The Suffering of Frida Kahlo

I found the building of the Day of the Dead alter extremely interesting. Each person took many of the traditional elements of building an alter like candles, water, food but others added other personal details. Ellie had an American flag as the backdrop for her alters which was dedicated to those she lost in the military. Andrea chose to place her candles to represent each of the four corners of the world. This assignment affected me more than I thought possible and after I sought out photos of passed family and friends to keep around my apartment as memoirs, rather than dealing with death by no reminders around at all.

The paintings of Frida Kahlo are filled with recurring themes of death and suffering which overwhelmed her existence. Frida is in an accident in her late teens that leaves her with a severe spinal injury which affects her for the rest of her life and largely influenced how she painted. Frida was unable to have children and took the lost of a baby particularly hard, the painting below reflects the mental anguish that she experience. The Dia de Muertos art shares several characteristics with Frida’s art, including the use of skeletons, skulls to portray death, bright colors, and atmospheric settings.

Henry Ford Hospital by Frida Kahlo 1932

Each painting that Frida completed told a story and one being her volatile relationship riddled with infidelity, with her husband Diego Rivera.

Diego and I by Frida Kahlo 1949

Frida uses hard lines and vibernt colors in her paintings. Serveral of her paintings are often disturbing such as such as the painting below called “Without Hope.” It appears that her very existence is being pulled through her mouth and the title itself tells of the suffering that Frida endured in her last days while bedridden.

Day of the Dead Alter

My Day of Dead Alter celebrates my ancestors from Africa using the African mask, my late friend’s love of wine and the fruit is homage to the apple tree in my late grandfather’s yard.
My alter includes a mirror and a scarf with stars on it. The mirror is there because each time I look at myself, I see my ancestors staring back at me. The scarf represents the beautiful night sky that my friend’s ashes were scattered into from a plane.

My alter uses several of the traditional Day of the Dead Alter elements; I have lit candles, wine for drinking and apples for eating. The plants give a lush garden feel and the palm tree is representative of the palm trees on the Ivory Coast of Africa.

I do not own one white sheet, because all of my sheets are colorful but I do recognize that traditional alter would have a white backdrop.

The making of this alter has been an interesting experience as I searched in boxes for memoirs of deceased friends and family, I realized that I do not have any memorabilia of family and friends. I have moved more than 15 times, since I left my parents house. I once lived overseas and in several states along the east coast, I feel that moving has caused me to lose some sentimental photos and other items. I believe that those from Mexico have a much closer connection with those that who have died and keep anything for creating the Day of the Dead Alter. I am now on a mission to get copies of any photos that I may have lost and keep something to help me remember those that I have lost. People use a variety of methods to cope with losing someone that they love; I find it very hard to keep anything around that reminds me of someone I’ve lost. I do believe that this sentiment has widely affects many in the American culture because we do not celebrate the dead, but morn the dead.

Unit 5, Lesson 2

The documentary called “A Whisper to a Scream” presented the rise of Irish rock in a way I have not seen before. Van Morrison, U2, Sinéad O'Connor, The Cranberries and Boyzone are some of my favorite singers and bands that I discovered when I lived in Ireland in 2003-04. All of the artists listed above, broke through to the National stage, some more well known than others. There was a small pub, near my house and on Thursday nights, a local folk singer would play by the bar.

For fun, I wanted to include an old bar song by T. D. Sullivan I that learned while in Ireland:

God save Ireland ! " said the heroes;

"God save Ireland" said they all.

Whether on the scaffold high

Or the battlefield we die,

0, what matter when for Erin dear we fall ! "

As the music would play, I remember feeling lost in the music, from the sad love ballads to the fast paced jigs. Ireland has a special connection with music.

Millions of Irish Americans live in the United States today and their cultural traditions have influenced many parts of America, from sports teams to dance. I have 3 nieces who live in Ireland and were fortunate to attend a chorus concert. The concert was sung in Irish or Gaelic but I could feel the timeless essence of the Irish tradition even though I did not understand the words.

