A Hopeless Romantic

Sometimes I wish I lived in the past. I am that type of girl that romanticizes the simple "good old days" that I'm so often told about, when people actually went out on the town in the evening instead of parking themselves in front of the television. While I am quite aware that I am oversimplifying a long gone era, and that I probably could not last a full day without my smartphone, I do still yearn now and then to be transported back in time. My favorite kind of art, is that of the past.

Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor from Singing in the Rain

One of my favorite things to do is watch old movies with my parents. We love to record our favorites when they play on the classic movies channel. I'm talking about movies from about the 1930's to the 1960's. I love the black and white ones, I love the ones with big musical and dance numbers, and I even love the ones where soundtracks were a fairly new thing, and there are awkward silences and odd transitions throughout. For some reason, I cannot get my friends as excited about old movies as I am. It's a mystery, I tell you. One of my fondest memories with my mother is a recent one. This summer, right before I left for college, Singing in the Rain was released in theaters for a day for its sixtieth anniversary. My mother and I adore this movie and were so excited. We went out to see it with my best friend Rachel, who had to shush both of us for trying to sing along. I guess you could say I just love the art of Hollywood in its golden age. 

The old courthouse in Pittsburgh that I pass on the way to hockey games.

Another one of my favorite things to do is to travel into Pittsburgh for the day. I live only about 40 minutes away when traffic is being forgiving, and I usually end up in the city for one thing or another several times a year. While I'm there, I sit in the car and marvel at the old buildings. I love how much detail went into the architecture, even the little and seemingly unimportant buildings. There are little details carved into the bricks, like letters or symbols. I love the materials they used to make the buildings: large stones, sometimes with even marble or granite on the inside. My absolute favorite building in Pittsburgh is the Cathedral of Learning on The University of Pittsburgh's campus. The first three floors of it are absolutely gorgeous. They never fail to make me step back and appreciate the architecture of yore, every time I go in. And trust me, I've visited those first three floors many a time. Going to school here at University Park also feeds into my happiness. I love all of the old buildings here, especially since they have the year they were built engraved in them. I want to go to the bell tower of Old Main before I graduate. I love to be in West Halls with its old collegiate feel, and I eat lunch there everyday with my friends who live there, secretly envying them the whole time. The new, fancy, sleek skyscrapers people build nowadays just don't cut it for me. I love the art of the old buildings.

My last favorite way to romanticize the past is by looking at old photographs. I just love how photographs capture a moment in time.You can tell lots of things from a photograph, like the fashion and technology of the time. I even have my favorite historical photograph hanging in my room as a poster.

If someone could guarantee me a job with a history major, that is what I would be studying right now. I love to learn about past events, and I love to look at older buildings, movies, and photographs and appreciate them. The art of long gone eras is something that I find endlessly fascinating.

Self Analysis

1. What have I learned this semester? I have learned many a thing, let me tell you. I have learned that I hate biological anthropology. I have learned to enjoy/tolerate the taste of espresso. I have learned that the library is a sanctuary. And I have learned that apparently, I give off a "freshman vibe." It's unavoidable. All of that aside, I have also learned much in English 15S. I am getting much better at analyzing text for deeper meaning, something I struggled with before. However, I think the most important thing I learned about writing is to write in your own voice. I was never confident in this method before. I always found it easier to meet the requirements of a paper precisely, and to do so in a somewhat formal manner. I will admit that I still hang onto this voice, and that yes, I am using it right now. However, I've forced myself to break out of it at times, trying to throw in a piece of humor here or there. Before I had been writing papers for the teacher. I wrote what I knew they wanted to hear. In English 15, little by little, I started writing them for myself. I find it's much easier to write a paper when I want it to be good, and not just for a grade. I want to be able to look back on it and know that I think that it was done to the best of my ability. 

