Student Art Event

The line in front of the ticket booth wraps around the building. The building has posters up, advertising the event the students are all purchasing tickets for. The students all talk in excited, hushed tones. The players, meanwhile, warm up in preparation for the big game ahead of them. They are just as excited to show the students how their hard work has paid off as the students are to see it. The students all file in to the stadium, waving signs and pom poms to show their support for their fellow students and school. The seats are almost all filled. People with painted stomachs scream cheers for Lehigh and shout insults about Lafayette. Such was the atmosphere of the basketball game last weekend that Lehigh played against Lafayette. The game begins and the athletes play their best. The audience watches in anticipation, celebrating when the players score and groaning when the players miss. At the end, Lehigh wins, which ends in celebration amongst all the students, athletes, and adults.

This is not the scene at any of the theatre or other performance related events that I’ve been to, including the play I went to last semester and the Leela dance performance that I went to on Sunday, February 26. Both of these events involved student participation and were as full of as many triumphs as any sports game could be.

And yet, the scene at the dance performance wasn’t nearly the same as that of the basketball game. There was no line at the ticket booth because the event was free. There are no posters anywhere. In fact, there was no advertisement at all. There were no announcements in the daily emails, no posting on any calendar, and no flyers. I only knew about it because a few of my friends are members of the dance team.  I walk in to Lamberton, where the performance was supposed to be and wonder if I’m in the right place. There is a small cluster of people, most of which are the dancers, standing awkwardly in the back of the room. There is a table filled with Indian cuisine located to the right where a few other students are standing. This wasn’t just a random dance performance, it was supposed to be a showcase of Indian culture. And yet, most of the people there appear to be Indian themselves. As college students, we claim that our ultimate goal is to explore and learn about other people and cultures. Then how come more people attend American sports games than attend a showcase of a foreign culture?

And it’s not because the dancing was bad. The dance combined modern and old music with the traditional dances to appeal to a wide variety of audience while still maintaining the integrity of the dancing style. The dancers are all smiling students, obviously doing something they enjoy, as it is an extracurricular activity. The few audiences members there laugh when parts of the dance are meant to be funny, cheer when the dancers perform difficult moves, and cringe when one of the dancers’ long pants slide over her feet and she almost falls. The audience involvement isn’t as vocal, but it’s just as real as any sports team.

This dance event was only a brief preview of greater things to come. At the end of the performance, the dances come up to the audience and encourage them to attend Dance Fest, a dance showcase where all the dance groups will perform, including Leela. This show with no marketing is expected to market for a larger dance show that charges for tickets? I’m excited to see more at Dance Fest, but I’m a little worried about how the turn out will be. A few posters in Rauch (that I saw yesterday) and a preview with only 10 audience members don’t bode well for the future event.

The Rise of the Creative Class Pt. 3 Reaction

In Part 3 of The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida described how the rise of a preference for more creative and engaging careers has led to an equal rise in a preference for more creative and engaging hobbies.

One of the things that really bothered me about this part was Florida’s critique of the different subcultures that have come out of the rising desire for a more creative lifestyle. His comments about members of the “clubbing” lifestyle were particularly harsh and unfounded. He critiques the “clubbers’” clothing, music, and lifestyle. He says that the music that they listen to isn’t creative because it’s all engineered to market to that specific audience in order to attain maximum profit. Because of this, he claims that the music played at the clubs isn’t true creative expression. He seems to say that because the music is made a certain way because it’s what people like, it isn’t real “art”. This claim really annoyed me. Yes, sometimes artists are forced by record companies to make music they don’t like in order to gain popularity. But what about the artists that have enough support to do what they want, but still choose to make pop music? If it’s why they like, then who’s to say it isn’t their way of expressing themselves?  People make club music because it will sell, yes. But the people who make club music know what it sounds like because they also go to the club. They write what they know. Florida also mentions that the clubbers attempts to be different and hip make them the exact opposite. By striving for nonconformity, they become the same. How does he know what their motives are? As with most subcultures that pride themselves on not conforming, they’re attempting to be different from society and the life their parents led, not from each other.

