A year ago when I had to write a college essay about a global issue that concerned me, I first chose global warming. Halfway through my first draft I abandoned the topic because I thought to myself, well, it’s sort of a clichéd topic. At that time it didn’t occur to me how desensitized I had become to this issue.

But, upon reading Elizabeth Rosenthal’s article,“Where did Global Warming Go?,” I felt that my choice to switch topics because global warming had been “overdone,” exemplified her point. Ms. Rosenthal points out how just a few short years ago, politicians and celebrities were discussing the issue everywhere. But in recent times, due to the recession, the public’s priorities have shifted and consequently, the politicians have moved on. The public perception on global warming is perhaps a bit jaded as it is not a pressing issue now like the economy is.

This is not to say that the recession is not a problem or that everyone has lost interest and become careless. Many organizations are taking initiatives to cut back their carbon footprint and there are still environmental activists who are fighting for this cause. But, it is true that the majority of people don’t give this any thought in their everyday lives. When the issue comes up during political debates, it is discussed in a perfunctory manner and quickly set aside.

This could be very dangerous as global warming hasn’t slowed down the way our interest has. Thus, the “problem” with global warming these days is not that it is happening – we have already discovered that – the problem now is the apathetic attitude that most people have adopted. Ms. Rosenthal brings to light a very important concern.

Claudia La Rocco’s review of A Prize Every Time really gives the reader a chance to appreciate an art form that requires patience. Trios of choreographers are given a group to dance with during this four day event. She really make it clear that there is a level of difficulty to this performance and while it does take time for their to create a dance. It is well worth the wait. She utilizes language that is easy to understand and also relatable.

La Rocco does make it clear that not all of the performances were strong enough that it was worth waiting for. She includes a more than sufficient amount of dialogue and viewer response but she fails to describe in her own words what she got from the play. She mentions it is piece choreographed, but what is the piece about? Is there a central theme to the dances?

I seem to pick up more of a response to the performance, rather than some context and then some opinion on the dance. There is no doubt that these performers are talented. There is a picture of a woman in red heels, blue pants with a golden stripe running through, and a yellow skirt. She is standing on her hands, telling us she is quite athletic and fit, thus validating the fact that these performers do have a certain degree of professionalism and training. The thinning crowd reflect the audiences’ response to the show which most likely is abysmal.

Personally, I would watch this show because the picture sold it to me rather than her review. However, La Rocco does bring some important perspectives of the piece to light. Despite the viewers’ response, I am all for improv and would love to attend.

In “Is Race Reflected By Your Outfit?” Pamela Paul talks about a study done by researchers from Tufts, Stanford and the UC Irvine. Participants were asked to determine the race of different people in pictures. Some were well-dressed, pictured wearing business suits, and some were poorly-dressed, pictured wearing a janitor’s outfit, and all were within 13 shades of skin tone color. The question at hand here is the title of the article, “Is race reflected by your outfit?”

According to the study, “Yes, race is reflected by your outfit”. The researchers used mouse-tracking analysis where they measured the speed and position of the mouse when a participant used it. Whenever a white man was shown wearing a suit, the participant immediately the “white” button but when the same man was shown wearing a janitor’s outfit, the participant hesitated to click “white” and even hovered over the “black” button.

I think it is outrageous that people think this way and associate people of darker shades with lower-ranked jobs. Most people think that way though, and this experiment brings to light what people are secretly thinking but don’t say out loud. This study is interesting because even though the researchers aren’t actually reading the participant’s mind, the mouse-tracking analysis shows the thought process of these people.

Paul mentions how most of the participants were “overwhelmingly white” but hardly any African-Americans or Hispanics agreed to participate. In this experiment, there is a big emphasis on race and how different races are viewed in society, which is a touchy subject, but even though Paul is not a reviewer, she keeps a objective tone in this article. If i were the one writing this article, I don’t think I’d be able to keep the objective tone Paul has.

In Robin Pogrebin article When Applying the Paint Was Spreading the News she discusses how in the past painting was not only a form of art but also a form of recounting history. The painting he was referring to is Return of the 69th (Irish) Regiment, N.Y.S.M. From the Seat of War by Louis Lang. It is a painting that depicts a bunch of men coming back to new york from a fight during the civil war. The painting was found in pieces in 1997 and it was not until 2006 that the decision was made to fix it and put it on display. The painting is finally ready and will be on display at New-York Historical Society’s renovated building, which reopens on Veterans’ Day making it the perfect place to display this painting about men coming back from war. 

The issue I want to talk about is that Pogrebin talks about how “paintings were expressive and descriptive, tools not only to evoke emotions, but also to do the very real work of simply documenting and recounting history.” This is a very interesting idea, I think that this may be a reason we don’t have as many famous painters in recent history. I think good painters need inspiration and nothing can serve as better inspiration than the real world. I think that up and coming painters should try and gain there inspiration from real world situations like painters of old did.   

