Victory (Concert)

Victory (Gospel Performance)

The concert that I chose to attend was named Victory. It was a gospel performance that was performed by Benedict College, Claflin University, and the chosen ensemble students who attend The University of South Carolina. The gospel concert was directed by Romell Dash and was located in the music building on campus. 

They did not have any props. The only props that they had on stage was microphones for the singers. They did however use different lighting schemes for different parts of the performance. Whenever someone would sing a solo or slower pitched song, the lights would dim and focus on that one person while everyone else would sing in the background. 

The setting of the show had a 70's theme to it. The songs that were song were meant to uplift the listeners who were present in the room. Just like many other gospel performances, the music and soulful tones of the singers brought about a since of yearning or wanting more from your own life. The social meaning attached were that you can make it through anything no matter what the circumstances. 

I have to say that I really enjoyed the performance and wish that more people could have seen it. From the solo performances to the duets that some of the singers sang, it was a hearting experience. I am really glad that i was able to attend the event. 

Classics to Contemporary (Dance)

The dance performance was hosted from November 18-19, 2010 and was located in the Koger Center for the Arts. It was directed by Susan Anderson and Thaddeus Davis. The Classics to Contemporary was a collection of many different dances with The Great Galloping Gottschaulk being the main and final performance. 

The dancers used many different costumes with a lot of different colors throughout the play. During the plays lighter moments, the dancers had many light colors such as light blues and light shades of yellow and red which created a gentile and happy environment on stage. During the darker, sadder moments, the lights would dim to a dark blue while the dancers changed into darker green costumes. In doing this, you could feel the whole overall mood of the dance change. Having only two -three people dancing during that time also contributed to the sad scenes. 

During different scenes throughout the dance performance, I experienced many different feelings while watching. There was a playful scene where two dancers would try and fight each other to prove who was the tougher man. There were also different depressing scenes where you felt sadness in the environment. 

There were many scenes that I liked over other scenes from the dance performance. I enjoyed the The Great Galloping Gottschaulk part of the performance the most. I also enjoyed the playful scene where the two male dancers fought each other to prove their strength. There was also many scenes that I saw that seemed to drag on. Overall however though, I can tell that the dancers put a lot of time and effort into their performance so i commend them for that. The whopping $16 that I had to pay I feel was too much. Other than that, it was an okay performance. 

Assignment #10 Opera and Musical Theater

Opera and Musical Theater

1. Discuss the plot of Turandot? 
2. Name two operas that Mozart wrote
3. Discuss the difference between opera and light opera


1) The play revolves around a princess named Turandot. Men would line themselves up left and right to try and win her hand in marriage. All that the men would have to do is answer 3 questions to win her hand. However though, if they failed to answer correctly, they would ultimately be beheaded. Countless men would try and would fail miserably. A prince however then comes along and answers each question correctly and but tells Turandot that if she can guess his name, she could behead him by sunrise. Turandot then tries to frantically find out his name. She finds his servant who is madly inlove with him but doesn't break. When sunrise comes and everyone waits to hear her say his name, he turns around and whispers his name to her before she can say anything. In shock and amazement, she turns around and says that his name is "love". 


2) The Marriage of Figaro
     Don Giovanni


3) An opera is a theatrical performance in which a dramatic performance is set to music. A light opera is a musical play with light subject matter and a happy ending. The dialouge is usually spoken rather than sung. It can also be described as being an short amusing opera.  

Big Love (Play)

Big Love

The name of the play is Big Love which was written by Charles L. Mee. The play was located at the Longstreet Theater and was directed by Chris Clavelli. The play was performed in a a theater in the round type of theater. Some of the main characters are Olympia, a carefree girl who enjoys the comfort of men, Lydia, a girl torn between love and what she actually wants, and Thyona, a strong minded woman who feels that all men are corrupt and not needed.

The play used many lighting and sounding effects throughout the play. There was also parts of the show where  singing was added to add emotion and feeling to the show. Everytime something serious came up, the lights would start to to flicker creating a sort of tension among the characters and the audience. When the characters would hit the ground, drums would play adding to the impact. The lights would dim leaving the room in a dark blue atmosphere. 

Many different scenes of the play could be considered male bashing. In the beginning, the female characters described men as egotistical, arrogant, selfish, and self centered. Later on in the show however, it displayed men in a more realistic form describing them as having to portray a tough persona while actually being gentle and very caring. Many of the points that were trying to made in the play dealt with equality and realistic notions of marriage and how it is today. I could relate to many of the things that they were talking about thus making the play easier to watch. 