As for my relationship to the arts, I have discovered that lots of things can be art; it just depends on how you look at it. Art is not just paintings and music, it can be a movie, a building, or a flower garden. My group for the curated art project discovered that everyday things can be art, such as the art of being a freshman.There are plenty of rituals and behaviors that we partake in as freshman, that makes us who we are. And that is nothing to be ashamed of. It is worthy of celebration. 

I have learned from Penn State what it is like to be a part of a community that has pride in its school. My high school was a tiny little thing, which had a reputation for not exactly providing a prime education. At times, I was reluctant to tell people I attended that school. But now I feel pride when I inform someone that I go to Penn State University. I know that my school is providing me with an excellent education. I could already tell that during the first week of classes. Here, I am learning. Although I may complain about a class or two, I know that my professors (or in one case, my TA) are providing me with an education that is worlds away from what I ever had in high school. 

College has also taught me independence. Before college I was working, doing my own laundry, and paying for gas for the car, but I was still living under my parents' roof. Here I am by myself and I am totally on my own when it comes to making sure I meet all of my responsibilities. 

However, I think the biggest lesson I have learned from college is to not take for granted what I have at home. I would often go away to various camps and vacations over my summers at home. I was never the kid who was homesick; I was the one who was incredibly upset when the week was over. Now that I have been gone from my family for so long, I realize that I do miss them very much. I miss my little sister asking me to listen to music with her, and I miss watching our favorite TV show with my little brother. I miss my parents and all of the nice things they do for me on a daily basis. So, I think the greatest lesson that I have learned from college is to appreciate what I have at home. 

2.  http://austinluboff.blogspot.com/2012/09/artscultural-blog-post-2-palmer-museum.html#comment-form
http://kristinajoelle.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-friday-september-7-our-english-class.html#comment-form   http://emmatabacchi.blogspot.com/2012/09/botanical-gardens.html#comment-form http://scribblesndsuch.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-flower-y-english-class.html#comment-form http://mopbtcb.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-social-failure_3.html#comment-form http://obrienseyes.blogspot.com/2012/10/4-good-will-hunting.html#comment-form http://marisacutillo.blogspot.com/2012/10/iah-film-review.html#comment-form http://cuesandcommissions.blogspot.com/2012/10/old-school.html#comment-form http://bblissfullyblogging.blogspot.com/2012/10/hunting-for-good-will.html
http://turningbloggingintoanartform.blogspot.com/2012/11/good-not-great.html#comment-form

3. Hi, Ms. S-- I completed my SRTEs! ... :)

An Afternoon at the Theater

Although I wasn't particularly happy about taking time out of my Saturday, I am not the kind of person who dreads going to the theater. I have seen my fair share of plays and musicals in my time, and have almost always completely enjoyed them. In the Red and Brown Water was no different. I really liked the play with its bold characters and vibrant songs. The format of the play was different from any other I had seen so I was taken by surprise in that area. The characters themselves narrated their own actions, which at first had me taken aback. However, I found it to be a refreshing change of pace from the norm, and I enjoyed it. The only thing that did frustrate me was that there was no synopsis of the play in the program. I had to figure it out on my own, and at times I was left confused.

The play focused around a young girl named Oya, who is known in her community to be a fantastic runner. She is even offered a scholarship to college because of her talent, but turns it down because her mother is ill, hoping to be offered it again the following year. Her mother passes away, and she is not again offered the scholarship. She then begins living with Shango, and hopes to start a family with him, though he disagrees. Oya and Shango eventually split up when he decides to go into the army. Oya then begins to see Ogun, who promises to start a family with her and loves her unconditionally. However, his promise is not fulfilled right away and Oya begins to grow tired of him and jealous of her friend Elegba who has fathered a child. She wants to have a child in her life to love. Oya cuts things off with Ogun just as Shango returns to town. Before he makes it to her house to see her, she learns that a neighbor, Shun, is pregnant with his child. When Shango arrives at her house, Oya hand him a present; her own ear that she has cut off.

