Prof. Edward Smaldone
Arts in New York Seminar
Fall 2010
Final exam:
Monday, Dec. 13, 2010
Come to class prepared to write two essays:
Essay #1 – A recent post discussed the different popular music acts chosen for various Super Bowl game halftime shows. The poster noted three distinct trends: the “old school” College marching bands of the “old” days (pre-1991); Classic “old man” rock groups (Stones, U2, the Who, Paul McCartney, etc) and “recent” bands (Black Eyed Peas, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, etc.). In thinking about the choices that are made to keep audiences glued to the tube during half-time, I thought about the relative size of audiences and the kind of music/art that is being presented. The central focus of your first essay is the relationship of the size of the audience to the level of populist vs. high art artistry in some of the events we have experienced this semester. A good essay will include significant references to names (see “Name Dropping”) and concepts (see the “word hoard”) and events, blog postings, comments and discussions from the semester. (Said another way, I want you to try to utilize the content of the class and not just your own opinions and experiences.)
In order to provide additional perspective, read the following article: “Snobs: They’re made, not born.” (I emailed the article to everyone, and it is also posted on the blog under the “Course Readings” page.)
Essay # 2 – choose one.
Your second essay is a “compare and contrast” essay in which you should discuss a finite group of events or works. In each case, this is more of a discussion of and evaluation of the event and the content of the art (discussing style, etc.).
A – Compare and contrast the plot, genre, themes, style, intentions, conventions, and performances of Brigadoon, Iolanthe and Cosi fan Tutte.
B – Pick 3 -4 events from different genres and compare and contrast making specific reference to content, style, intentions, conventions and the experience you had with the event. You could contrast a modern painting, a dance piece and a music concert; opera, dance and poetry; painting, poetry and Gilbert and Sullivan; etc.
