sunglasses and fur coats. I imagine their husbands to be corporate businessmen wearing the most expensive suits and driving their brand new S-class Mercedes. These images I have are very stereotypical and in reality most people are probably not like this, but this is my view as an average New Yorker.

When I think of a day in the life of a wealthy family on the Upper East Side I don’t know what to think of other than the images and characters that Hollywood has pushed onto my imagination since I was born. I suspect that the husband is a workaholic businessman that becomes so involved in making money that he becomes disconnected from his wife and children. The children are not taken care of by the mother but instead by a nanny who has the task of rearing the children and being more of a mother to them. These children a boy and a girl are driven in a limo to and from a wealthy private school that all of the other children of the social elite go to. During the day the mother plans parties with her friends while they go out to eat and the father is at the office. On a normal day the children come back home and are fed and bathed by the nanny. They spend some time with their mother, do their homework and are off to bed. The father comes home late at night and spends absolutely no time with his children. He and his wife sometimes spend time together but mostly they fight because of their disconnected lives. This unhealthy cycle goes on until the day where husband and wife are separated and the family is torn apart.

Why do I have this perception? I have no real experience of wealthy New York other than what my parents have told me and what I have seen on television. When I was smaller sometimes I used to go on drives with my family throughout Manhattan. I keenly remember my mom pointing out apartment buildings in one area and telling me that the richest people in the world must live in there. As an outsider of the world of the rich and famous this is the only type of view I can fathom in my mind.

I had never really been a materialistic person. Maybe that’s why I don’t understand how people are willing to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on clothing and jewelry. I’ve walked down 5th Avenue only a few times in my life, and each time I pass by the gleaming designer stores with the fancy ceiling-to-floor doors and the “professional” employees, I wonder what is so alluring about brand names that wealthy people would want to spend a fortune on, instead of spending their money on more practical things.

My friend and I stepped into a few of the stores once, just to “experience” what it would be like to shop with the hoity-toity of New York. We would casually stroll around the store, ignoring the glares of the snooty salespeople, who have already decided amongst themselves that there was no way we would be able to afford anything in the store, given the way we were dressed. I picked up a Gucci bag from the shelf. $2400 for a small tote?! I was in utter disbelief. What could this bag possibly be made of, for it to be so expensive? My friend and I instantly left the store. We never returned, and I don’t think I ever will.

I don’t have anything against wealthy people. Most of them worked hard for their money. However, I completely disagree with what they feel is most important. If I become just as successful one day, I would hope that my money would contribute to a good cause, instead of wasted on clothing and handbags that would be considered “so last season” within months. Sure, I would treat myself to a few luxuries here and there, but I see no reason in investing such a great amount of money on something superficial. Do I really need a 5,000 evening gown that I’ll wear only once?

This picture of 5th Avenue reminds me that there is still a huge distinction between the upper class and lower class. Even in America, there are people starving in the streets. There is a rapidly increasing rate of unemployment. People are struggling just to get a bite to eat each day while others are shopping on 5th Avenue, not giving a second thought as they hand over their platinum credit card, eager to get to the next store. I feel that if they have the ability to, wealthy people should put more consideration into helping those who are less fortunate. I’m sure if they contributed to their society more or made a difference in someone’s life, they would feel much more contentment than finally getting their hands on the coveted Prada Fall Collection handbag.