Awareness and Assurance

Arts and Humanities Event #3

On Thursday I attended the It Gets Better benefit concert and found myself in a cozy theater being serenaded by a multitude of Elon’s talented artists. Apparently, this event has been held before, considering my suitemates were all very excited to see it again. I had never been before but was very intrigued and I was not disappointed. The show began with an introduction by the two students who presumably coordinated the event and a video discussing the importance of the event and the awareness it raises. Then, performers appeared on either side of the theater and began singing “Live It With Love.” The rest of the night passed with groups and soloists performing their renditions of songs that gave a positive message about self-image and accepting others. I especially enjoyed the original poem that was performed and the routine by Elon’s Finest.

I must admit that I was actually slightly confused throughout the event. I don’t think that the actual reason for the event or the It Gets Better project was ever specifically stated. I had no prior experience with the project and consequently didn't really know what they were specifically trying to raise awareness for.  By the end of the show, I think I understood. Considering that it was an event meant to raise awareness, I wish it had been explained more clearly so that people not completely aware of the social context were not excluded.

What I found most incredible about this event was the way everyone was working toward a common cause. A cappella groups that constantly seem to be in competition were working together on equal grounds to entertain and spread awareness. Students from different departments were gathered as one group to share their collective views. I was also intrigued by the songs that were chosen for the concert. I think that the songs were personally chosen and some of them are very popular and familiar. I did not usually consider them in the context of bullying or LGBT issues, but the artists clearly did. It helped me see the different perceptions people have in relation to art. It all depends on where one has been personal experience and understanding of relevant contexts. In some cases, the meanings of the songs changed because of the context they were placed in. 

Nicole Ivan - Dancing in the Black Box

         From November 7-9, Elon Dance Company held its annual fall concert, Dancing in the Black Box. It was a show filled with works by faculty, guest artists, and even students. The pieces selected for the show may have ranged drastically in style and meaning, however, they all shared the commonality of being performed passionately, with both great precision and intention.

            One of the pieces that really resonated with me was titled, “Letting Go” choreographed by Jane Wellford. This piece began in a very unexpected manner as each dancer recited a phrase regarding what the idea of “letting go” meant to them. Each phrase was unique and individualized and in my opinion, very powerful. I felt it was an effective way to begin the piece due to the fact that right from the start anyone in the audience could understand what the piece was about and what the basis for it was. The dancers took on specific characters with each processing and dealing with their own crisis as the dance progressed and developed. From this point on the piece continued to impress as the movement portion of the dance began. The movement vocabulary of this piece was very simple initially and appeared to be very reflective. In other words, the movement of this piece was more thoughtful as opposed to physical. It consisted of more than just intense, physical movement sequences and this was a nice change for once. Overall this piece kept a consistent theme of using basic elements to allow the message to really shine through and it was both well-choreographed and well performed..

Another one of the pieces entitled “Broken Record,” choreographed by Katie Baker drew me in as well. Right from the start, this piece dove into non-stop, intricate, and innovative choreography. The piece began with movement that had strong focus and became more erratic as the piece continued on. There was never a calm portion of this dance however, as the end was significantly crazier than the beginning with the dancer becoming significantly more obsessive and frustrated as the piece continued on. Throughout the piece, the dancer was attempting to draw the audience in to the way she felt which was crazed, frustrated, and obsessive over everything. This piece was not one in which the audience merely observed nice lines, shapes, or aesthetically pleasing sequences of choreography, but one that engaged the mind and made you wonder about what could be going on in the dancer’s mind as she completed the movement and what the choreographer’s exact intent with the piece was.

            Throughout this entire concert, the artistry and commitment of the performers was very evident. Every performer was very dedicated to their individual dances and this paid off as none of the pieces disappointed. At some point throughout the course of the show, someone had said that watching shows in the Black Box Theater was their favorite because the close proximity to the dancers makes them feel as if they are a part of the action. I feel the same way as I was drawn in and enraptured by every piece and every performance. Observing and analyzing the various different elements of the pieces, such as lighting and costumes, and their roles in the overall perception of the piece, as well as determining their individual themes kept me intellectually engaged for the entirety of the show. 

Jessica Francis Kane Reading

Last week I attended a reading by Jessica Francis Kane, a critically acclaimed author of two short story books and one novel.  During the reading she read from her latest book of short stories, “This Close.”

While we had been reading her book in class it was a completely new experience having the story “The Essentials of Acceleration” read aloud to us. Hearing her read her own work out loud was so much different than reading it to myself. Essentially it served to cut away the middleman of my own mind and hear the work in it’s truest voice. 