I feel that Ireland has been true to the tradition of Irish music and has not been directly inflenced by the music of the world. Although, there are Irish artist on music scene of today like Damien Rice, Snow Patrol and the Thrills. All of theses musicians have skillful included the core components of Irish music, including love ballads, violins, harps, and flutes.

Unit 3, Lesson 2

To fully appreciate the depth of influence that Kyogen has on the Japanese culture one must grasp an understanding of the phrase. Kyogen simply put is a form of theater, and the word is defined as angry words" or "wild specious words"[1]. The actions within the plays are measured and as mentioned in one of the assigned videos, actors could follow the steps of others because the steps were marked from previous plays. Speech and purposed movement are a important theme in all of these play.

In contrast, I once visited a play and that was called "the Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller. I expected the usual stage with props, backdrops, and lights. I was surprised to see one man come out in the middle of everyone, and asked that we stand in a circle and then he came acted out the entire play using different audience members to complete the cast. The actor presented the play different from any I have ever seen before.

I do not think that freedom of expression is not a viable option in the art Kyogen. Ortolani states that “great importance is given to training and to the completion of this art." (22) Japanese actors study for years to prefect the art of Kyogen. Although American actors train for years, they are given freedom of how to portray themselves. Japanese actors, who study Kyogen, focus on the traditional and the re-training of the art and presenting that art exactly as it was decades previously.

My impression of Japan’s classical comic theatre has not changed because I have been aware of the importance of tradition and culture there. However, I did gain a greater appreciation of Japanese theatre and how it’s crossed over into Western countries.

Laugh at Life

What are your first impressions when you think of Japan or Japanese culture?
What makes you laugh?

My first impression of Japan is that it's a place rooted in culture and tradition. The Noh Plays are a great example of Japanese. When I think of Japan, I think of Geishas, beautiful tea houses, the mystical landscaping and gardens, the villbrant city of Tokyo, Samurai soldiers, Pearl Harbor and a country that leads the world in electronics. Although, our history with Japan has been shaky due to World War II, today we have a strong ally in the region.

I tend to laugh at stand-up comedy, Family Guy, the movie-Friday, Mighty Python, Saturday Night Live (especially this year), Jon Steward and the Colbert Report. I think that politics and the daily decisions that we make in life can often be funny. Having a sense of humor, I feel, is part of being healthy and balanced.

I dont know if anyone has heard of this but there is a growing type of therpy about Laughing Yoga. I took a class once and I enjoyed it. I laughed so hard, I cried and the was even funnier to watch when everyone else in the class laughing or trying to laugh. I have a video from youtube to show anyone that's interested in tying it out!
As crazy as this may sound, I highly recommend this when you're having a rough day.

Unit 3, Lesson 1

Describe and discuss with fellow students your reactions to the Kyogen play Busu. Do you see parallels between the comedy of Kyogen and your favorite sit-coms or comic films? If so, please describe these parallels.

The voices are slow and exaggerated, their movements slow and punctuated, and the storyline was short but seemed long. I feel lost in trying to figure out the intention of the story, due to watching western plays and movies for years; I could not understand the slower and exaggerated version presented in the Kyogen. Kyogen are interludes to Noh plays. Noh plays tend to be more musical and complicated. I suppose that the interludes are simple because they do not want to overshadow the Noh.

There are several characteristics within the Kyogen play that I noticed:

• The stage is very sparse and few props are used.
• The cast is very small.
• The humor is very simple and slapstick.

The Japanese Kyogen play Busu reminds me of Charlie Chaplin movie. The way Charlie would walk penguin style across the stage, the actors of play Busu walked much smoother but did not walk realistically. The humor was 100% slapstick and not very funny in my opinion. I tend to lend more toward Mighty Python and Family Guy so comedic relief. An interesting connection between Chinese Opera and Japanese Kyogen plays are similar. Both are very theatric and exaggerated and both use very “exasperating” vocal tones. Despite, all of my reservations, I am very interested in knowing more about the cultural influences on Noh and the Kyogen interludes.

