THE ARTS IN NEW YORK CITY Fall 2017 | Baruch College | Macaulay Honors

Overview

The Magic Flute was a good neuro-typical depiction of love between a male and a female character. It had a few familiar tropes; the guy has to chase the girl, girls’ mother disapproves of guy, the guy has to prove himself etc. I think we see this kind of couple a lot in TV and other media depictions. However, we always see it between a guy and a girl. There is not enough LGBT representation in media. The ones that are shown either hypersexualized or something extremely bad happens to them i.e. murder or suicide or a mental illness/disorder. It leaves a bad connotation for those apart of the LGBTQ+ society. I think an opera about an LGBTQ+ relationship would be a great way to be really inclusive. The opera would be innocent and relatable.

Plot

This particular Opera would be about two girls. One is out and proud (Girl B) and the other (Girl A) not so much. It isn’t that she is scared, most of the people she knows are quite accepting, she just does not particularly want her friends to know her sexuality. But a new girl comes to her high school covered in rainbows and pride flags not ashamed of who she loves and wanting everyone to know it. The two girls become really close friends and Girl A finds herself falling for Girl B. But since she has not told anyone about her preferences she does not know how to tell Girl B that she likes her. Girl B is convinced that Girl A is straight and that she has no chance. Girl A starts with small things like buying her flowers and telling her how pretty she thinks she is, but Girl B just thinks she is being nice and does not read into it. It escalates from taking Girl B to the movies all the way up to buying her a puppy and taking her on a road trip to Florida because Girl B has always wanted to go. But Girl B does not recognize that Girl A is trying to woo her. Girl A finally gives up but the opera ends with Girl B realizing that Girl A has been trying to woo her. And she then when they are back in New York Girl B decides to just come out and tell her she likes her by taking her out on a coffee date.

Characters and costume

Girl A would be the girl who has a few friends she holds dear and is more into books then going out. Her outfit would be almost like a private school uniform but more modern. It would have the checkered skirt and polo top. Her aura would be kind of shy and very self-aware. her colors would be blue and purple to symbolize how wise she is.

Girl B would be more girly and would rock flowy skirts that she would use to accentuate her movements. Her colors would be yellow and white. Girl B would be the literal sunshine in the room. She would have very curly hair as well and wear glasses.

Stage Set

The stage would be the backdrop of New York City when they are outside. But when they are in the classroom it would be a typical public-school classroom.

Music

I want the music for Girl A to have a deeper sound then for girl B.

Girl B would have lighter music and would hit all the really high notes.

The Plot 

The wealthy elite monopolize the mass providers and distributors of information (the internet), which is referred to by the middle class as the “enchanted library.” The former group decided to move the internet, which will be comically represented by a single box, to a different planet, travel and access to which can only be afforded by the upper class. False history and news are then fed to the rest of the population. They eventually revolt against this by establishing their own means of internet access and eliminate their dependence on the elite, who end up severely addicted to technology and out of touch with events on earth.

The Costumes

In the beginning of the play, the elite will be dressed in modern, metallic, fashionable, and iridescent clothing whereas the general population will be in very ordinary clothing in basic colors. However, after the revolution, the elite will be wearing the same clothing that has by this point lost its luster, while the people left on earth will be wearing beautiful and innovative clothing that they created as a result of their rekindled connection and creativity with each other.

The Sets

The sets will consist of primarily two scenes: a typical suburban neighborhood in America that looks like it could be in any small town, and a futuristic settlement on a nearby planet. The futuristic imagery will lend an ironic tone given that the play addresses an issue that we are struggling with in the present day.

The Music

The opera singing would be performed exclusively by the middle class as they would be the only group left in touch with the arts. This will contribute to their inability to effectively communicate with the elite. Scenes that feature exclusively the upper class on the nearby planet will have “computer generated” electronic music to illustrate how out of touch they have become with organic creation.

The Lighting 

The lighting will be extravagant and futuristic, featuring many strobe and string L.E.D. lights. This will contribute to post-modern aesthetic of the play, emphasizing the focus on unnecessary decorum that pervades the minds of the “rich.”

Additional thoughts: 

This opera will uphold Mozart’s theme of obscurantism by emphasizing the very real desire to control the information available to the public that “the powers that be” have demonstrated. Hopefully, the production will bring to mind the importance of the battle for privacy and a free and unregulated internet that we have been fighting in recent times. I imagine that this topic will remain relevant through the years and perhaps even gain new meaning with the rising use of artificial intelligence and the dependence on technology that inevitably comes with it.