Overall, Big Love was a very well acted and directed play. All of the characters were believable. The lighting and audio also played a big part in the overall success of the play. I would highly recommend any who hasn't seen it to go and see it. I enjoyed the play a lot and will give it two thumbs up/

Assignment #12 (Music)

Music (Assignment #12)

A. What is the time for this music? 

44/44 Beats
B. How many beats does the solid green G get? 

8 beats
C. How many beats does the open green G get? 

2 Beats
D. What is one dark vertical line to one dark vertical line called? 

A barline which is used to mark off measures.
E. What song is this? 

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Peter and The Wolf

1. Who wrote "Peter and the Wolf?"

Sergei Prokofiev
2. What instrument is played as Peter?

String Instruments
3. What instrument is played as the wolf? 

French Horns
4. What instrument is play as the grandfather, duck, bird, and alligator?

Grandfather: Bassoon

Duck: Oboe 

Bird: Flute

Cat: Clarinet

Hunters: Timpani 

Assignment #4 (Make-Up Work)

The movie that I choose to view for the movie assignment was Animal Kingdom. It was a rainy day on Monday when I went to the Nickelodeon to see it. I really didn't know much about the movie except that it was a movie based on crime within a family from some of the trailers I saw for it. The movie was also filmed in Australia.

The movie revolves around a young character is caught in a web of lies and destruction within his own family. Even from the opening scenes of the movie, you could tell it would be a dark movie. The first few minutes of the movie, he talks to someone on the phone saying that his grandmother has died. Moments later, dark and gloomy music is played in the background thus forecasting the overall mood and tone for the movie. 

The way the angles of the camera and the tone of the music really captured the betrayal and sadness portrayed in the movie. You would always see when something bad was about to occur just from the music that was played. This movie was very dark in nature. There were many scenes that were shot that were very tragic and sad. Even the tone of the characters who stared in the movie voices even played a part and tied to the movie in many ways. I think this is one of the things that made the movie enjoyable. The angles at witch many of the characters were shot made them feel more believable and made you sympathize with the main character even more. 

All in all, I will have to say that I really enjoyed watching the movie. It's like you could feel the characters pain in many scenes just from the way things built up to different scenes. The tone of the music helped play a major part in doing this. From the many different camera angles as well, you could see the sadness and conflict among the characters. I have to say that it was an overall good movie that had many dark moments that I felt drawn to. 

Part 2: Architecture
The picture that I have taken comes from a building located around the Horseshoe. The building gets much of it design from the Greek Revival. It can also be described as a post and lintel type of structure. Large columns hold the building up while also giving it an ancient Greece type of feel and look. 

Phantom of the Opera

1) There are many reasons why The Phantom of the Opera was so successful. One of the reasons why it is is because many differerent forms of art were brought together to form this peice of artwork. 5 art diciplines that are combined in the movie are music, visual art, dance, opera, and film. All of these art disciplines added a different element to the movie that made it a good movie.

                                 

2)  Describe what the life of a ballerina would have been like at the Paris Opera House in the late 19th century.

The life a ballerina was very tiring and time consuming. They were constantly practicing and practicing. They would get sent off to ballerina schools ofter at the young age of 11. Often when they reached the age of 30, their careers would end. Males once dominated all of the roles in the ballet. There were hardly any male ballet dancers because they were going in decline when they first performed the Phantom of the Opera. 

Assignment #6 Theater

Apron Stage (Proscenium Theater)

Parts of the Stage

1. Proscenium wall
2. Barrel or Apron...There isn't a label on picture. 
3. Off Stage
4. Curtains
5. Setting Line
6. Auditorium
7. Border

This is a Proscenium Theater. 

Assignment #5

Why Do We Dance?

Why do people dance?

People have many different reasons for dancing. Some may see it as a way to release different emotions. Others here music and something inside of them moves to a beat or tune. People dance as a way to act out religious traditions and ceremonies. Some people dance to have fun with others while experiencing happy emotions. These are many reasons why people choose to dance.

Why do you dance or if not, why don't you dance?

When i dance, I do it because I am happy. I dance while around some of my friends when we go out to local bars and clubs. I see dancing as a way of expressing yourself. Even though I can be self conscious of myself at times, often than not I dance without a care of the people who are looking at me. 

What makes a dance good? When I see others on stage dancing well, what goes through my head at the moment?

Just like people say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, judging what makes a dance good can be based off of the same principles. But just like everything else in life, dancing takes time and practice so that one can truly master it. Seeing someone spin effortlessly in the air or someone moving swiftly from place to place all determine what makes a dance actually good. When I see someone who is very talented dancing well to a beat, I sit back and stare in awe and amazement. I sit back and wonder just how much time and effort one puts in to perfectly pacing from spot to spot with another partner. These are somethings that can explain what makes a dance actually good. 