While Kane has a very unique writing style, it is often easy to let our own interpretations and mindsets color what we’re reading.  While this is not a bad thing, in fact it’s often what makes reading so special and personal to us, I also realized how important tone and voice are in writing.  If you as a writer want a piece to be read a certain way, you have to put in the extra effort needed to make that happen in the reader’s mind.  It would be interesting to compare different reading styles to how the author writes and see if the author has written in such a way that there is no need to add anything extra to the piece.  I think probably it would be hard to read your own piece and not add inflections where you would like to change things, but I bet some of the greatest writers are able to read from their work as is without any added variations whatsoever.

Elon’s Quasquicentennial Historical Exhibit

Last weekend I was asked to attend at least one Elon 125^th Homecoming event by my Media Writing class and report on it.  I picked Elon’s Quasquicentennial Historical Exhibit, not really knowing what to expect.  However, when I walked in I realized that Elon had decided to tell its tale through pictures. 

All four walls were covered in pictures that depicted important events that transpired at Elon University.  I found myself drawn in by the story told by a combination of pictures and short commentary beneath each of them.  Elon catalogued not only its successes, such as the first woman and African American to graduate from the university, but also it’s challenges.  Using powerful pictures taken during crises such as the fire that burned down most of the newly built school, the outbreak of Spanish Influenza following World War I, and 9/11, the Historical Exhibit  ended up making a very noticeable effect on me.

By using pictures, the artists helped me to relate to things that happened over a hundred years ago.  I realized that I was part of an institution that had grown over the years thanks to students like me that had lived through completely different things then I’ve ever had to face in my life.  Simple historical pictures, I realized, were able to not only tell a story, but also helped me connect to the greater community of Elon. 

Dancing in the Black Box

From the opening with an intriguing contemporary duet that made statements about the effects of abusive relationships, to a fiery, fast-paced modern solo with a level of preciseness that was breath-taking, to an ensemble finale that blended elements of classical and contemporary ballet, Dancing in the Black Box showcased the best of Elon University’s dance department.  Above and beyond any dance performance I have seen at Elon University, Dancing in the Black Box was a captivating evening of work by faculty, students, and guest artists that included a broad assortment of dance styles, music, and presentational elements.  The show was thought provoking, technically impressive, stylistically diverse, and extremely enjoyable to attend with, or without a dance background.

Although the majority of the show was based in a very contemporary style of dance, each piece was unique in its form and presentation.  The opening piece, “Tink” was made up of very abstract movement with many drastic rhythmic changes requiring the dancers to be closely connected through the sound of their breaths.  The two females in the piece were very stoic in their expressions and their entire beings evoked a sense of overbearing pain and sorrow, adding to the idea of the effects of abusive relationships.  In this way, their interaction throughout the piece was almost disturbing in a sense, with very ominous gestures and development of intensifying movement.  In comparison, pieces like “Letting Go” and “A Transitional Season” had a more light-hearted contemporary feel.  They seemed to tell a story in a more concrete structure.  Movements in “Letting Go” were fluid and almost lyrical, while the choreography in “A Transitional Season” was very staccato and playful.  “Letting Go” actually used language, which was a very unique element to the piece, seeing as dance is normally a language that remains unspoken.  It was captivating to see the blending of spoken dialogue, which evoked great levels of emotion and understanding, with the intention behind the more lyrical movement, which seemed almost spontaneous and free at times.  In student Katie Baker’s piece, Fiona Koch brought the show to a climax with the fast-paced intensity of her contemporary solo.  The piece was very grounded, yet Fiona had to be on top of herself in order to quickly move from one almost robotic movement to another.  Due to the focus and rhythmic nature of this piece, the music and lighting were two very pertinent aspects to the material and the message of a broken record. 

Overall there was a great fluidity throughout this show.  The movement was connected and emotional with excellent musicality.  Technique was at a very high level, especially as seen in the last piece “Edge”, choreographed by ballet instructor, Jenn Guy Metcalf.  Although extremely fast paced, this was another example of that sense of contemporary freedom and fluidity reigned in by a classical structure that seemed to be a theme throughout the show.  Except for one section of the first piece that was out of sink because one of the dancers lost her balance, the preciseness and level of technical excellence of this show was breathtaking.  The dancers were connected and moving together as a unit, especially in the piece “The Magical Cusp”.  Breaths were taken together and even the musicality of the dancers was matched down to the details.  With regards to the more emotional or thematic elements of the show, I felt very strongly about the effectiveness of the dances in sending a message.  Because the movement was so abstract in some pieces, I did have trouble determining the specificities of the overall message of each piece; however, the mood of each piece was very clear, as mentioned above.  Themes included abusive relationships, leaving home, love, community, and geometric shapes. 