Veronica Funk

Manhattan has been a center of commerce and trade since the 17th century, when New Amsterdam, the dutch settlement, was established on the southern part of the island. At this time, only a part of New York City was inhabited and Manhattan was not yet the home for sky-scraping buildings and an abundance of transportation. According to the map from 1642, New Amsterdam did not yet establish a grid system, in order to get around. There were no subway systems and the access to the East and North River were the main ways of transportation and trade at this time. The texture in the city of this time was a lot different than it is today. The city was not yet as populated and as active that it is now. The population is way less dense and the city is still not developed to the fullest. The access to the bay was a key factor in the neighborhoods and the social relations throughout the city.  New Amsterdam was the beginning of what New York City would become.

Manhattan drastically changed between the 17th century and the mid 1800’s. The population greatly expanded, and there was an increased need for accessibility and transportation. The grid system allowed New Yorkers to get around the city easier, and allowed for the boroughs to develop. While in New Amsterdam, there were only about 2,000 people inhabiting the south end of what is now New York City, in 1850, the population increased to about 500,000 people. Manhattan is now becoming an active center for opportunity, trade, and the city life. Towards 1888, Manhattan began to implement an underground subway system, allowing for much easier transportation than car. The subway system will become a key factor in Manhattan’s appeal and the ease that is associated with city life. The subway system became a key part of city life, as well as the texture of the city as a whole. The subway system and the grid system that was implemented in the 1800’s allowed for more opportunity, more accessibility, and more motivated and driven sense throughout the city and throughout New Yorker’s daily lives.

Within the 1900’s, New York grew and became more densely populated over time. The population expanded to Brooklyn, Queen, the Bronx, and other neighboring lands. The subway system is a large part of the city life at this time, and the business district also has grown. The texture of the city is very hectic and work driven, but the grid system, subways, and bus system allow for easier transportation. Many people migrate into the city for more opportunity and ease. The concentration of jobs, schools, restaurants, opportunity, andavailability of everything needed is what draws so much attention to the city life. The change of the population and maps of Manhattan represent the changes that the city has gone through over the past decades. The city has grown so much over the years and changed the lives of New Yorker’s in every way possible.  

For my blog post I decided to research the changes that can be seen in the New York City metro maps over the past century. I am fascinated by maps and I believe that there are so many qualities of a map that point to the culture and style of the time it was made. The colors that are used, the names, the key, and just the general style that is used when creating a map are all supposedly chosen to make it the most discernable. Maps are made to help people after all, right? It’s interesting though, because I feel like when I look at older maps they feel cryptic and stylized, as if the New Yorkers of the past thought differently than we do, and a map with calligraphy and flourishes was easier for them to read than the simple ones we have today, with broad lines and bright colors. This kind of subway map that we know of today was first introduced in 1972 by an Italian-American designer- Massimo Vignelli. When his design was first introduced, a lot of people hated it. It was too Modernist, and the bright colors were obnoxious. But a lot of people also loved it- it was clear, easy to read, eye catching, and fun. In the 70s, people were becoming more open minded and were ready for change.

Some of the most notable differences that can be seen between the maps of 1934, 1939, and 1949 and the maps of 1958 and 1964 is how the style moves away from a realistic projection of New York City, complete with ragged coastlines, green parks and islands to a more simplistic projection where the land borders are smooth and information that is not pertinent to the subway system seamlessly melts into the background. The 1920s might have been the start of avant garde, Modernist, and Abstractist art- but these styles did not work their way into the canon of everyday designs for functional things until the 1950s. After that, you can also witness a large shift in design between the map of 1964 and 1967. The 1967 maps uses jewel toned colors and the projection of the city is nearly indistinguishable, hidden in the background. Manhattan seems to be bulging from the weight of it’s extremely dense population and Queens and Brooklyn spread out into the distance. Then, the big change with the introduction of Vignelli’s map: the type face changes, the colors expand, and parks are reintroduced (well, some of them). Also the projection starts to look a bit more realistic, but still looks foreign to me- someone who is used to looking at a more accurate shape on the map I have in my pocket- Google Maps. A more naturalistic map is introduced in the 80’s, perhaps because of a cultural shift that is moving away from the artistic and into the functionalist realm. Parks and street grids are reintroduced, and by 2010 the entire city is in display, all five boroughs. The behemoth of our subway system is all laid out, this design maybe not the most pleasing to look at- but it does provide a sense of completeness- that all of the information one needs is available in one place.

