This week in class we read the poetry that we had been assigned a few weeks ago. I was not excited to read in front of the entire class. Though I learned a lot about poetry in A.P. Language and A.P. Literature in high school I am not a great public speaker. While reading I was extremely nervous. Since I was one of the last people to read my nerves were on end throughout most of the class. I had researched my poem by Elaine Sexton and was extremely confident in my knowledge. She was slightly difficult to research due to her publicized adherence to privacy. The class overall presented their poetry very well. Everyone spoke very clearly; I was able to hear them from the other side of the room. It was interesting to learn how people interpreted their poems and how their interpretations compared to my own.
Author: sammyy0414
Blog #10
This class we watched all of the videos that we had made within our groups about public sculptures. While all of the videos had extremely interesting topics and were well executed, it was somewhat difficult to sit through the all of the videos based on the sheer fact that there were five groups all with twenty minute videos. Its was also somewhat nerve wracking to have my group’s video played in front of the whole class. I think that we chose a very interesting topic and thoroughly explored every aspect of the sculpture such as historical context, artistic detail, and importance of location. I was slightly more nervous because it was my job in the project to edit and the sound glitched out a little bit during the presentation, something it had not done earlier when I ran through it. One of my favorite presentations was the one about the small art pieces scattered around the subway station. I think that that collection holds an extremely interesting message regarding the class system in New York City, but manages to do so in a creative manner that is interesting to the common people of the city. Another interesting video was the one regarding sculptures of people riding horses. I had no idea that the equestrian aspect of the sculptures carried so much meaning. I also really liked the use of time lapses in the video because they added an interesting factor to the video that also displayed how much of a meeting place their chosen sculptures are. The video about the Statue of Liberty and Postcards was extremely interesting. It displayed the pride that people within the United States have for their nation and the message of peace it believes in. It also shows how the nation stands together in times of tragedy. The use of music about America as well as the amazing sound quality really contributed to the video as a whole. The video about historical figures was extremely informative. This video was packed full of so much information that kept it interesting even though it was a twenty minute video. As a whole the class did an extremely good job representing their topics within their videos.
Blog #9
This week Joe led our class. In the beginning of the class we discussed the movie “A Bronx Tale” and how basic narrative structures are used within it. We learned that exposition introduces the characters as well as the world in which the characters exist and rising action is the highlight of the tension or main conflict of a narrative that ultimately leads towards a climax. The climax is the main turning point where the main character’s fate is decided. The falling action, or denouncement establishes the state in which the world that the exposition described at the end of the narrative. In the movie “A Bronx Tale” main themes employed within the film include allegiance, neighborhood, race, gender, class, morality, organized crime. Within this movie a gender role of women is implemented. Throughout the whole movie no two women interact with one another while two plus men interact throughout the movie. We also discussed how the classic classification; that men place women into; is reversed when Jane, a black girl, claims that she likes Italian men instead of the other way around. We also spoke about how racism can be a two way street. the Italian people in the movie were so against change that they alienated and even acted aggressive towards the up-and-coming African American community. As a result of this the African American community was wary of the Italian community, creating a cycle of hate and distrust. In relation to morality, no one within the movie is clearly good or bad. The characters behave in a way that they deem to be morally correct rather than what the government deems to be correct, which eventually leads to the formation of independent governing forces such as organized crime systems.
For the second half of class we discussed how movies are transitioned from books and plays. Some scenes must be added and deleted in order to make the story line make sense. Sometimes the story line is completely changed to make sense. My group and I discussed the transitions of Disney movies from fairy-tale to Disney movie. The movies are changed from dark and gruesome tale from sources such as Hans Christian Anderson and The Grim Tales into happily ever after ending stories that teach children to believe in magic and the powers of love and friendship.
-Samantha Silber
Dr. Wechler
This week we had Dr. Wechler as a substitute professor for Arts in New York. He told us about his background in music as well as how he came to be who he is today. He attended Brooklyn College and then continued to work for an Israeli orchestra. He also earned a part playing in George Seuffert’s band. Dr. Wechler continued to play in the Brooklyn Philharmonic as well as was the first sub for the original play of Les Miserables; my favorite play.
Dr. Wechler taught us about how different piano companies have different social standings within society. For example, Steinway pianos were first produced in Astoria, Brooklyn, and were the first to make cast iron pianos from wood frame instruments. He also told us that many different piano companies began to sell sheet music in major cities within the United States in order to make more money. Professor Wechler also spoke to us about a few famous composers. For example, Robert Shulman was a famous romantic composer that was married with children to his wife Clara. Clara was the sole breadwinner of the house because of Shulman suffered from bipolar disorder. Shulman died in an insane asylum due to his sufferings from bipolar disorder.