I felt Oya wanted to leave her mark in the world. At first she tried to do that with her running, but was unable to after she lost the scholarship to school. She then turns her focus to mothering a child. Her own child would be a mark in the world; something specifically hers. I also feel that she wanted to someone to love unconditionally, as she had struggles with her love for both Shango and Ogun. I don’t feel as if Oya ever managed to achieve her goal. She became swallowed up in the world and let her sadness overwhelm her. The play ended with saying that she “wasn’t crazy, just sad.”

The thing that was most compelling to me in the play was the music. The songs were so full of passion to begin with, and the actors only added to that. The actors danced zealously and moved so expressively with the songs. I think I just loved the fact that I could tell each of them loved what they were doing. My favorite song was the gospel piece because it was so full of life and it inspired everyone in the crowd to clap along.

Overall I had a great time at In the Red and Brown Water. Like I said, I am not hard to please when it comes to the theater. I love plays and musicals of all kinds and this was no exception. The only critique I have is not of the play itself, but of the fact that we were not offered any information about the plot, prior to seeing the play, which made things a tad confusing at times. However, that definitely wouldn’t stop me from seeing it again.

 

Arts/Cultural Response: Undergraduate Piano Recital

On September 10, a nice mild day, I trekked out to the Music Building with my roommate and best friend Rachel. My music teacher had assigned my class a concert report and I had decided to attend an undergraduate piano recital in order to complete my assignment. Rachel was in tow because she loves these sorts of things. Music of almost any sort is appreciated by her, and I was hoping some of her excitement would rub off on me. Plus it didn't hurt to have her musical knowledge by my side. I went into the concert feeling rather ambivalent. I was not particularly expecting to dislike it, but being the impatient person that I am, I knew that if it did not grab my attention in the beginning, I would soon be zoned out. Fortunately, the concert was an absolute delight, and I left in envy of the talent of the players.

Rachel and I walked into the concert hall and sat down in some seats a few rows from the front. The hall was big and imposing. It was decorated with what looked like organ pipes of different lengths, some stretching to the ceiling. There were big green velvet curtains draped across the back of the stage. The room produced a serious mood, so we spoke in whispers as we waited for the event to begin. A few other people were scattered among the rows. It became evident later that most personally knew the performers and were there to support them. A few were there to write a report, as I was. Soon enough, the lights dimmed and the show began. The recital consisted of six soloists, each playing a piece of their choice. Right from the first few notes played by the first performer, it was evident that it was going to be a talent filled show. I watched as the first pianist threw himself into the piece; moving with the notes as they traveled up and down. His passion for music was clearly evident. I discovered that each of the performers were like this. Though some were more reserved than others, it was undoubted that each was doing what he or she loved.

I had expected going into the recital that the performers would be quite talented. One does not participate in  a university music program without a wee bit of talent. However, all of the performers exceeded my expectations. I was thoroughly impressed with not only their skill, but also their obvious love for what they were doing. My favorite part of the concert was the last performer, John Livingston. He played Sonata in A Minor, Opus 143 composed by Franz Schubert. He brought such incredible life to the piece. The piece was exciting enough on its own, with its great leaps in between notes and a wide range in dynamics. It kept you entertained from start to finish. However, Livingston's performance was what made it unforgettable. He immersed himself into the piece and I watched in awe as his fingers flew across the keys with speed and ease. He received a great deal of applause when he finished and I felt as if I owed it to him to jump up on stage and thank him for such wonderful performance.

Attending the piano recital was an enriching experience. I loved it, and Rachel adored it as I knew she would. Although I may have never ventured out to see it if it had not been for my assignment, it is something that I would do again. I am very glad I went. 

Wonder Boys: A Review

“Why did you keep writing this book, if you didn't even know what it was about?”

“Because I couldn't stop.”

Wonder Boys is a film about the college experience and the trials and tribulations of being a writer. What makes it different from most college films is that it focuses on not only the students, but the faculty as well. The film was directed by Curtis Hanson and has a great cast that includes Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr., and Frances McDormand. Released in 2000 and running at 112 minutes, this dark comedy has moments that make you laugh, moments that touch your heart, and most importantly, moments that make you think.

