MHC1 TR3AH Office: 3416 Boylan, (718) 951-5374
Prof. Roni Natov rnatov@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Office hours: Mondays 11-12, 1:30-4; Tuesdays 10:30-12, 2-3; Thursdays 11-3.
Seminar: The Arts in New York City (Fall 2009)
This course explores the arts and cultural events in New York City. Each of the units–theater, opera, literature, dance, and visual arts–is based on a performance or exhibition. Our activities will include analysis, interpretation and creative work. We will observe the way stories are told through opera, dance, theater, poetry, graphic novels, and pictorial art. We will focus on the ways in which art breaks down dichotomies–recasting them into connections such as between the self and other; the “real” and the “imagined”; how collage and mixed media become a holding environment for interdisciplinary knowledge.
The first semester experience provides students with the Honors College Cultural Passport. The Passport introduces students to the study of related cultural events and performances that illustrate the richness of the arts in New York City. Please make use of this wonderful opportunity–this term and throughout your college life.
You are also required to attend five of the Common Events: “West Side Story” (August 26), the photo you must take on October 11, one “Meet the Artists” evening, one Tech Workshop, and the Snapshot event on December 6. Our class will attend the Poetry: Writers Reading, Meet the Artists #6, on November 5, 6-8 pm at Macaulay. You may select the Tech Workshop from the following: October 4, 11 am or 2 pm; October 14, 4 pm; October 17, 2 pm; or October 18, 2 pm.
There will be several short writing assignments, including visual art and collage, “creative” writing, reviews, and a community arts project/presentation–culminating in a portfolio due at the end of the term of your best work (selected by you) of approximately 15 double-spaced pages. This class combines experiential learning and class discussion. Your attendance is required in class and for all outside events.
This is your class, which means that the class will be shaped by your contributions, through discussion in class, through writings and presentations, and through the blog that we will develop together.
Required Texts:
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Annotated Shakespeare edition, provided to students.
Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things.
Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese.
Wilder, Thornton. Our Town.
Packet of materials available at Far Better Copy, including the following:
Laurents, Arthur et al. “West Side Story.”
Anzuldua, Gloria. From Borderlands (selections).
Liao, Ping-hui. “Of Writing Words for Music Which Is Already Made.”
“The Frog Prince” and “Beauty and the Beast” from Best-Loved Folktales.
Natov, Roni. “On Beauty and Resistance.”
Puccini’s Turandot, CD including libretto.
The texts that must be bought are available at Shakespeare’s Books at Brooklyn College.
Schedule of Readings and Meetings: [tentative]
9/1: Introduction: Class expectations, discussion of syllabus and projects.
9/3: Discussion of West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet.
9/8: Romeo and Juliet.
9/10: Viewing the film, West Bank Story, in Woody Tanger Auditorium, first floor Library.
9/15: Romeo and Juliet: what’s still left. Presentation of found art.
9/17: God of Small Things.
9/22: God of Small Things.
9/24: God of Small Things. Introducing community arts.
10/1: Watching DVD of Romeo and Juliet (ballet).
*10/3: Fall for Dance: New York City Center: 130 W. 56th St. bet. 6 and 7 Ave.
10/6: Review of dance concert, discussion and presentation of Found Art, and community arts groups.
10/8: Read and discuss “The Path of the Red and Black Ink,” in Borderlands (20-25) in Booklet.
*10/11: Don’t forget to take photo for Snapshot NYC 2009.
10/13: Found Art exhibit in class.
10/15: Selections from Borderlands.
10/20: Fairy tales: “The Frog Prince.”
*10/21: Trip to the Grey Art Gallery at NYU, 100 Washington Sq. East, for the Exhibit:
“Icons of the Desert: Early Aboriginal Paintings” at 6 pm sharp. We must be there on time for a free group tour.
10/22: Fairy tales: “Beauty and the Beast” and “Rumpelstiltskin.
10/27: Opera talk in Woody Tanger Library.
*10/28: Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera House.
10/29: Discussion and review.
11/3: American Born Chinese.
11/5: American Born Chinese.
*11/5: Poetry reading at Macaulay Honors College, 6-8 pm.
11/10: Still open. Let’s see.
*11/11: “Our Town” at the Barrow Street Theater.
*11/12: Open Mic Poetry Reading: 12:15-2:15, Woody Tanger Auditorium.
11/12: Our Town.
11/17: Our Town.
11/19: Our Town. Our writings.
*11/20: Visit to MOMA for Bauhaus Exhibit. Group tour.
11/24: Presentations on independent visits to exhibits: ICP, Met, and Whitney.
12/1: Community arts. Presentations.
12/3: Community arts.
12/8: Community arts.
12/10: Community arts.
Community Arts Projects:
Community arts project: may be done in pairs, groups, or singly.
Select a neighborhood in New York City, e.g.: Williamsburg, Brighton Beach, Harlem, Borough Park, Chinatown, Soho, Astoria; and/or cultural community in New York City, e.g.: Cuban-American, Italian-American, Hasidic, Caribbean, Russian, Greek etc. Explore its relationship with and expression of art: its museums, performance arts, music, exhibits, rituals, and crafts. This may include food, fairs, parades, and other acts of creativity. Your report may take many forms, but must include a presentation and a written paper. All writing assignments must be completed and handed in on time.
Previous community arts projects include: subway arts; Caribbean costume and step-dancing; Greek folk dance; Indian dances, food, and dress; orthodox Jewish ritual, music/food; Chinatown art; Soho street artists; Brighton Beach/Sheep head Bay Russian community; arts and the homeless; breakdancing; jazz culture in NYC; Staten Island architecture; Brooklyn visual artists; Williamsburg—the two cultures (hipsters and the Chasidim); Italian festival—photography and food, Catholic, Hindu, Moslem, and Jewish weddings: art and culture, Tibetan culture, particularly the art of mandalas, and Fan Art.