Dr. Shulman wanted us to watch one episode of the show “The Honeymooners.” He also wanted us to figure out what cartoon was produced based on the show. I think that the animated series “The Flintstones” was based on “The Honeymooners.”
-Samantha Silber
Bob Dylan
I had only ever heard a few Bob Dylan songs before the last class. My parents both listen to him, but I had always leaned more towards music ranging from rock to show tunes. Last weekend I listened to all of the songs that were assigned on the same day as the opera. The song that stood out to me the most was “Mr. Tambourine Man.” While listening to it I recognized that the Tambourine Man was a symbol for something else. The lyrics sounded desperate and pandering; lonely and searching for something specific. It then hit me that it could be a message for something addictive like drugs or alcohol. I researched the song and found out that many people speculate that this Bob Dylan song is describing the feeling of withdrawal from drugs. I thought that this song was extremely strong and powerful. I related it to a song that I was more familiar with, “The Familiar Taste of Poison” by Halestorm. I noticed that I got the same feeling when listening to both songs. In the song Bob Dylan sings “Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me, I’m not sleepy and there ain’t no place I’m going to” give off an air of tiredness with the world and a need to escape.
Another one of Bob Dylan’s songs that I found extremely powerful was “Shelter From the Storm.” This song spoke of sadness as well as a large fault of humanity. Many people never realize what they have until its gone. In this case, after some research, I discovered that Bob Dylan was speaking to his then soon to be ex-wife Sara Dylan. The stanza of the song that specifically spoke to me was “Suddenly I turned around and she was standin’ there, with silver bracelets on her wrists and, flowers in her hair, she walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of, thorns, come in, she said, I’ll give ya shelter from the storm.” Its describing how Bob Dylan’s wife took away all of his worries and anguishes and saved him from the evils of the world that he could not himself escape. It also portrays a sort of sadness because Bob Dyan only then saw how much Sara really did for him until he had lost her. All of those evils that pulled him towards the darkness had access all over again because there was no one left to ward them off; he is now alone.
Don Giovanni
This past Thursday the whole class attended a performance of Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. In the beginning of the night I was not happy about attending the opera because the next day I had a chemistry lab final, but the opera did turn out to be enjoyable. The plot of the opera was extremely interesting and complex. Don Giovanni enjoys women whether they are willing or not then moves on. He rationalizes his actions by claiming that if he settled on one woman it would be a disservice to every other woman in the world because he would be depriving them of him. Don Giovanni’s past catches up with him when Donna Elvira catches up with him and vows to make him pay for abandoning her after making her fall for him. This is all after Don Giovanni kills the father of a woman that he had been attempting to sexually assault, Donna Anna, in a duel. Donna Elvira ends up helping Donna Anna and her fiance Don Ottavio expose Don Giovanni before he can corrupt the engaged to marry Donna Zerlina.
As I watched the opera I became extremely involved within the story and began looking under the surface for deeper meanings within the plot. Leporello is extremely loyal to Don Giovanni even though he acknowledges the error in Don Giovanni’s ways. Leporello begs him more than once to change his ways yet it is to no avail. I think that this in addition to Leporello’s side remarks mean that Leporello secretly wants to be Don Giovanni. In Shakespearean times there was no social mobility. Leporello could be twice the ladies’ man that Don Giovanni is but due to his standing as a servant will never allow this to occur. Another thing that I thought about near the end of the opera was the manner in which Don Giovanni was punished. Don Giovanni was very literally was dragged down to hell. Don Giovanni spent his entire existence doing whatever he wanted with virtually no consequences. The basis of many different religions is that actions have consequences, so Don Giovanni was basically spent a lifetime spitting in their faces. The death of Don Giovanni not only serves as a message to others not to follow Don Giovanni’s path, but is extremely violent and painful as if years of punishments were saved up and released into one painful, agonizing moment.
While watching, I understood why it is still an extremely popular opera. A peice of art or literature survives hundreds of years because it has a specific quality. Art or literature that can apply to any time period survives for many years because people can relate to it. Don Giovanni could be updated to take place in modern times and still make complete sense.
Blog #6
Within this lecture we discussed opera. We will be attending an opera at Lincoln Center. I am excited for the opera because I have never been to one before and I love Mozart. I am however nervous because the opera will be ending late at night, it is a long transit home, and I have a Chemistry Lab quiz the next morning.