Professor Grady (Douglas) is an English professor at a Pittsburgh university who had a hit book seven years ago. Now the literary world is waiting for his next hit and he can’t seem to find an ending for the book. His editor Terry Crabtree (Downey Jr.) is in town to check out his progress on the book. Grady and Crabtree attend a party at the chancellor’s house in preparation for Wordfest, the university’s annual festival for writers. Grady has been sleeping with the chancellor, Sarah Gaskell, (McDormand) who is a married woman. While at the party she reveals to him some sobering news and tells him he must make a decision about their relationship.  Also at the party, Grady runs into one of his students, James. James is a brilliant writer, but a somewhat troubled kid. Due to some entangling circumstances at the party, Grady spends the rest of the movie trying to keep James out of trouble. As Grady, James, and Crabtree gallivant around Pittsburgh, Sarah constantly remains on Grady’s mind. Grady continually searches for ways to solve not only James’ problem, but his own many problems as well.

A good college film accurately portrays college life, captures the spirit of the students, and appeals to the audience that it portrays-college kids themselves. The only place I found Wonder Boys to be lacking was its portrayal of college life. Some of the scenes came off as unbelievable. In fact the whole premise of the amount of time Grady spent with James outside of school on such a personal level seemed unbelievable to me. However, it did capture the spirit of college students. James is an obviously smart kid, who just doesn't know what to do with his life yet, like a lot of college kids. Because of this, I connected to James and the movie appealed to me as a part of its target audience. Other positive things to note are that Downey and Douglas were both wonderful in their roles, with Downey often providing comic relief. Although at times it was hard to tell where the storyline was going, everything wrapped up nicely in the end and taught a good life lesson. Finally, as a native of the Pittsburgh area, I was very pleased with how the city was depicted.

Wonder Boys was in all, a decent college movie. The characters were well played, and any average college student could probably see a little bit of themselves in James. The cast had great chemistry and the story kept you on your toes. Its only fault is that at times it struggles to stay within the realm of believability. However, its good points outweigh its faults, making it a movie worth your time to see. 

Hour at the Arboretum

As I was trekking through the middle of a field, with no idea where I was going Monday morning, I began to think that the last place I wanted to be at that moment was the Arboretum. It was a far walk and it was cold outside, gosh darn it! But by time I made it to the Overlook Pavilion, I was already beginning to change my mind. The view from the pavilion was vast and serene. Big white sheets billowed down from the top of the structure which overlooked the entire valley. Flowers were blooming all around. Instantly, I was in a happier state of mind.
We soon began to walk around and tour the place a bit. The first thing I saw was the map of Penn State carved into the ground. I thought it was pretty interesting, but I was more interested in seeing the fields of flowers that were surrounding us. I walked out of the pavilion and soon saw a huge field of sunflowers. I love sunflowers, because of their boldness. They are bright and happy. And they are huge. They don't fit the stereotype of a delicate flower. Not only are they tall, but their blooms are ginormous as well. To me, they are one dramatic flower and I like that. After appreciating the sunflowers, I walked underneath a trellis covered in vines, with gourds hanging down from the top. There was a little bench underneath, and I thought that it looked like a good place to sit, relax and reflect on things sometime. It seemed peaceful. In fact, the whole arboretum seemed peaceful and calm. I liked that about it.
I also loved the diversity of the arboretum. Not only were there different varieties of flowers and trees, but I found some peppers and strawberries too. There was a beautiful water feature, with lily pads of all shapes and sizes floating in it. There was also a rose garden, which I would have loved to see, but unfortunately it was being renovated at the time. Despite that, there were still many other bright and blooming flowers for me to enjoy.
My favorite thing about the arboretum was not any particular plant or exhibit itself. My favorite thing was the fact that I noticed I could name many of the flowers. I realized that this was because of my mother. My mother loves flowers, and she always has many planted in our yard. She has taught me the names of many of them throughout the years. So, as I walked around the area, I thought about her and her gardens back home. I thought about the time she let me try to tend to my own garden as a kid, and it failed miserably because I was not motivated enough to keep up with the weeding. I thought about how she picked out red and white flowers for her pots, so that for my graduation party, the flowers would match my school colors. And I thought about the daffodils she cherished because my father's mother gave her the bulbs, and they were always the prettiest blooms, year after year. It was really nice to have the arboretum evoke all of those happy memories for me. I often forget to think about my family back home, because I get swept away in the college life.
I enjoyed my time at the arboretum because it was peaceful and beautiful. I like that it reminded me of my family back home. I believe my mother would really like it there, and I hope to go back and take her with me sometime. I also want to go back when the rose garden is open again and walk through it. It is definitely a place I would like to revisit.

