Prior to our visit to the Rubin Museum of Art, I was expecting some small exhibit in the museum. I was surprised when I saw how every aspect of the museum embodied the spirit of sound, and how interactive the actual museum was. The central staircase itself had the element of sound incorporated into it, which I found very fascinating. Furthermore, the “Om” room for me epitomized how interactive, powerful, and hypnotizing sound can be. The “Om,” room was one of the many examples of how interactive yet simultaneously soothing the power of sound is.
Author: seherakram
MoMa
The MoMa was our first trip as a class, and proved to be very interactive. The lessons prepared by Alexis beforehand proved to be extremely helpful, and it felt as if we were visiting pieces we had already become so familiar with. Seeing the pieces we had discussed in class beforehand really enhanced the element of collage in Rauschenberg’s work. Aspects of everyday life were reflected in his art, as he created breathtaking amalgamations of his experiences throughout life.
Torch Song ~ Acting
The acting in Torch Song was beyond remarkable. The entire production was an amalgamation of excellent stage direction, production, as well as acting. Although the cast did not consist of a large number of individuals, the few individuals that were present really brought the characters they were playing to life. The cast consisting of the same small number of individuals really added meaning to the message that was being conveyed.the impact of a Gay individual in one family was amplified, as well as its impacts becoming more intimate. Furthermore, the facial expressions, imitations, and “cross-over”conversations amongst the characters really added to the overall atmosphere.
Fall For Dance: Dorrance Dance Company
Background
- Founded by Michelle Dorrance
- The daughter of a nationally acclaimed soccer coach and ballet dancer.
- Started tap at the age of nine.
- Completed her BA at NYU, and won the MacArthur fellowship shortly after (awarded to 15-30 individuals.)
- In 2010 she founded her own company- Dorrance Dance Company.
Dorrance vs. Classic
Classic Tap Dance
- Very neutral expressions
- Little to no upper body movement
- Very stiff and uniform dance form
Dorrance Dance
- Extensive upper body movements
- Wide array of facial expressions
- Diverse costumes
Steam Festival Review
I really enjoyed the steam festival, as it really embodied the spirit of involvement beyond the classroom. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis placed on taking a genuine interest in what other Macaulay students had to offer and present. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the freedom that was present in the general atmosphere. There was no pre-existing emphasis on harsh grading, or a traditional presentation format, which really added to the overall motive of the festival and the general atmosphere.
Where the festival was an enjoyable experience, it could have been improved in a myriad of ways. I felt the level of organization could have been enhanced in a number of ways. There was no way to account for the students there or take attendance. Furthermore, the students were not organized with their peers taking the same seminar courses. Personally, our group was placed with seminar three students, and as a result our project felt very misplaced.
The History of Turandot
The History of Turandot
- Turandot is a Persian word that means “the daughter of Turan,” Turan was previously a region located in the Persian empire, and “dokht” meaning daughter.
- The story of Turandot draws a lot of inspiration from fairy tales and definitely has a lot of ancient and mythical elements. The setting for example, although we know it is Beijing, China, there is still no specific location/time period, the use of the three riddles, the cold hearted princess, the mistreated prince ultimately winning, an emperor who is worshipped like a god, etc.
- The first performance of Turandot was in 1726 – Gozzi’s version which was an epic romance that originated from 12th century Persia.
- In 1920 over lunch Puccini discusses with his colleagues the possibility of Turandot becoming an opera. They begin work on it a few months later.
- Puccini died of throat cancer in 1924 after completing three acts, and Alfano finishes the fourth.
- In 1926 the completed version of Turandot is debuted as we know it today.