During the lecture we learned about the different types of voices mainly employed in opera as well as the plot and story-line of the opera we will be attending; Don Giovanni. A basic overview of the opera is that a man; Don Giovanni; has been sexually assaulting all different types of women all over the world for years. While attempting to assault a noblewoman he ends up murdering her father, fueling the noblewoman’s need for revenge and causing her to seek out her boyfriend to find and kill Don Giovanni. In the article by Kierkegaard Don Giovanni is explained to symbolize “life, power, but ideally as over against actuality” (Kierkegaard 155) for Mozart. I do not agree with this statement. Just because one has power or strength does not mean they should always use it. I think that strength and power is defined as people who have the ability but choose not to use it. Don Giovanni is not an appealing character. His actions cannot even be described as indiscretions because of the sheer amount of them.
Another topic we spoke about was Luciano Pavarotti, a renown opera singer. We listened to two clips of his singing from different periods of his life. The music of the ending of both of the clips reminded me of the Epilogue in the play Les Miserables.
-Samantha Silber
Blog #5
This week in class we watched a series of clips from movies with the sound turned off. It was interesting to watch the movies with no sound because it allowed me to better focus on to the camera shots and how they shape a the mood and tone of a scene. We also finished the movie Ace in the Hole. By the end of the movie I concluded that all of the characters accept for Leo and his father are terrible human beings. Lorraine has alluded herself that all she needs in life is a rich man to take care of her, so she could care less about her own husband slowly dying in a mountain. Tatum only cares about his “big hit” of a story, and the sheriff is so crooked he is willing to let Leo die in the mountain if it means that he gets reelected. The entire premise of the movie is based on a greedy reporter attempting to claw his way back into importance through a “huge story” in Albuquerque.
-Samantha Silber
Blog #4
This class we spoke about movies and how they are filmed. We learned that different camera angles cause different effects, especially in older movies. A tracking shot is when a camera follows an object (EX: the car through the town in “Touch of Evil”; cannot be edited; must be filmed all in one shot). An
opening shot is a type of point of view shot that is a very close up of the face(EX: “The Godfather”). An establishing shot sets up the mood and atmosphere; gives a baseline from which t proceed; “Stage Coach” by John Ford; starts with a long shot of men on horses, close up of a Native American’s face; action is receding away. We also learned about a style of filming. Film Noir; or “dark film” in French; (EX: detective movies) mostly take place at night or in dark places.
Though this class was interesting identifying film angles is difficult. Some angles are similar as well as difficult to define. While watching the movie “Ace in the Hole” I tried to identify how camera angles create the atmosphere of the movie but found myself analyzing the behavior and actions of the characters more than I was analyzing the camera angles.
-Samantha Silber
Blog #3
This week we learned from the head of the photography department of CSI. This was an extremely interesting experience for me because I have been interested in photography and art since i was young and took Advanced Placement Photography and Studio Art/Graphic Design in high school where my work was featured in the gallery and reception two years in a row. Learning what a curator does gave me a new appreciation for all of the hard work that my teacher had done to make sure the night ran smoothly and successfully including not only the visual arts, but our school drum circle that would preform as well. A curator comes up with a thesis and selects pieces that match there thesis, organizes the entire event, and decides the placement of each piece in the gallery. Not only is the curator focused on putting on a successful gallery, the curator attempts to pass along their thesis in a message rather than just outright saying it. The exhibit we will be seeing next week is an attempt to juxtapose artist and journalistic ideas of the border; specifically the migrant siren refugees that walked from Greece to Europe; many ending up in Germany. All ofthe artists were chosen based on research.
An entire body of work;or collection; reflects the artist them self. All artists have a topic they hold close and will add on to their entire life. This comment caused me to look over some of my old work and realize somewhat what my topic is. My concentration when I took photography was exotic animals. My drawing portfolio consists of skeletal invasive species including humans; intended to make a point about the environment and how it is being effected by society today. We learned that even if an artist’s work is another addition; which implies there was something before it (newest collection). An interesting fact that I did not know is that the most expensive print is the last one made. The last available is most expensive because no more of that specific print will ever be made. I also learned what the three most important components of the visual arts are; subject matter, form(how something is made; one small detail can throw it off), and content(what it all means).
I think that this class changed the way that I looked at the Brooklyn Museum later that night. I considered not just the artwork itself as I normally do in art museums, but the way the pieces themselves were placed. It was interesting to see the museum from another point of view. Attached to this post is my original and edited photograph from the High Line. I used the editing software on my laptop to slightly adjust the light and color of my photograph in order to make it a better photograph.
-Samantha Silber