I’m randomly reminded of the fact that this book wasn’t written recently, which I find interesting. This is especially true when he make generalizations about the “younger people”.  I read his statements and wonder: “Younger people? Isn’t that me? This doesn’t sound like my generation at all”. But then I realize that when this book was written ten years ago, the younger people were who the older people are now.

This is true with Florida’s observations about the rise of technology. He talks about the novelty and sometimes fear with which people see new developments in technology, especially computers. Those days are mostly gone. The “younger people” no longer view new technology as something awe inspiring or exciting; they expect it. Florida talks about how the new technologies gave rise to the “geek” being seen as the hero. However, that trend must have only been very subtle. I have never heard of the “acclaimed” book that he cites as evidence of this new hero, and most tv shows and movies still star an action hero. Even the TV show Chuck eventually gave their geeky main character Kung Fu moves in order to survive. The Matrix, another piece of evidence used by Florida does shows the amazing possibilities of technology .The main character, however, is a man who knows how to look cool and fight, but knows nothing about the system. He is “the chosen one” while the “geeks” who built it remain unknown.

The Rise of the Creative Class Pt. 2 Reaction

Part 2 of Richard Florida’s Rise of the Creative Class is a more detailed account of the current working environment expected and demanded by the members of the “Creative Class”. It is a description of the work place trends that I have to look forward to when I enter the workforce. The trends are finding their way in to all professions, as the ways of doing things pragmatically like in the past is being replaced by doing things in a way that allow for interpretation and creativity. Unlike the factory workers, seen as a nobody who is just a part of the production machine, there as been a new emphasis put on the importance of the unique ideas that come from each individual.

This emphasis on creative thinking is leading to a change in people’s career preferences. In the past, people would pick jobs that paid the most, even if they didn’t like them. They would work at the same place, doing the same thing for their entire lives, even though they were miserable. Nowadays, people will pick the job they like, regardless of salary. Incentive is their ability to think creatively and be themselves. Also, people are no longer sticking to just one job. Florida calls it the “horizontal career ladder”. People are moving from project to project, working on what catches their interest until they get bored. I really like this trend. Gone are the days of stressing out because I can’t figure out what I want to be when I grow up. This change in professional thinking asks: “Who says I can’t be everything?” My interests change often, my job should be able to reflect these interests, as I’ll work harder for something I like. I look forward to a “real world” where I can pursue my passions.

Something I also look forward to about the working world that Florida describes is the change in the workplaces themselves. I’ve always feared that arts management wouldn’t work out and I would have to enter another type of business where I would be confined to a cubicle with no human interaction and strict working hours. I’m a very social person and I thrive off of discussing ideas with others. According to Florida, most businesses have found this to be true for most people. Instead of isolation, businesses are beginning to reformat to a more open environment, with a common area for discussion and interaction. Instead of cubicles, office workers can enjoy space and an arrangement designed to promote creative thinking.

Following the trend of promoting creativity and individuality, Florida also describes the anticipated change in work uniform. I’ve recently had trouble finding business formal and casual outfits for class presentations, meeting, and interviews that I like. Blazers, pencil skirts, and trousers just aren’t me. Florida says that many feel this way. The boring business clothes often limit creative thinkers’ ideas and creativity. Because of this, businesses are beginning to allow more casual work attire. While I acknowledge the professional appearance of a suit, I look forward to being able to present my ideas and plans while wearing something that reflects the person who came up with them.

First Friday

This was my second time going to First Friday and I wasn’t disappointed. This time I took two of my hall mates who never venture down to Southside and who’ve never been to First Friday. They really enjoyed the chance to get away from the campus and see some what the local shops had to offer. I was able to show them some of my favorite places and prove that Southside can be a fun and safe place, despite its reputation. They’ve only been to some of the restaurants either when driven by their parents, or if I insist we walk there. They were surprised and pleased to find other fun places to go. We went to Eskandalo!, which is where I get my hair cut.  We ogled the cute clothes in Apotheca. I showed them the delicious chocolates in Tallarico’s and recommended the cayenne chocolates. We went to a store with ski gear, where my friend looked at the coats and goggles, planning future purchases for her skiwear collection. We went to Home and Planet and dreamed of furnishing a future house with trendy pieces made by artists. I forgot to show them the bathroom though, but it’ll just give me a reason to bring them back.

