Student Posts

Posts written by students in The Arts in New York City (Fall 2017).

MOMA Museum

zenabjamil11

The MOMA was one of the best experiences I have had when it comes to museums. The best part about the art was that it was different from anything I have ever seen before at other museums. I especially loved many of the works by Rauschenberg. They defied all previously seen criteria for art. For instance, the mud muse was something I wouldn’t expect to see at a museum. I realized that a lot of his work focused on putting together different textures, materials, and sounds together to bring together an overall cohesive piece. I did however, feel like we were rushed out of the museum and would’ve liked to spend more time. In general though, I loved the atmosphere and overall setting of the museum. I would definitely go again!

Turandot Costumes

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The story of Turandot was definitely one to remember. However, one of the main factors that made it truly memorable was the choice of costumes. For example, what really distinguished the regular public from royalty like Turandot was the type of fabric and the colors that they wore. The regular people were all wearing very plain white-gray clothes whereas Turandot would always appear with incredibly bright, sparkly, and flowy dresses coupled with elaborate head dresses. This helped emphasize the hierarchical structure in their society, and also distinguished important roles. In addition, make up was also a big factor because Turandot was wearing bright colors on her face as well, which were visible even from the very back row. Last but not least, the costumes also made the play more cohesive. For instance, when the regular people were running around, their lackluster clothing combined to make them all look like a wave circling around the queen, which symbolized the powerlessness of the public in front of Turandot.

The Rubin Museum: Review

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The Rubin Museum: Sights and Sounds

The Rubin Museum was one of the most rewarding experiences I had during this entire semester. At first I was super exhausted, because of all of the exams during the week, and truthfully dreaded going somewhere after classes. I was truly proven wrong. This museum, even to someone of another faith-me- made me not only appreciate the art of Buddhist culture, but the religion itself. First of all, the gift shop was amazing! I wasn’t ready to leave, and I was kind of underestimating the rest of the museum at that point, but I was soon taken in a completely different direction, once i got the sight of those amazing stairs. The fact that the used the structure of the museum itself as a part of the display of sound in Buddhist culture, was absolutely ingenious. I also found, those mantras in the walls pretty cool as well.

Apart from the beautiful art and structures that really encased the peacefulness and tenets of Buddhism, my favorite part-apart from the gift shop- was the Om room. As college students, just 1/2 an hour in a lecture and bring our blood pressures up higher than it should be, especially if there are exams and quizzes to follow. However, that room, filled with the voices of not only monks, but also regular people who just wanted to participate, was so peaceful, so healing. I felt the good of humanity manifest itself from the 5 minutes in that room, and I would surely visit just to experience that again.

The museum was so much more than a museum, it was more than art or sculptures, and it was more than learning- more than adding to the known. It was an experience to feel and to become, in that moment, part of something unknown.

*[Image Credit: Google.com]

MoMA: Review

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Thoughts on the MoMA

Our trip to the MoMA was a rather interesting one- to say the least. I had rather high expectations, in terms of the art, however modern art was, and still is, a new field of perspective for me. I do appreciate the interpretive quality of modern art, but the simplicity itself can be difficult for regular civilians like myself to really-truly- appreciate. I did enjoy the layout of the building, and the modern interior design, which offered in its own way, a blank canvas for the artist’s works to be placed. However, what I disliked the most was the rush. I feel like the MoMA is a place for someone to find a particularly compelling piece of art that they could just stare at for 5 mins to 30 mins, trying to either understand its  value or trying to understand the artist’s mindset. Instead, we were brought to see the most “important” portions, that being said primarily just Rauschenberg’s work, and then just walked through the rest without getting a chance to really indulge in the museum itself. We did assume that they rushed us, and the other visitors out because investors were visiting, but, at the end of the day, we wanted to enjoy the museum and the art..so that wasn’t very fair….:( But, if I could go again I would, to try and experience it once more.

*[Image credit: Google.com]

Turandot: Story Analysis

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Analysis of the Story of Turandot

*[Image credit: Google.com]

Turandot follows a classic fairytale tragic/forbidden love story. We find a prince in search for a beautiful and powerful princess, even though she may kill him in his pursuits.

As portrayed by the performance, the story of Turandot is divided into three acts, the first two of which build up to the climax and end in cliffhangers; with the climax and resolution in the third act.

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Act 1
Here, the celestial Princess, Turandot, is our woman of beauty, who has a cold heart especially towards men, because of the tragic betrayal that a man caused her ancestor. She devised to protect her purity by declaring, “Any prince seeking to marry me must answer three riddles. But if he fails, he will have to die.” Our story’s hero, is Prince Calaf, who falls in love with Turandot at first sight. And becomes determined to try and answer her three riddles. Though strongly urged against by his father, the banished king, Timur, his slave girl, Liu, and the advisors Ping, Pang, and Pong.

Act 2

The act opens with the interesting advisors, Ping, Pang, and Pong who dread Calaf’s decision. They tell of how much pain and depression they’ve had to endure since the suitors came seeking for Turandot’s hand. Each advisor has a home that they wish to return to, they rant and drink, before being called to the palace for Calaf’s trial. Following, Turandot makes her appearance, and begins to ask Calaf her three riddles. Calaf evidently successfully answers her three riddles. While all rejoice, Turandot becomes furious and refuses to marry him, Calaf ends the scene by proclaiming that she answers a question of his, is she can learn his name, then he will give his life up.

 

Act 3

Turandot orders that someone learns his name. Her people catch Liu and the king. They both deny knowing his name, before Liu proclaims that she is the only one with knowledge of this secret. Turandot tries to force Liu to tell his name, but Liu confesses her love for Calaf, and that she would rather die. Before she is scared into telling his name, she kills herself as sacrifice. After, Turandot remains alone in guilt, to confront Calaf who is furious at her. But, he cannot cease his love for her, kisses her, and gives away his name. At the break of dawn, it is finally time for Turandot to proclaim her victory as she learns his name, but, in a turn of events, she says instead, “His name is …Love”, as she acknowledges defeat and marries him.

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I thoroughly Enjoyed how immersive this Opera. The story itself could have been a little confusing if I had not read the libretto, however, even if i did not i would have gotten that feel of excitement because of the incredible cast members. The only thing I did not appreciate in terms of the story was, apart from its interesting notions, it stuck with that cliche love story ending, which kind of wasn’t very cohesive. One character I really appreciated was Liu, but she only appeared for a little section of act 1 and 3 and died in act 3, then was thus forgotten! But, all in all, it was an incredible and unforgettable performance!

Torch Song: Props

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Props in Torch Song

 

 

Even upon entrance one can already see the props on the stage ready to be utilized by the performers.

– The Plethora of props included items such as: hangers of dresses, wigs, chairs, baskets, books, lamps, a non-electronic landline phone,makeup, sewing machine, pillow with a rabbit, rabbit figurines, lots of rabbit props!

-We open to a messy drag queen’s dressing room

-A huge light sign that says TORCH SONG hangs above the stage; 1971 light utilized to create the scenery; international stud light to create a setting

-There empty stages in both scenes with the International Stud Bar, showing the lack of need of props; only the rigor of the actors

-We can see plates/bowls; bottle of brandy; wine in the act with Ed

-We also see a lot of shared props which also adds color to the play:

–>A huge bed to be used as a stage for more than bedroom scenes.

–>sharing of newspaper between scenes

-We are able to see more props in the scenes with Arnold as compared to Ed.

*[Image credit: Google.com]