Chinese News Site Cites Onion Piece on Kim Jong-un New York Times by Edward Wong

This article discusses an article published in the Onion, a newspaper that publishes satirical writing and parodies, that called Kim Jong-un of North Korea the “Sexiest Man Alive for 2012.” Controversy arose when a news site of the Chinese Communist Party reported the information, possibly taking the writing of the Onion as fact rather than satire. I found the author’s response to the incident very interesting. When asked wether he had concerns about the misinterpretation causing an international incident Will Tracy responded, “The Onion fully intends to provoke international incidents.” The while incident is an interesting concept. What is great about the Onion, and all satirical writing, is the ability to share controversial opinions and beliefs in a way that comes across as comedy rather than controversy. I think art has this same kind of masking ability. We can say things with art that may not be accepted if they were stated outright. Of course we have in America the freedom of speech, however bold controversial opinions usually are not widely accepted. However, satirical writing and other works of art have the ability to spread to many people by making the issue a hidden message within the work itself.

Another example of making controversial statements through art are street artists. They spread their beliefs to thousands of people simply by painting an image on the side of a building or public space.

Work by JR

Work by Blu

Work by D*Face

Works by Banksy

Sidi Larbi Cherkaui’s Choreography for ‘Anna Karenina‘ New York Times, by Gie Kourlas

Over thanksgiving break I saw the new movie Anna Karenina. It was an absolutely beautiful film. The story is ultimately fairly simple, but the arrangement of the film is complex and visually stunning. What I loved most about it was how it seemed to be choreographed, like life was moving in the swift motion of a dance. When I found this article I was so exctied and intrigued. The director, Joe Wright, describes how he sees everything in a film as choreography. He understand the ability of physicality to tell a story beyond what words can say. Choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui set the dance scenes, and it is clear in the waltzes that a true dancer and experimental choreographer was involved. The connection between Anna and Vronsky is clear before it is ever declared, just be their waltz. The movement is beautiful, combining intricate and delicate movement of the wrists and hands with light sweeping body movements and strong physicality and weight shifts. Even Anna’s many mental breakdowns contain so much physicality and expression through movement. Keira Knightley’s performance reminded me of how actresses used to work with Martha Graham to improve the believability and physicality of their performances. I was inspired by the movie to put this same story on stage. There is so much pure emotion in the story that would inspire such great choreography and translate easily to the audience. I would also love to see dresses like the ones in the movie moving on stage. The image of women, relationships, and society is so interesting and complex, I would love to explore it deeper.

Below is the official trailer for the movie. Even in the preview you can see many of the choreographic elements and the beauty of the composition of the film as a whole.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPGLRO3fZnQ

I have known for years now what I want to do with my life. I feel so lucky to be headed for a career in which I can make a living doing what I love. Of course, pursuing a career in dance can be a very scary thing. Competition is serious for dance jobs and in general artists don’t make much money. What it will take is dedication and creativity. My goal is to join a contemporary or modern company after college. Throughout the next three and a half years I intend to get the most out of my dance education. I want to perform as much as possible, take advantage of every opportunity, and make connections. I also plan to choreograph as much as possible to continue to explore my own work and build a repertory. I would eventually like to have my own dance company and work as a choreographer. I love to explore my own movement and would love to be able to share my own work with the world. Through building a repertory and working to share my choreography with anyone interested I hope to build an audience. Eventually I will enter festivals and hold performances locally to get my work out in the dance world.  I am also interested in different cultures and the way dance effects different parts of the world. I would love to have the opportunity to travel to study dance in other cultures and bring my own work with me. I want to be a part of cultural collaboration and share it with others in America. I plan to minor in cultural anthropology, or perhaps even major in anthropology, while at SMU.  This will give me a better idea of the workings of other cultures and give me the opportunity to explore how I could connect anthropology to my dance career. I have also always been interested in working with UNICEF to help children around the world. I would love to involve dance in the work of UNICEF and share dance with the children they help. Ultimately, looking toward the future I intend to start by making connections in Dallas and expanding from there. I want to work with people who inspire me and find work that excites me.

Gas Boom Economy Strives for Economic Afterglow by John Schwartz, New York Times

This article highlights the positives and negatives of the gas boom economy in Pennsylvania. The gas industry built up quickly with the help and work of each member of the community. However, the industry is fragile and somewhat dangerous. Their booming economy is impressive, but could collapse in a moment.

Above is a picture of a sculpture made up of peppermints that responds to the article. It was easy to build up tall, requiring only a lighter to melt and connect the peppermints. However, when hit with the smallest amount of force the entire came towering down. It is an image of greatness and quick growth, but it was fragile and shattered so easily.

