2013 Arts in the City

Music in Der RosenKavalier

I must admit that I bit off a bit more than I could chew on this particular event by choosing to focus on music. I have very little professional experience in the world of music, and no experience whatsoever in the world of opera. As such, I am unable to fully appreciate the nuances of each performance and use complex terms like “scoopy” to describe how each vocalist sounded.

That said, however, My key observation was the ease with which I could identify characters based on differences in their voices. I had entered the opera skeptical that I would be able to distinguish one soprano from the other, a particularly difficult job in an opera with so many female vocalists, but I quickly became familiar with the differences in overall texture and sound between each performer and was able to easily use voice to determine the singing actor, instead of having to guess based on stage direction. Of course, being able to know who is speaking doesn’t add a great deal to any performance, but being so familiar with each singers’ voice on such an intimate level really led to a stronger connection with the characters leading to a greater investment in the events that unfolded over the three or so hours that I was there.

Interaction between Dancers

Of the four performances in the Fall for Dance presentation, the one in which dancer interaction was most clear was the second, “Mo(or)town.” The performance was based primarily on Othello, a play focusing around betrayal and a white handkerchief which eventually tears a group of friends apart. The performance can be divided into two categories – moments in which the entire cast is onstage, and moments in which just two characters are interacting.

In the full group scenes, the entire group moves as one, having very unified movements involving a great deal of physical contact and unity with one another. They are a close group who are comfortable with one another, and attempt to maintain this facade as the dance continues.

In the separate scenes, however, every motion is an attempt by one dancer to steal away the white hankerchief from the other. Each graceful movement is coupled with a desperate reach for the object of each character’s desire, and each dance becomes an elaborate duel between the two performers, doing all in their power to claim the important object.

Staging in MidsummerNight’s dream

MidsummerNight’s dream was remarkable in a number of fields, but it excelled in one place above all else – set design.

There are simply a ton of things to discuss with the set of Midsummernight’s dream -the use of poles to create a forest atmosphere, the outrageously creative and varying uses of large sheets, projections, and even the use of a wide assortment of hidden passages in the stage floor were all expertly planned and executed. I feel, however, that there is one particular set that stood above the rest of it, and that was the set outside of the traditional stage. There were a great deal of scenes throughout the production in which child fairies would sit amongst the audience, or when Oberon would watch from above in the background as dramatic events unfolded between the main cast. The members of the fairy world incorporated themselves into the play not simply as characters, but people observing the shenanigans that other characters were involved in, a role brilliantly represented by allowing these characters to break the fourth wall and use the seating around the stage as a stage.

Acting in Romeo And Juliet

The most noticeable thing about the acting performance in this production of Romeo and Juliet was the amount of subtlety that the actors could afford to use in their performances due to the size of the theatre. Actors often need to employ extremely exaggerated motions to make their emotions clear to audience members in far away seats, but the actors in this performance were far more controlled in their motions, while still conveying a great deal of emotion and passion. Being so close to the action, I could feel the passion and the conviction in each aggressive footstep and repositioning, no mater how small.

I’m afraid that I’m having a bit of troubles getting my powerpoint to upload, as my internet connection is extremely spotty at the moment. My presentation was made fairly minimalistically, though, and didn’t have a great deal of information on it. I chose to have my actual speech be the focus of the presentation.

If you’d like to have a talk about my subject “video games as a form of art,” shoot me an e-mail at NicholasJmaddalena@gmail.com and I’d be glad to answer any questions or hear any thoughts.

Look and Look again on: Transitions Inc and Unnamed piece

Transitions Inc.
My initial reaction to this piece is based heavily on the reactions people had to the work.instead of being offended by the statement it makes on American culture, they welcome a chance to be “assimilated”. I had hoped this piece would make people realize how terrible it was to feel like assimilation was *necessary,* but instead it had the exact opposite effect.
Upon further thought, I realize that the fault lies not in the minorities who are so desperate to fit in, but in the majority who are so reluctant to accept minorities.the products on display in this piece are designed specifically to help people assimilate into a more “acceptable” society, and are both produced and marketed primarily by white businesspeople, the real cause behind the racial crisis that this piece is mocking.

Golden egg amidst grid of white eggs
My initial reaction to this was to draw comparisons between it and the works of Andy Warhol. My understanding of Warhol’s pop-art pieces I’d that he aimed to point out how modern society has become somewhat “copy-paste.” There are too many followers and not enough leaders.the Iranian piece seems to have a similar message, glorifying individuality and nonconformity as a bright gold egg that stands out from the rest.the Iranian identity sets this artist apart, and (s)he is happy to embrace it.
My second reaction is shaped by a similar, adjacent, piece in which the Iranian “hand” icon appears black amongst a grid of white hands. It sends to me to say that while standing out as an Iranian artist is a blessing, it is a black curse, as well.the Iranian artists in this exhibit all have to struggle to overcome some of the the stereotypes and expectations attached to their identity, which is the curse that this adjacent piece seems to bring up.

Midnight Cowboy

The plot of Midnight Cowboy revolves around a naive Texan (Joe Buck) moved to New York, and his struggles in the big city. After many instances of failing to notice how others cheat him, Joe meets a reliable friend by the name of Ratso Rizzo, who helps him to work through the challenges of New York despite growing health problems. Over time, the two come to rely on one another for support and advice through their respective ordeals.
There are no sources that directly indicate what has caused Midnight Cowboy to reach it’s iconic status, other than having generally strong production values. In fact, it remains the only X-rated film to ever receive an Oscar award. In addition to this, however, it is not difficult to see how audiences would praise it so highly that it became the classic it is today. Midnight Cowboy is a universal tale about struggles that most people face, albeit to a less dramatized extent, on a day to day basis. Not only is it an easy story to relate to, but it is one that will virtually never age, as cities are becoming bigger and harsher as time goes on, making Midnight Cowboy as timeless as the skyscrapers that line the city.

Art is subtle

It may not seem like it, but this simple tree actually is art. During the construction of the highline, some planner had to stop and think about the placement of this tree, as well as hundreds of others. Careful thought and consideration was put into placing this tree and many others like it in places where they would be pleasing to visitors, but not distracting. In short, they had to be subtle. Granted, your definition of art may vary from mine, and, as a result, you may not agree that the tress is art. Regardless, given the careful planning of this tree, it deserves some recognition, as art or not.

Seen beside it is a piece that cannot be missed as you walk along the highline. The odd shapes and vibrant, varied color palette of this sculpture ensures that it will be easily visible from any angle and at any time of day. It is virtually impossible for this piece to blend into it’s surrounding, and it draws the eye almost immediately when  it’s in your line of sight.