One of my favorite things about First Friday is the live bands. All the bands play different genres, so going to the stores and seeing each band is like getting to see each aspect of the personality of the Southside. The band in Cleo’s was really cool because they were playing Beatles songs using instruments that the Beatles didn’t use. It was fun to hear something familiar in a totally different way. The first time I went, there was a random jazz band on the street. That’s so cool! It really adds to the whole atmosphere of the festival because people can hear it wherever they are and follow the sound to the festival and to the shops.

In Apotheca, there were cute clothes, nice people, and, best of all, cupcakes! The cupcakes were from Sugarbabe, which if I remember correctly used to be located in Home and Planet. They were the most delicious cupcakes I’ve ever had. They seem really familiar. I think I saw them compete on Cupcake Wars or something. If they didn’t win, they should have. By getting to try those cupcakes, one of the friends who went and I have made plans to go to the store and get some more of those fantastic cupcakes.

I like that the festival’s only intent is to get people in to the neighborhood and experience the art, culture, and what the stores have to offer. There are no plans to make a profit (other than the stores’), only plans to show everyone what the Southside has to offer. The people who started and who keep First Friday going love their town, and its evident in the effort and planning they put in to it. The love is contagious and creates an atmosphere of creativity and community. 

Marc Bamuthi Joseph

Whenever I picture performance art, for some reason I always think I won’t like it. I picture some weird person wearing a trash bag, rolling around in paint or something. However, every time I’ve gone, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I end up feeling more knowledgeable, and in some ways, empowered. Marc Bamuthi Joseph was no exception.

One of the things I love about poetry is the way it can be used to express truth. It can be used to express truths that have a political and controversial undertone. Marc’s truths fall in this category. If someone were to just say a hard truth outright, it might not be welcomed are listened to. Oftentimes, people don’t give other opinions a chance, especially when those opinions are said bluntly. But with the addition of movement and poetic language, the truth is oftentimes better received. The audience is engaged and enraptured in a web of rhymes and meter and dance. The truth is hidden within this web and even if they don’t agree, they at least hear it.

One of the things I love about is the fact that it provides and avenue for self-expression. Earlier, I spoke of Marc using poetry to present truth. I don’t mean absolute truth. Marc’s performance provides and outlet to present his truth.

One of the most amazing things about live theatre is the energy that reverberates through the theater. When seeing it live, you feel the time, energy, and emotion that went in to the artist/actor’s performance. You even feel it in the silences. Even if the audience doesn’t agree with the message of the performance, they connect with the performer’s passion. Because of this, Marc was able to present his performance in a way that reached every single audience member, even those who didn’t agree. Those who agreed and connected both with the passion and message were very vocal about their agreement. Those who didn’t agree were not vocal about this disagreement. Marc’s performance was powerful enough to at least earn their respect and attention, if not also their agreement.

I also appreciated that Marc’s pieces varied in content. The whole story wasn’t just the lasting effect of slavery and racism in America. He talked about race, the economy, becoming a father, and discovering his desire to be a professional performer. He talked about life and loss and love. He talked about his personal prejudices and the prejudices put on him. He presented the audience with an array of subjects to connect with.

There is also a complex system of association that happens moreso with poetry than normal speech. In Marc’s piece about the woman spitting out the watermelon seeds and talking about her dead son, he builds this elaborate connection between the watermelon seeds and the disadvantage African American children face when growing up in bad neighborhoods. When he then says “strange fruit”, we don’t just see the watermelon seeds. We see the allusion he was making to lynching. We see injustice, unfair judgment, and lives ending too soon. We follow the connection between hatred, greed, and other negative emotions to see the current societal opinion of America, especially amongst the African American population.