Assignment #3

The show that we had to attend was called the Delineate. It was located in the McMaster Art Gallery. I have to say, I got a sense of dread or sorrow while viewing the paintings and art work. I feel as if all his work that was in the art gallery had many dark tones behind all of them I can not explain exactly what it is, but there was something that drew me towards the artwork. I guess everything that I am currently going threw at the moment is why I related to these specific pictures.

Chosen Artwork For Assignment

• Describe
• The Artist: Melissa Cooke
• Name of Artwork: You Know Me Better Than Myself
• The artwork is a portrait of a woman who looks to be in some form of agony or despair. The artist used many dark shades of gray and black. This enhances the image that the artist is trying to portray. 
• Analyze
• This portrait uses many dark shades of gray creating a sense of pain in the person's face. The picture leaves one with a sense of what beauty really is. The artist uses lighter colors in the areas of the face that he places extra emphasis on. 
• Interpret
• By looking at the portrait, one can come away with many different meanings. I see a person who has an emotionless facial expression. This could represent someone who has been through a lot of problems or emotional stress and they maybe reached their breaking point. Maybe the person has nothing left in them from constant suffering. There is a very dark and gloomy nature to this portrait. The person in the picture may also represent loneliness or a sense of abandonment as well. 
• Evaluate
• This particular artwork I have found kind of interesting. There is something dark and mysterious about the person in the picture. I can not pinpoint exactly what it is, but there is something that draws me to it. Maybe it is the dark gloomy shades of gray that may symbolize being alone while showing an unemotional facial expression. These are some of the reasons that I like this particular artwork. I feel as if this can represent a time in my life where I was down and out. 

Assignment #2

1) Aesthetics are the feelings of arousal we have when we look at or do certain things. It can also be used when describing something that is beautiful and pleasing to the senses,

2) The four domains of Creativity revolves around synetics, guided imagery, S.C.A.M.P.E.R, and extending fluency.

3) Practical Experience: Washing my car

Aesthetic Experience: As I go outside to wash my car, i can see the sunlight from the bright sun rays that shine down upon my car on a warm summer day. As I watch the water alacritously come out of the water hose seemingly cooling my car that has been out in the blistering hot summer heat we have all come to endure. As I scrub and wash my car, I can see the the speck of dirt slowly but surely evaporate from the silvery texture of a car that is only 4 years old. As I finish drying my car off, I can see my reflection beaming off what was once a dirty unpleasantly looking car. Upon viewing the finished fruit of my labors sparkling from a far, I can only stare in awe at how beautiful my car really is.

Assignment #1

First I will like to introduce myself. My name is Theodore Leach but everyone knows me as Teddy. I am a transfer student from the USC Upstate campus. My major is Public health and I am currently a Junior. Have I ever created art is a good question. I guess if I went back to my younger days when in elementary and middle school, teachers would have us create many different painting and drawings. Those are the only times I can really think to where I have actiually created art. I however though, have been to museums as well as different theatre and plays. Although I may not know many different artists, I however do like many art paintings and pictures. I like the type of artwork that can make one question their own existence. Paintings and pictures that can bring about a certain sensation inside of its' viewer. I like many different type of abstract types of art that have different underlining meanings.

Being that I am currently a Junior, I have found many ways to learn different materials for class. I sometimes fall into the trap of procastination and sometimes put things off leaving me forced to cram for tests or when writing papers. I am more of a hands on learner. I like to have things in front of me so that I can touch and feel things. I also learn best when I write things out. It helps me to memorize large amounts of information.

I believe that art can come in many different forms. I believe that art can be anything from the music we listen to, the movies or television we watch, or the games that we play. I feel that if anything visual that enables and deep response inside of an individual can be considered art. Music is a form of art. From the simply melodies to the vibrant sounds that cause us to dance and move to a beat. These are all forms of art. Music and movies are the most abundant things that I have that can constitute as art. My ipod has a wide range of music for my many different moods. If I want to listen to something soothing while studying, I can play a RnB song or if I wanted something even deeper, i could play a contemporary piece from an artist like John Mayer.

Art surrounds us everywhere we go. From the commercials we see to the music we listen to, they are all forms of art that touch us in some form or way. We as individual are whom should decide what is good art or something worthless. Everyone is affected by different things in many ways. What might serve as inspiration to one, may not mean anything to another person. Sort of like saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder.