In my first blog I wrote about how each person perceives art differently, so I’m going to write my last blog about how each person perceives New York City differently. I say this in the least cheesy way possible, but let’s face it: New York City is a work of art. From the complex architecture of each and every skyscraper to the hand drawn graffiti on the sides of bodegas, New York City represents art in every way.

I would have never expected to learn so much about New York City in my first semester of college. I’m not going to lie, when I first found out that we would be taking a class called “The Arts in New York City” I was a bit apprehensive. I’ve never been that person to go out of my way to visit a museum or even to go to my high school productions, so this class definitely made me feel some type of way. After spending weeks upon weeks in this class, I’m glad I can say that I truly enjoyed every aspect of it. From watching movies that I never thought I’d watch to visiting historic areas of New York City to attending performance upon performance, I have learned more in the past few months about New York City than I’ve learned in the last 18 years.

It’s not easy to pick a favorite. We’ve analyzed each piece so in depth that I’ve grown to love even the ones that I was traumatized by (Birds With Sky Mirrors). But I can say that I found The Muppets Take Manhattan to be the most true to New York City. Yeah, let’s face it, the film with puppets represents New York City better than Robert DeNiro did. Now, I’m not saying that DeNiro didn’t do an outstanding job, because we all know he did, but The Muppets Take Manhattan showed a different side to New York City, a side that many people fail to acknowledge.

This film goes over many different topics that are true to New York City. So many people come here thinking that they are going to “make it big” and become famous or wealthy, but the reality of the matter is that becoming successful takes a lot more than just coming to the Big Apple. The film also shows the many different types of people that you’d find here. Different types of social classes are displayed, such as the students, the waiters, and the big shots on Broadway. All in all, although there are so many people surrounding you, it is so easy to remain anonymous. Another theme represented in the film was robbery. While walking through Central Park, Miss Piggy’s purse gets stolen. With the economic hardships many people face today, some people feel that stealing is the only option they have left. Although all the little rats going into the restaurant was supposed to be a funny scene, it holds true to a major rat problem that New York City faces. Rats surround the streets and buildings of New York City, leaving residents at risk of being bitten and catching diseases or just leaving many kitchens filled with filth.

Although New York City may not be what many people dream it is, it is obviously a quite unique place. Why else would everyone be dying to come here? People don’t come to freeze in the cold weather in the winter, that’s for sure. New York City is home to many natives and becomes home to many foreigners. Whether you work on Wall Street or are just visiting Times Square, New York City will hold a special place in your heart, and that is what art is all about.

The intersection of art and money has existed since the beginning of time. How can one pursue his or her passion without making enough money to survive? According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, one must first meet his or her physiological and safety needs, such as food and shelter, before reaching the self-actualization level of morality. The only way one can do this is by making enough money.

So what should these artists do? Should they create art that sells or art that is in line with their beliefs? And where does “selling out” come into play? I think the best way to go about this issue is by creating art that incorporates both the artist’s values and what is popular in today’s society.

One such artist that does a very good job at this is Martin Scorsese. His film, Taxi Driver, does an amazing job at displaying the harsh reality of living in New York City. Through the use of Scorsese’s personal morals along with popular themes in American culture, the film became a hit. Scorsese touches upon racism, social classes, prostitution, and politics throughout his film. For many people, these topics hit close to home. As a native New Yorker, the film was very appealing to me. It allowed me to view New York from others’ perspectives and learn the truth behind many of today’s issues. It’s no wonder the film made $27.3 million. Scorsese effectively created a commercially successful piece while staying true to his values.

Let’s take a completely different approach to “selling out.” Many people think that Michelangelo was a sell out. He attended the Renaissance Master School and spent years upon years practicing sculpting. Michelangelo was a sculptor at heart, one who specifically hated painting. He considered it an inferior art form. So why then did he spend years painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? For the money, of course! The church was one of the only organizations commissioning work in his area, so Michelangelo had no room to be picky. He put his love for sculpting away, swallowed his pride, and took the money. The irony is that the piece became Michelangelo’s most recognizable works. I mean have you seen the pictures of it? It’s absolutely stunning and unquestionably one of the most timeless pieces of art in history. So who’s to say that Michelangelo is a sell out? Yeah, maybe he stopped pursuing his passions for a few years, but does that really make him any less of an artist? His piece appeals to millions upon millions of people and that’s one of the most important aspects of art. He influenced so many people and in my perspective he is one of the greatest artists of all time.