-Julie

I would like to start off this blog by saying that this class has opened my eyes to so many resources that I have not been aware of in this city. I attended some short tutorials in the New York Historical Society for SAT prep last year, but I was not aware of the vast amount of resources that the library carried. Not only is the architecture and exquisite design fantastic, but the amount of knowledge that can be accessed in there is incredible. I appreciate our tour guide for being so informative. Anyways, Amy and I were reading the book Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost its Soul by Jeremiah Moses. There were so many different stories of the culture and vibrancy in the city before the big businesses started building high rises. We were reading the chapter about the gay bars, and it is so upsetting to see that various cultures, whether ethnic or sexuality based, are being either gentrified or put into smaller pockets of the city. There used to be vast areas describing certain neighborhoods and people such as Chinatown, Little Italy, Harlem, etc. However, it seems that these places are shrinking every day. These high rises are so soulless, and they have completely changed the city skyline. It is clear that these business people simply want to appease the rich who just buy these buildings and leave them empty since they are barely even living there. It is so unfair, because they are increasing rent as the middle class and slightly better off people are filtering into places like Harlem and Williamsburg, but the poorer people are being shoved into the Bronx. These places are losing their culture and some are even losing their diversity. Manhattan is like a business hub rather than a place to live for anyone with an average paycheck. I also looked at some of the images and maps on the table. The pictures of the old Penn Station sparks sadness as you think of the beauty of the area being destroyed. What would we have done without the beauty of Grand Central? Grand Central is lucky to still be here, and it proves how it is important to keep landmarks. It also proves that a place can be both beautiful and efficient. Also, the skyline has changed so much from what it used to be. Certain bridges were built, and buildings are getting higher and pricier. The city has become such a struggle to live in for many types of people. Besides the financial aspect, the pre-9/11 skyline showed the twin towers as something so unique and essential to New York. However, this post 9/11 view always seems to send a chilling reminder of such a tragic and heartbreaking day. Yet, it also shows the strength and resilience of New Yorkers. This blog has mostly included the pictures and reading aspect, but I also think that the change in the subway and music is worth noting. I remember my dad telling me how scary it was to ride the graffiti stricken trains in the 90s. I personally think those trains looked beautiful. It correlated with the rap and music from that time period. The rap is still prevalent, but this genre has changed since the jazz ages at the Cotton Club and then the age of Frank Sinatra and Jimi Hendrix amongst various other artists. My anthem for New York is “Theme of New York” by Frank Sinatra. This ties into the graffiti building that was torn down. These places were expressions of art. However, business does not care for art, sadly. But, I think that even with gentrification and bad business motives, New York still has its soul. The people here still look out for each other despite their race, religion, or background. With enough protests, we could all fight back the drastic changes to our beloved city.

Skyline Changing, Twin Towers Image in NYHS, and Graffiti Image in NYHS

• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Growing up, Home Alone movies were one of my favorite movies to watch with my brother. A huge reason is because it took place in the city I was born and raised in. The movie was taken place in 1992 in New York City, the setting played a huge role in the plot development. It was set during Christmas, so the city was drenched in lights and holiday decorations. There was one scene where the main character, Kevin stopped to look at the big tree at Rockefeller Center, which is still placed every year duringthe holiday time in the city. The city looks more crowded with people and buildings than it was shown in the movie. During the holiday time, the people are a lot happier which was shown in the movie as well. There was a scene where Kevin went into a toy store, and I remember as a little kid how mesmerized I was at the store. It was filled with toys coming out of every corner of the store. When Kevin landed in New York, he was captivated with the whole city. There was one scene where he would stick his head out of a old-fashioned yellow taxi to get a better look at the Washington Bridge, which is the same bridge we saw at the New York Historical Library. He was also taking pictures with his polaroid of all the sights in New York such as Radio City and the Statue of Liberty. It gave the notion that New York City was something to be mesmerized by, you’re like a tiny ant in a big city. There was montage of different attractions he was visiting all alone, it’s like the perfect city to get lost in because there’s so many things to do. People were always on the move in the movie, which is still true today. I saw the main character rushing through different parts of the city in a matter of minutes, and you always see people trying to get to their destination in a hurry. The movie portrayed New York as fast-paced, and I couldn’t agree more. They also depicted the city as an ostentatious way of living, which is still true today as well. Kevin stayed at a five-star hotel, rode limos, and so on. This isn’t true for everyone, but the city is definitely known for their high prices and lavish hotels with incredible views.