Fanciful Theatricality Proves a Shared Language by Brian Seibert, New York Times

The Trey McIntyre Project is presenting a new show in collaboration with the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. Their styles prove to be a great combination, both having comedic elements and strong dynamics. This collaboration reminded me of a great dallas collaboration a couple of months ago. Joshua Peugh took his company of American dancers to perform a concert with dancers in Korea. His work also has similar elements of comedy and quirkiness. The following video is a look at the piece he brought to Korea and what it is about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_UP9OyVRDI

Collaboration between different countries, cultures, and nationalities brings even greater depth and a unique perspective to art. The following is a Korean-American Poem by Jiha Ko.

Oddities of the English Language

A swan of bees
Takes flight
Beating its buzzing wings
And I stand amazed
At the existence of such
An elegant monstrosity
But if there exists a swan of
Bees, surely there can
Be a goggle of geese
I can wear underwater
And a prime of lions
I can divide with nothing
But one and itself
What about a frock of doves
With which I adorn my love
Or a clam of hyenas
Cooked into sumptuous chowder
Even a mop of kangaroos
That reminds me of my hair
Maybe I should stop now
The swan still buzzes
Overhead, dangerously
For the slightest second
It delays before
It dissipates, and scatters
Into the finest blackest filaments
And I step down to the station
Where I catch the midnight
Train of monkeys.

(Jiha Ko)

1. What did I learn about Minnie’s and the community it serves?

Minnie’s food pantry serves a group of people many are not aware need help. They live in a good area, but are going through hard times, have big families, and need outside support.

2. What is unique about Minnie’s Food Pantry?

Minnie’s strives to make everyone feel special and not lesser than or beneath those that are serving them. It is also a uniquely fun and uplifting environment!

3. What type of awareness would I like to raise in regard to Minnie’s Food Pantry?

I would like to raise the awareness that hunger exists right around us. You do not have to start a huge campaign or fly to a third world country to help. People in our own communities need our help and support.

4. What have I learned about poverty and hunger in North Dallas?

That it exists right here in our own community and we can make a big difference.

5. Why was this engagement important?

It is important both to the people who we were able to serve directly while we were at Minnie’s, and to our community within SMU and Meadows because we can raise awareness and show others what they can do to help as well.

6. How can I use what I’ve learned through volunteering at the Food Bank to serve my art?

The love and support that we could feel at the Food Pantry is a feeling that can contribute to all of our artistry. Also, one of the goals of an artist is to serve the community and be a voice of change through art. Serving the community hands on and engaging in one of the many causes that could use our voices helped me to understand more how I can benefit the community and reach that goal.

7. What is the message I’d like to send out?

I would like to share the message that their are causes that need support in our own communities. If each of us helped in our own cities to assist one another our society as a whole could benefit as a result. It is not always possible to solve huge nationwide problems, but we can each start small in our own communities.

8. How can dance be a vehicle to catalyze social-justice and social change?

Dancers draw audiences that can be inspired by our art to explore new ideas and see things in a new way. We have the ability to excite people and then direct that excitement toward a cause that needs attention.

Hurricanes and Hot Baby Names by Jonah Berger, New York Times

This article talks about the power of suggestion, and the role of similarity in shaping popular culture. Berger found links between past hurricanes and rises in baby names that begin with the same letter, such as a rise in K names after Katrina. He also discusses how the more we hear or see of something, and therefore the more familiar it becomes to us, the more likely we are to like it. Berger relates this to modern art, saying that while it may seem strange at first, once you have seen a few Picasso’s you are more inclined to like a Kandinsky. I relate to this well, especially with music. Many songs I don’t like the first time I hear them, but if I listen to them enough they become familiar and I usually end up liking them. This most recently happened to me with the song Gangnam Style http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0. This song is also an example of how things can sometimes unexpectedly sweep into popular culture. According to Berger’s theories, we will probably see a rise in the popularity of similar Korean music, clothing, or other items.

Be it Live or Filmed, Movement has a partner in dreamlike settings by Brian Seibert, New York TImes

This review highlights a piece performed by Morphoses dance company at the Joyce Theater. The piece beautifully incorporates film and dance. For a show last year, some other seniors and I choreographed and put together a video that we projected behind a piece we choreographed. The dance and film were crafted to compliment and contrast one another. Below is the film that was projected behind the dancers. To blend the dance and film, some parts mirrored each other while other parts were in contrast to interest and excite the audience.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrLsTh4LwD8

The Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty by , New York Times

This article and slideshow describe the legacy of the Gandhi family from 1947 to today. Descendants of Mohandas Gandhi still lead and influence India.

My artistic response is a found poem created by taking one word or phrase from each section of the article that matches a part of the slideshow.

Freedom empire,

Family, undated, decisive,

Succeed, comforted,

Years in power,

Turbulent leadership,

Construction,

Saved the party,

Undisputed leader.