1. John Cage- “4’33″”

Of course, this is ranked number one on the top ten list.  John Cage completely reimagined what could be considered as music through this piece.  It was quite an unconventional and controversial piece.  4’33” consists of three sections; throughout these sections, the performer is instructed not to play his instrument at all.  The reason behind this work was not to invite the listener to pay attention to the performance but rather to the ambiance of the hall in which the piece is being performed.  In doing so, John Cage establishes a new way to experience an art form such as music.

2. Jacob Riis- How the Other Half Lives 

             

Jacob Riis’s How the Other Half Lives might as well be the most influential piece of work that we have studied in our seminar.  Riis worked to evoke emotion from the wealthy in a time where they turned their backs on the impoverished.  This, in turn, spurred change that had never been seen before from a photographer.  Riis’s photos will go down in history as some of the most recognizable pictures of New York City.  They sparked controversy, but they were effective in making changes.  Because of How the Other Half Lives, the New York Tenement House Act was passed, setting standards of living in NYC buildings.

3. John A. Roebling- The Brooklyn Bridge

             

Although the Brooklyn Bridge isn’t necessarily something that you would find inside of a museum, it can most definitely be considered a work of art.  The blood, sweat, and tears that had gone into creating this beauty of a bridge alone should be an achievement.  But, with the introduction of a way to reach the island of Manhattan from Brooklyn without a boat, the Brooklyn Bridge quickly became New York City’s greatest achievement at the time it was completed.  It still stands today and inspires all those who come to New York City trying to make a name for themselves as a work of architectural excellence.

4. Billie Holiday- “Strange Fruit”

Lady Day’s most famous song by far is Strange Fruit.  It had a similar effect on the community of New York City as it was something that inspired change, especially during the Civil Rights Movement.  The era was known for its forward-thinking and counterculture and Billie Holiday’s vocals are haunting as they depict the bodies hanging from being lynched.  The song was able to evoke emotions and thus changed the course of history and fought for the inalienable rights of African Americans.

5. Man Ray- Le Cadeau

         

The simple use of an iron with nails to portray a message may seem odd.  After all, an iron with nails in it would be counterproductive; if you were to use it, the clothing you plan to iron would rip.  With that being said, Man Ray’s use of the seemingly useless and counterproductive household item shows the experimental art forms which he used when he created his artwork.  The piece has a bigger meaning, the useless item is representational of the double-edged notion of life itself.  For this reason, I enjoy the art piece and I feel that it means something more than an iron with nails glued to it.

6. Andy Warhol- Campbell’s Soup

        

Once again, an artist portrays something that may be seen as useless in such a way that it represents something more.  For Warhol, Campbell’s Soup was one of the few things he could afford to eat when he was an up and coming pop artist.  To Warhol, this one, simple item may have allowed him to get to where he ended up: as a successful pop artist with a huge influence on the pop culture of the time.  To me, Campbell’s Soup is just soup.  But, I may be able to connect with Warhol’s message in that pasta has become the only thing I eat anymore.

7. Stephen Crane- Maggie: Girl of the Streets

        

Like Jacob Riis, Stephen Crane was able to influence the elites of the Gilded Age in order to push an agenda of equality for the citizens of New York City.  The story concerns the life of an urchin, Maggie and her brother growing up in the slums of New York.  The nonjudgmental style of writing sparked some controversy, but it allowed for the audience to formulate their own opinions about what they read.  Overall, it informed those who did not know the vast disparity between the poor and the rich during the Gilded Age in New York City.

8. Palmer Hayden- The Watermelon Race

         

This painting depicted stereotypes of African Americans.  Although Hayden had good intentions, he was ridiculed because of the way the painting depicts the African Americans, especially since they are caricatured as creatures rather than humans.  Palmer Hayden sought to portray the difficulties faced by those affected by the Great Depression.  I enjoy the piece because of the colors, but I have to agree that it could be considered rather racist.

9. Francis Coppola- The Godfather

        

Remarked as one of the greatest films ever created, Francis Coppola’s The Godfather depicted the mobs and organized crime gangsters in New York City during the 1940s and the 1950s.  The film was so influential because of Al Pacino’s terrific performance as Michael.  The Godfather shows the darker sides of living in New York City and the corruption that was actually present at certain times in New York City’s history.  The nonstop action along with its amazing critical reception is really what drew me to watch this movie and I completely enjoyed it.

10. Paul Strand- Wall Street

          

Paul Strand sought to express the immorality of what may be considered prosperous in his photograph of Wall Street.  The darkness in the background is really like a glooming fate of those unfortunate enough to be sucked into Wall Street’s money over everything mindset.  That is what I determined the meaning of it all to be.  The photograph depicts the everyday life of the Financial District in Manhattan and the hustle and bustle that comes with working there.