Palmer Trip

On our recent class trip to the Palmer Museum of Art, I was drawn to a piece titled "The Denial of Saint Peter." It is an oil on canvas piece, painted most likely in the 1630s. The piece is attributed to Master Jacomo, who is believed to have been either a Frenchman or Italian, living in the early to mid-17th century.

Four people can be seen in this piece, only from about the waist up. On the left there is a guard in armor holding a candle into the middle of the scene, and the face of a person behind him. On the right there is a woman in a red dress and brown shawl and a bearded man holding a long object who we can assume is Saint Peter. The rest of the painting is engulfed in shadows. The flame from the candle the guard is holding is what is illuminating the faces of all four figures. The guard is leaning toward Saint Peter who is holding up is hand in what appears to be protest.

This piece was painted circa the 1630s, placing it in the Baroque Period. This period lasted from the early 1600s, until 1750 in some parts of Europe. Baroque art is described as more "dynamic" than earlier art. It is known to be bolder and more theatrical. Additionally, during this time, the Catholic Church (as well as Protestants and the secular government) had a great influence on art. "The Denial of Saint Peter" fits in well with all of these aspects of the time period. It is bold and dramatic, and most likely of Catholic influence. 

For me the piece extracts emotion by displaying a well-known story from the Bible, in which Peter denies that he knows Jesus three times, as Jesus said he would. Peter is wrought with despair after doing so. As a Catholic, I have heard this story many times, and I relate to Peter because of his humanity. The boldness in this piece reminds me instantly of the story and of my own humanity. It is probably why I was drawn to the piece.

Little is known about Master Jacomo, the artist to whom the piece is attributed. He lived in the early to mid-17th century and was known as the Candlelight Master. "The Denial of Saint Peter" makes it very evident as to why he was called this. However, he does create credibility in this piece by painting a scene from the Bible. Religion was very important to those who lived in Master Jacomo's time, and was a central part of their lives. Jacomo chose a very famous scene from the Bible. The people in the portrait are very realistic and his use of light dramatizes the scene, therefore adding emphasis to the story. By tastefully appealing to an important part of people's lives, Jacomo adds much credibility to his piece.

Saint Peter's denial of Christ is a very well-known story. It shows us that even though Peter was one of Jesus' most devout followers, he was still a sinner. Catholicism is a very strict and traditional faith, so patrons are often reminded of their own sinfulness. Jacomo's piece could be making the claim that we are all sinners. However, as I said, the story always reminds me of my own humanity. As hard as I try to do all the right things, I am human and I will mess up. Perhaps this is the claim of Jacomo's piece. Due to the time period, the first claim seems most persuasive to me.

I enjoyed my experience at the Palmer Museum of Art. Although I have been to other art museums, it was my first time at the Palmer. I was impressed with the diversity of its pieces, being such a small museum.

I wouldn't mind going back, because I feel that I did not get to see everything there. I liked the bottom floor the best, as I am fonder of older art. Yet I was surprised to find that I really did like most of the contemporary pieces there as well. Overall it was a pleasant experience.