There is a new book coming out next week about Van Gogh’s death called “Van Gogh: The Life”. The article by Pogrebin called “New Biography Says Van Gogh Did Not Kill Himself” talks about Van Gogh’s suspicious death. This book by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith is a biography of the famous artist Vincent Van Gogh and it questions whether Van Gogh really committed suicide or was murdered. The article claims “the bullet entered his upper abdomen ‘from an unusual, oblique angle-not straight on as one would expect in a suicide.’” The article also states “no gun was ever found.” that “Van Gogh had no knowledge of guns” and finally that he never left a suicide note as most people would do.  They say that Van Gogh’s friend’s teenage brother shot Van Gogh, but Van Gogh never accused the boy because “he saw no reason to punish anyone for bringing it about.”(Pogrebin)

I think that this article is a little suspicious that this evidence is coming out so late. Van Gogh died in 1890 and finally after 120 years have we figured out that he didn’t commit suicide. If this is true I wonder how it’s going to change people’s perception of Van Gogh. Van Gogh has now become some sort of saint in my eyes because he was able to forgive his enemy even though he tried to kill him. He was able to accept death and at the same time say there is no reason to punish anyone for bringing it about. (Pogrebin) Also there is a wide belief that “Wheatfield with Crows”, one of the late works signifies his loneliness and sadness. The painting “Wheatfield with Crows” is a somber painting and demonstrates Van Gogh’s misery. Van Gogh may have wanted to die, which is why he didn’t turn in his killer.

Every culture has its own enriched history and tale. In the dance recital entitled, “More More More…Future,” the audience is moved to understand and feel the struggles of the Congolese in Africa. Claudia La Rocco writes a detailed and inspiring review on this influential two-hour piece of art at the Kitchen in Chelsea, NYC. Choreographer Faustin Linyekula take the audience on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey through the Congo and daily life of its people. From the traditional sounds of Congolese music to the elaborate costumes of the dancers, the show is both captivating and touching.

Claudia La Rocco does a wonderful job highlighting the grace, passion, and vision of the recital, leaving the reader with an abundance of heartfelt questions and overwhelming emotion. One of the songs in the piece reads, “rather than a glorious past, let us have a future.” Such a phrase sheds light on the depth of despair and sorrow felt throughout Africa, as well as the brutal realities of life. However, it leaves the reader and the audience with a faint sliver of hope. The future may bring peace, happiness, and a better tomorrow. Overall, the review for ” More More More…Future” creates a certain fascination and desire to view the piece of work and see the images and themes portrayed by Claudia La Rocco come to life.

Being different always has its perks. An artist in Japan known as Tabaimo creates art that is quite different from what Japan is used to: kawaii art or cute art. In Cutting Through Cute to the Real Japan by Carol Kino, she talks about how different her art is from what everyone is used to.

Tabaimo is a very humble woman, she doesn’t think that her art is extremely special, despite being featured at many museums and exhibits. She stills attends Kyoto University of Art, a very famous art school in Japan. The author says that Tabaimo is found looking like everybody else during the installation of her art. She says that she didn’t start out wanting to do art. However, she eventually stumbled into the field and began to create art.

Many of Tabaimo’s work garners attention from many Japanese people. Many of her pieces of art are very interestingly made and many people are surprised that it came from Tabaimo. Her new art was very creative. Many of them involved normal things that people see. Her art developed a lot after she began. They became more detailed and more abstract and she got better. Art is always changing; modern art has made such significant changes that people aren’t sure if it’s considered art anymore.

Whether it is from London to Tokyo, or Los Angeles to New York, art absorbs the stylistic and cultural influences from where they originate.  However, these styles are not immune to change, and that is the underground rapper ASAP Rocky’s quest. In Jon Caramanica’s article he talks about and highlights the upcoming debut mixtape of ASAP Rocky, as well as ASAP Rocky’s rap style.

While this article is not a review, Caramanica basically analyzes and compliments ASAP Rocky’s unique mission to break free from rooted styles of NYC rap and to integrate rap styles from all over the country. He emphasizes that, for generations, NYC rap has donated its style to several rappers through the US, but now is the time to take these evolved styles from around the country and improve on NYC’s rap scene. Caramanica thinks that ASAP Rocky’s mission will change the future of the NY rap scene.

Although I am not a fan of ASAP Rocky’s music, his ideas of integrating new styles of rap to create a new New York style are very interesting. If art experiences the merging of more cultural styles, or even new techniques, then art will evolve and grow into something fresh. Would it not be interesting to see a fusion of Kabuki theater and something western? Currently, I think we can see a similar growth in art with the fusion of traditional art and modern technology. From musicals to art installations, technology creates new artistic experiences – something fresh like ASAP Rocky’s own music.

However, I do have one problem with ASAP Rocky’s idea. Many people respect and enjoy the New York style, and there are many people that do not welcome change. Also, according to the article, ASAP Rocky’s mixtape has many song styles, except one from New York. Is it right to suggest that this is “progress”?

Stephen Holden’s review on “Ah Men! The Boys of Broadway!,” is a informing review that brings insight to readers who have watched the show or plan to. He gives readers background and references within the show, allowing the audience to obtain a better understanding on things they might have missed out on. Throughout the show, the protagonist Betty Buckley had sung songs that were revised for the show, such as the centerpiece Hymn to Her (revised from Hymn to Him), and made references to other shows on Broadway and their songs. This was to bring out Ms. Buckley’s idea of how women can be like men as she takes on different male singing roles from different Broadway shows.

I believe that Holden has written a wonderful review that not only informs readers, but also persuades them to consider watching the show. His review gives readers information for a better understanding of the humorous scenes in the show that they might not have caught on. This would be a great review for me if I decided to go see this Broadway show, because I would not have understood what was funny because of the different references that were made. Also, all the information given would allow me to go look it up myself, as he gives names of the songs and composers, so I would better understand the references. This is why I believe Holden has a well written review.