Hotel of Hope

Describe your response to Hotel Rwanda. How has this film affected your view of Africa and its people?

Hotel Rwanda, in my opinion, is not the best movie in showing the diversity of African culture. I am aware that the genocide between the origins of Tutsi and Hutu is based in the varying of culture, politics, traditions and beliefs. However, the horrifying violence that plays throughout the movie made me feel empty and ashamed. The lack of response and support from the UN and the U.S. was appalling to me and to see it live in a movie, made it resonate more.

However, the sense that some people may approach this movie as unbelievable only due to the fact that everyone was mostly dressed in western clothing. I, personally, think this movie is very believable because Africans, who have assimilated into the cities, do not dress in traditional dress like before. I believe that this movie shows that Africans are courageous and strong people. Despite the chaos, some people in any conflict that are willing to open up their arms to those in need. The Underground Railroad is an example that comes to mind, wherein there were several whites who did not support slavery and were instrumental in helping the freedom of slaves.

I have watched several African movies that show their people in a much more positive and educational light. Princess Trya is a great African movie that brings light to growing conflict of the clash of old traditions of Africa vs. the new more western African youth. I think that Americans often only see one view of Africa because usually only bad news reaches the mainstream media and the only movies that have had any clout at the box office are those telling some terrible conflict or war in Africa. I do think that it’s important to inform the rest of the world the inaction of the international community during the genocide in Rwanda but it would be nice to see a mixture of portrayals of African people in movies. Sarafina! is another great movie, filmed in South Africa about the apartheid, although the subject matter is rather bleak (and true), the use of song and dance would make it a great addition to this class material.

If anyone has a couple of minutes, I recommend watching a clip from "Show Me Heaven." It is a great African movie that once again challenges the traditions of old cultural norms vs western ideals. It's about 8:00min long but well worth it, if you have never seen an African movie before!

Unit 2, Lesson 2

Hotel Rwanda is a wonderful historical movie that tells of the account between the Hutu and the Tutsi conflict and the ultimate killing of thousands. Actor, Don Cheadle, portrays the part of Paul Rusesabagina brilliantly. Paul runs a western upscale hotel in Rwanda. He allows over 1000 people to take refuge in his hotel during the conflict and saves many lives. He is very street smart, although being noticeably wealthy; he knows now to bargain to achieve the safety he needs to keep everyone alive. Paul is Hutu and his wife a Tutsi but they are very much in love, despite the turmoil that happens between the two groups. The Hutu’s consider anyone married to a Tutsi, a traitor. Paul risks his life for his multicultural family, as well as the residents taking shelter at his hotel and others. Love melts the lines of separation of culture, tradition and politics.

The children who dance and sing around the pool are aware of the bloodshed around but them but unwilling to give in the joys of life, the simple things that unite all of them together like dance. I believe that the director wanted to show how innocent children are, despite the extreme actions of their elders or the adults; children do not start country conflicts

In America, we are an endless melting pot of dialects. I was raised in North Carolina in the deep country. Most people in my high school spoke with a southern accent; however, social class did affect how one would speak. The students who lived in poor communities did not speak like those who were born into wealth. Often discrimination can be shown to those who speak a certain dialect, one being poor, black, or any person of color. My grandfather lived in Massachusetts for most of his life but he was born in Richmond, Virginia. He was a smart man who was a brilliant auto mechanic but up north, his southern accent caused others to think he wasn’t smart. Being southern and not being smart is a long held stereotype with the northern states and others. I visited Philadelphia for an extended amount of time and met people who would ask me to pronounce words and then say “wow, she’s so southern.” Many people I met would try and “correct” my pronunciation of certain words. I felt that this was pretty demeaning but became sensitive to such topics nevertheless. I know that dialect can be used as tool in discriminating against others all over America in addition to race, sex, religion and social class.