“Selling out” really isn’t all that it’s hyped up to be. Sometimes, artists have to do what is necessary to get by. It isn’t always such a bad thing. If people still enjoy the artwork, then who are they really hurting? Those who think less of artists who sometimes choose to swallow their pride and go for the big bucks need to take a step back and look at things from their perspectives. In today’s economy it isn’t an easy task to make money. You have to do what you have to do to make it and that’s what people have trouble realizing.

On the first day of class, we had done a classroom activity that involved voting on different types of art. When Professor Healey had asked us whether we preferred theater or movies, I had quickly chosen movies. Obviously I hadn’t had enough experience with live performance as I had with movies, so I was quick to judge. Little did I know that the movies I was used to were not what we were going to see in class. Boy, was I in for a surprise.

The first film rolled around and there I was watching “Wall Street” by Oliver Stone. This movie was made when?! This definitely wasn’t anything similar to my usual choice of newly released comedies. But as the movie went on, I was delightfully surprised. I began to question my own values when Bud made life-changing decisions to go with the big money and risk losing his friends, family, and his dignity. “Was it really worth it?” I thought. By the end of the movie, my opinions about money and status had shifted. Going into college, I was sure that I wanted to go into a field that would have me coming out of school making a ton of money, but at what cost? Reevaluating my options, I really don’t know what field is right for me. Is it worth it to go into a field that makes a lot of money but I won’t be happy going home every day? I’d like to do something that I enjoy, not dread. Why would I make myself wake up every day miserable because I don’t like my job? At the end of the day, I realized that money doesn’t buy happiness. It is important to find something that I truly enjoy, that I wake up every day excited to do. How much money a career makes shouldn’t be a deal breaker. As long as I have enough to survive and to live a comfortable life, happiness should come above salary.

So, I’d like to thank Bud, for allowing me to view my future differently, for teaching me that money isn’t the key to happiness and to go out and explore my options until I find something that I like. Maybe “Wall Street” didn’t make me laugh like a comedy, but it did something even greater; it taught me lessons that I will prize as I continue on my college path.

Walking into the Metropolitan Opera House, my expectations were high. Upon initially arriving, I was mesmerized by the beauty of the room, the high ceilings with grand chandeliers, and the outfits that people had put together. I climbed what seemed like hundreds of stairs and finally pushed through the crowd to find my seats in the family circle, otherwise known as the poor people section. “Alright so this isn’t so bad, maybe we’ll still have a clear shot of the performers,” I thought. Boy, was I wrong. The performance began and there I was squinting away. I’d like to give a big shout out to my binoculars. Thank you for giving me the gift of sight. Those tiny ants running around surely came to life. The only problem was that I couldn’t read the subtitles while using the binoculars, so I had to choose whether to see who was speaking or to understand what they were saying. Either way, I wasn’t really into the plot. The whole cliché love story isn’t really my thing. He loves her and she loves him then she doesn’t love him and so on…Who cares?! I definitely didn’t.

I must say though when my eyelids began to droop from the boring plot, there were many other elements that kept me interested. My particular favorite was the music. All of the instruments came together to create a beautiful array of sounds. Bizet’s Carmen consists of some of the greatest operatic works of all time including the Habanera, and the Toreador. It even inspired other composers to compose several fantasies later on for violin. It was also really cool how everything depended on the conductor. To me, he was the star of the show. With a flick of his wrist, the music would sound and this would cue the actors and the lights to get into position. I also really enjoyed the singing. The performers’ voices were so powerful and they truly moved me. The costumes that people wore were also really fitting with their characters. In particular, at the end of the opera when all of the actors and actresses came out, there were really creative costumes. When Carmen went to Escamillo’s bull fighting, her black gown with the red straight trailed behind her as she walked across the stage keeping her head held high, taking her last breaths of air. She kept her poise and character wanting to die as a free woman rather than giving in to Don Jose.

Overall, I’m glad I had the chance to attend an opera. Although I probably wouldn’t go see it again because of the high price of the tickets, the difficulty to see the performers, and my lack of understanding about what was going on, it was a one-time experience that I won’t forget. I personally wasn’t a big fan of the opera, but that doesn’t mean that everyone my age has the same feelings as me. For instance, my roommate is obsessed with Carmen and when I told her that I had gone to see it she booked her tickets to go see it again, for her third time. Yeah, most of the audience was older, but opera really varies from person to person and that doesn’t go to say that it is exclusively for the older crowd. Opera has been around since the 16^th century, and it definitely isn’t going to die anytime soon.