Overall I was impressed with this performance.  High levels of technique, musicality, commitment, and freedom of movement were represented throughout this show.  The messages were captivating, and even non-dancers found the movement patterns intriguing and impressive, as well as the emotional qualities inviting.  After seeing many other Elon dance productions, this show is in my opinion, the most well-rounded, highly technical, and emotionally provoking performance that Elon University’s dance department has presented.  It was impressive across the board, and it is a show worth the ticket price, undoubtedly.

The International Festival of Raleigh (a while back)

This past Sunday I joined my classmate on a trip to the annual International Festival of Raleigh. I was lucky enough to be able to attend this event last year, and was just as pleased with it this year. My friend, who I met through Spanish class, and I both had fun making our way there listening to her Spanish speaking GPS who she calls Raul. The Festival takes place inside a spacious convention center and has a stage for the incredible variety of dancers and performers who are present there throughout the event. There is a veritable ocean of kiosks, each with individuals from different nations selling international goods or presenting information on their country. A wall of food stands also loops around the back which has never failed to impress me with some type of delicious exotic cuisine or another. Hundreds of people mill about through the labyrinth of mini-culture shocks in a true spectacle of diversity, hidden among the plain buildings of Raleigh.

The most momentous event that occurred for me during my time there happened at one of the smaller, unassuming stands. This one advertised to write your name in Chinese calligraphy. There was an elderly woman there who could only speak Chinese, and her daughter, who would translate for her. I tried out (in an accent probably too American to understand) my very basic Chinese. I attempted to tell them what my Chinese name was that I already had. I asked for a piece of paper because I knew that my too-American pronunciation was probably not getting the full message across. The younger girl tried to hand me a pen, but the older woman offered me her paintbrush. Hoping to show them some of what I had learned, and communicate a little more effectively, I began to write a simple sentence that I knew- "I am American," which takes about 5 characters. Both of their jaws dropped as they craned forward to see what this random Southerner would ever have to write in Chinese. They followed along closely and excitedly mouthed the meaning of each character as soon as they recognized it. As they finally got the full sentence, I added a little smiley face to the end. The older woman laughed and added her own, admittedly more Asian-looking, smile drawing to the paper as well. The woman also took the time to draw me my name in Chinese, after I had written what is was down in pen. (Because trying to tell it to them out loud did not really work there either.) Her calligraphy version was much prettier than my utilitarian one and I thanked her in Chinese, "xie xie" being one of the only phrases I have ever picked up from childhood from being half-Chinese. Her eyes lit up and she thanked us in unsure English as we walked away.

Two things happened here that I found important. The first was, I realized how absolutely perfect the brush and ink system is for writing characters. For the amount of times I had imitated them in the workbook in pencil, I never realized why they were shaped exactly the way they were. After writing in Chinese with the brush for the first time, I understand a little more why they are constructed as they are- it is much, much more natural to write characters with a brush! The second that occurred was the breaking of a language barrier. In my experience with Spanish, sometimes even knowing a few words can strengthen the connection between people. Here, even a few basic but correct characters were powerful enough to create a sudden understanding between two vastly different cultures. As a linguist it is easy to spend all day memorizing word after word and forget what they are there for. In my experience it is not until the words you have so carefully memorized actually smash down a social barrier do you realize their true importance.

Ragtime

When I saw Ragtime this past weekend, I was moved by both the elaborate and painstaking choreography and the emotional weight of the play. The play covered themes such as social class, immigration and nationality, racial prejudice, growing as a person, and doing the right thing. It centered around the lives of three seemingly different, but also very similar families all doing their best around the turn of the 20th century. One was a rich upper class white family, one a lower class black family, and and immigrant man and his daughter from Latvia. Each family's story becomes forever entwined, and I was moved by how tragic the play turned at times. I was quite choked up at times, and other times enraged. Although eventually the play had a happy ending, it was chock full of hardship and catastrophe.

However, I see the importance of this type of emotional experience for society in general. I recognized that one of this play's main purposes was to force people to feel through its exaggerated and theatrical nature. In this case what the playwrights probably wanted the audience to feel was a profound abhorrence for the injustice of racism. I felt as though this play, while being a quality source of entertainment, also served as a healthy societal reminder of the sheer amount of progress and change in America over just the last century, and also as a warning against injustice. Being reminded of history is especially important in a modern, forward-thinking college environment where students will lead their lives into the future.

I liked how through the medium of a musical each person's perspective and history could be shown. In one particular musical number, the audience could see both an American citizen about to leaving on a ship and an immigrant about to arrive in America. They sing songs about their thoughts as they see each other and wave from a very far distance, but only the audience gets to hear both of their perspectives. I thought this was a creative and interesting way to see things and something that would have been very difficult to pull off in a movie. Overall, I would say this play was very well done.