Awakenings

Who She Was by Samuel Freedman is a memoir of the life of his mother, Eleanor Hatkin. The biography delves into and reveals the child Eleanor as she grows up to become to his mother.

(more…)

As the final spectators took their seats, the lights dimmed and the chandeliers rose. Lights out, curtains open, performers present – let the show begin. Aida was a lengthy opera that captured an entangled web of love in a time of war. This opera was an extravaganza that combined immaculate acoustics with a mesmerizing set. The singing resonated through out the room and the costumes certainly provided some extra flavor to the performance. Although it was a pleasure to watch, the show was dragged out and could have been just fine if shortened. (more…)

Generally novels are made to tell a story; all of the pages are usually meant to construct a particular theme or meaning. However, the first novel by Sigrid Nunez seems to find itself exempt from this.

(more…)

WINDFALL (Czech-Republic), 1996
Jill Mathis
Two photographs, each 12″ x 8″

The photo show “Between Language and Geography: Words, Signs, and Symbols in Photography” shown recently at Baruch College’s Sidney Mishkin Gallery examines the link between words and images.  Both words and images have the ability to both convey different meanings and contain many symbols.  The mere title of a photograph with the accompanied image can provoke much thought about the relationship between words and images, causing the meaning of the photograph to change.  The show featured the work of photographers such as 20^th century documentary photographer Jerome Liebling, innovative color photographer Joel Meyerowitz, and Marilyn Bridges, known for her aerial photographs. (more…)

Abstract expressionism is an art form that often misunderstood. The people that don’t understand it usually give it much criticism. Whatever the controversy might me, it still holds its name as a modern and unique form of art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art featured an abstract expressionism exhibit that exemplified the great works of art from the ‘50s and ‘60s. The small showroom sure had a lot of meaning in itself. (more…)

The best way of experiencing a war is not by stories or paintings, but by photographs taken from the scene. This is the mentality that Robert Capa used as he traveled along side the soldiers. His exhibition, titled “This Is WAR! Robert Capa at Work,” is currently on display at the International Center of Photography.  His photographs managed to capture both the action and emotion involved in war. When shooting his pictures, Capa paid close attention to the variables that go into a photograph, such as contrast, angle, and depth of field. (more…)

 photo by Joan Marcus

The Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening,” directed by Michael Mayer and  based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play, transports rock ‘n’ roll into the world of Wedekind’s sexually confused and curious adolescents.  The anachronism created by the combination of Wedekind’s 19^th century setting and 20^th century rock music may seem strange at first, but “Spring Awakening” pulls it off effectively, with the tunes heightening the characters’ actions and emotions.  The musical’s plot surrounding youths Wendla Bergmann, Moritz Steiffel, and Melchior Gabor, and the angst, decisions, and consequences of their sexual awakenings, gives the musical ample material for drama, tragedy, and humor.  (more…)

After devouring the tables filled with food, the audience had no choice but to take their seats. They marveled at the introduction of a respected writer who was well into her life. Sigrid Nunez is a woman with an unusual writing talent and an even more unusual personality. On October 23rd, she came to Baruch College for a reading of her latest book, “The Last of Her Kind.” She managed to maintain a soft voice throughout the reading, even through the many grim scenes of the book. After she was finished, the floor was opened for a Q&A. It was here where she revealed most about her personality and writing style. (more…)