New York has definitely evolved immensely since the movie had taken place. First off, there are no longer payphones in New York because everyone has a cellphone or phone watches nowadays. In the recent few years, there was a huge technology boom which led to everyone walking with either their earphones plugged in or their eyes planted on their devices. There was definitely a huge culture and social shift due to technology. You don’t see people stopping to have conversations or take in anything around them, which is honestly upsetting the fact we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Demographically as well, New York City is known for its diversity, we take advantage of it. We don’t realize the amount of cultures around us through New Yorker, we even have streets dedicated to them such as China Town and Little Italy. The movie also showed the Twin Towers, but now Ground Zero has the Freedom Tower, as well as a memorial sites and a huge mall. This site is benefitting economically with people and tourists coming from all around the world to commemorate the lives lost at the Freedom Tower, and shop at the Oculus. It was turned into a tourist attraction, which accumulates profit for the city. New York has evolved incredibly with their people, food, culture, politics, and so on. Visiting New York in the 1900s is not the same when you see it today. It’s crazy to think it will change even more in a matter of years. New York will always have a special place in my heart.

One thing I find interesting about Grad Central Station is the name itself. Grand Central Terminal just seems so fitting. The term “Grand” connotes luxury and brilliance. When I walked into the bustling terminal, I was overwhelmed with by its elegance. The fact that a train station could maintain a glamourous and elegant aura amidst a frenzy rather amazed me.

I began to transport myself back to a time when the railroad industry was the capital of transportation. Cornelius Vanderbilt practically transformed transportation. I thought of him specifically as I walked around the station because his story was rather familiar to me.  I have visited the Vanderbilt mansion in Newport twice. When I walked through Vanderbilt Hall, I imagined a NYC social light departing from her Park Avenue apartment towards the station for   a weekend at the Vanderbilt Mansion.

Miss Gloria Vanderbilt had been inviting Miss Elizabeth Parker to her home in Newport since the beginning of the summer season. However, between all the yachting excursions in the Hamptons, luncheons at the Plaza and the horse races in Belmont, Miss Parker was unsure if she would have the time to journey all the way to Rhode Island. But of course, who could turn down an invite from Miss Vanderbilt herself!? Miss Vanderbilt assured her that her journey would be rather smooth and quick on the new railroad line, located in the heart of the East side.

On a hot Thursday afternoon in July, Miss Parker departed for Grand Central Station. There had been much commotion in the press about the new station. Miss Parker was slightly curious about what this new station looked like, after all, this station was a ten-year production.   The moment she walked in, she was awestricken. She looked up at the ceiling and was amused by the art above her. She began to consider how clever it was that art had been incorporated in this public space.  She was not at the Vatican, nor was she at the MET, but she still felt as if she was in a museum. She gazed at the enormous glass windows and appreciated how these large structures flung open to offer a breeze on such a stuffy day. The press had been raving about the station for a reason, everything was so magnificent!

Miss Parker’s eyes darted straight towards the grand clock in the center of the station. “Oh dear, oh no, it cannot be!”, she thought to herself. Miss Parker began to panic in disbelief. “It’s half past two and I was supposed to depart a half hour ago!”

A gentleman in a long black coat was hurried by her. “Excuse me Sir, but do you have them time? It seems to be that this clock is rather quick.”

“Nope Mam’, this clock is actually the most accurate time you’ll ever come by. Must be that your watch is rather quick.”

Miss Parker scrutinized the ticket board and realized that she indeed had missed her train. The next departure was at 4:40pm. She looked back at the central clock to see how much time she would have to wait.  Miss Parker noted the small acorn on top. The iconic Vanderbilt acorn began to have her thinking of how embarrassing it would be to arrive late to the Vanderbilt’s home.

However, Miss Parker decided to make the best out of the situation. With over an hour of time until the next departure, Miss Parker decided she would explore the station. After all, she was utterly amazed and curious about what laid behind each turn. She knew that this station was more than just train platform, leeway time to explore was rather exciting.

Miss Parker hurried across the station as she jotted down what astonished her. She went from the Biltmore room and up the stairwells, peeking at all the passersby along their way. It was true that she would be shamefully tardy to the Vanderbilt Mansion. However, Miss Parker eagerly awaited sitting down to tea with Miss Vanderbilt as she would tell her about her Grand exploration in the heart of New York City.