What has dance done for me?

As I stated in my previous post, dance has always been a part of my life. My first incident with dance was as early as 3 year old, back in the early 1980s. My dad turned on James Brown’s hit “The payback” and started to dance across the floor. I mimicked all his movements and I’ve been dancing badly ever since (at least that's what my friends tell me).

I have noticed that when music starts, most babies will begin to bounce without prompting. I have noticed that some parents will start to bounce their babies when music starts, perhaps even without knowing, and then the baby will mimic that action thereafter.

I feel that my first post answered many of the aspects to be covered in this post but to summarize what I feel when African music is played:

"African dance has always been a spiritual experience for me. When the drummer starts, the rhythm starts at the tip of my toes and moves up to my legs, waist, arms, neck, and head. By the time the other drums have joined in, my entire body is not its own and is consumed by the rhythm and I could not stop dancing if I wanted to". -Me

When I think of the country of Africa, the first thing that comes to mind is slavery. I think its because of the history that directly impacted generations of my family and others in the United States. I know that in the early days, the African American Church was used as a place to come together to dance, sing and praise. My great-grandmother told me once that during her time (late 1890s), blacks were so discouraged that the church was the only place where they could openly vent frustrations but in order to keep from being beaten or killed, using song and dance to rely such messages, hid their true feelings.

I went to a show once in Durham, North Carolina where a group of African children were singing for a charity event. The children all look joyful, smiling, and were clapping their hands . However, a friend of mine translated all the songs sung that night into English and I saw that they were filled with despair and saddness. The children sung that night at the concert of how they were without food or that their parents died in war. was appalled and was reminded of what my great-grandmother told me.

I feel that there is a "making special" connection between African Americans and Africans. It could also be argued that any culture, social group, or race facing hardships, engage in the same use of art across the world. I think that it's beautiful that dance and song can be used as a release for pent up emotions and hurt and through this process, the recognition of the pliant of others is brought to the forefront and healing can began.

Below is a video of African Dance and Drumming in Denmark!

African Dance and I

Unit 2, Lesson 1

My first incident with dance was as early as 3 year old, back in the early 1980s. My dad turned on James Brown’s hit “The payback” and started to dance across the floor. I mimicked all his movements and I’ve been dancing badly ever since.

I don’t know how many of you have heard of The Chuck Davis Dance Company, but he has run one of the best African dance troops in the country. Please check out this video on Youtube, where it tells why dance is used in Africa.

The official website of the dance troop is here: http://www.africanamericandanceensemble.org/about.htm

Dissanayake explains in her book “What is Art For,” that “making special” is an agreement between both, in this case the musician and the dancer, that an un-verbal connection has been made and it has the ability to be spread universally. In the lesson 2, part 2, the point is made that that Dissanayake states that “art is as universal as language and tool making” (p92).

African dance has always been a spiritual experience for me. When the drummer starts, the rhythm starts at the tip of my toes and moves up to my legs, waist, arms, neck, and head. By the time the other drums have joined in, my entire body is not its own and is consumed by the rhythm and I could not stop dancing if I wanted to. I feel that there is something naturally implanted in me that makes me feel this connection with my ancestors and its conforming to me. African dance has crossed cultural lines and no matter where I’ve traveled, it has been met with appreciation by all.

Childhood Memories

• What images of childhood come to mind when you look at these photos?
• If you have children or grandchildren, what memories do these pictures awaken?
• What makes you laugh?

The photographic shown in the video faded in and out quickly and before one had a chance to make out detail it was gone. This video gave me a sad feeling because our youth passes by us so fast. As an child, I remember creeping into my mother's room late at night because I had awakened from a nightmare and she would always say "yes, you can sleep here tonight" ( even when my dad would grumble). Immediately, I would disappear in her warm embrace and safety replaced fears.
I do not have any children of my own or grandchildren but I have a host of nieces and nephews who I love dearly. The photos, especially the first one, reminded me of late nights staying up with them as newborns and catching naps in between feedings. For some reason it's hard for me to find a movie that makes me laugh, but life itself is very funny at times. Perhaps, I'd rather laugh then lose my mind at times because the most ironic things happen. My nieces make me laugh all the time. One of my youngest nieces , Bri (3 years old) looked at an ant hill this weekend and asked her dad,

"what that dad?

That's an ant's house Bri, he answered

Where's their car?" Bri asked.

Everyone laughed.

Lesson 2

What is culture? Edward Hall writes in his book “Silent Language” that culture is an interrelated mixture of complicated and unknown behaviors of the past and presently all linked together by communication. Technology and language allow substantial findings by anthropologist storable thus giving future generations a better understanding of the past (p 57).

Disnnanayake and Hall share similar views on art and culture; although Halls’ takes an anthropologist angle, noting cultural learned behaviors are often unconscious. Hall writes of the “out of awareness” communication wherein we pick up certain behaviors through life and unconsciously relate to certain situations. As a little girl I wanted to comb my own hair from an early age. No one sat down and taught me how but the action came naturally to me. I realize that I probably watched my mother and my older sisters comb their hair and learned without noticing.

Disnnanayakes’ angle is from a bio-behavioral point of view based in “attempts to account biologically for the emotional physiological need of people just as much as the physical physiological” (What is Art? p 31). I think this is very interesting because we (depending on where we live in the world) would listen to various music and disliking it or liking it greatly due to culture. Disnnanayakes’ used the example of eating a sugar based treat and recognizing something as sweet or too sweet. A friend of mine dragged me to a theatre for an opera by Luciano Pavarotti overseas, I was hesitant to go because I was a hardcore hip-hop, rocker chick at the time, but during the singing of "Nessun Dorma," I felt the hair raise on the back on my neck and I was overwhelmed with this strange emotion that I cannot explain to this day. I was happy to see Disnnanayakes’ state that highly emotional experiences (including one by S.J Gould when he sung in a chorus) cannot be explained by science or thought.

I like knowing that there are some things still left unknown and we can float into these experiences with freedom and blissful incompetence.

Art From Where I stand

Lesson 1.

As I walked in the room of the North Carolina Museum of Art, I overheard a couple speaking about a work of abstract art. The woman thought that the picture meant hope, dream and desire. The man thought the painting meant desperation, death and sadness. Curious, I decided to take a look and judge the painting for myself. The painting was a swirl of red, pink, orange, and black colors. The edges of the painting held no recognizable form, while the center had pronounced lines. The feeling that was evoked within me was one of goals, determination, and grandeur. The lines in the center were pronounced because they were purposeful. The smeared edges were there to hold in the purpose and to pronounce it; however, I am sure that hundreds more came along and felt completely different about the same painting. In the assigned reading, “What is Art For” by Ellen Dissanayake, art is described as “for nothing but itself (p 40).” There are no rules in art. There is no way to state that this type of art or form displays a certain type of feeling or truth (p 41). The United States is a country of immigrants and each has put their mark on the art world.
I would best describe metropolitan cities like New York and Chicago as a hub of cultural arts in US culture. There are so many different types of art that it’s difficult to choose just one type to represent “the heart of America.” Historically, before cameras and video cameras; paintings, drawings and sculpture, and weaving are some of the methods used as the sole use in depicting images for viewing and recording purposes. In the reading, it was mentioned that Winston Churchill’s portrait was not favorable to his wife and she destroyed it. The realistically painted portraits were most popular in the 19th and 20th century, but today the use of abstract painted portraits is more main stream. Portrait paintings were and still are important in recording history. Each United States president gets his or her portrait painted during their time in office and it is displayed in the White House. So if I were to choose one of the many types of art forms to portray the “the heart of America” I would select the realistically painted portrait as a historical favorite.

First Post

Hi
I am a first year MALS (Masters of Liberal Arts) student. This blog is going to include reflections from questions assigned each week. I look forward to you all's comments.