reasons to be pretty
by Neil LaBute
My dear friend recent treated me to Neil LaBute's new play "reasons to be pretty" at the Lucille Lortell theater on Christopher street. The theater has a very unassuming presence on the street and it always made me wonder about the quality of their productions. However, they have given LaBute a home and I have heard good things about his writing.
The play was so very freshing. After multiple behemoths that clunked along at a pace less than ideal, this modern four character play clipped along at a fast pace, but gave you time to enjoy and understand what was going on. The production value was the highest I've seen in a long time, even from larger theaters. It was a good feeling.
Neil LaBute is a graduate from the same writing program as I and he has become fairly notorious in regards to his writing style. Although, I'd estimate about 10 years older than me but likely more, he is famously "edgy" and "dangerous" in a theatrical sense. All the comments from my friends about the other plays of his that played while I've been in NYC lead me to believe that LaBute's plays were dirty, crude and violent. And while this play had a smattering of dirt, a hand full of crude and its fair serving of violence, none of them really overwhelmed the heart of the play. And I think that was the point.
I play did have its faults, but compared to my recent viewings they were relatively minor. I wish Stephanie's (played my an incrediable Alison Pill) anger had more range. Which I'm positive is a script issue, but an actor issue. The other female character, played by Piper Perabo, is generally less well defined, but is a more minor character. However, she does have a monologue that has the potential to be stunning, falls a little short. Somehow LaBute isn't exactly able to grasp the fear and sometimes frustration, of being followed through grocery stores or down street by men who only want to oogle you. It is something I understand fairly well and the monlogue could have been riveting, but it wasn't. Maybe its because Mr. LaBute has never had the problem, since he's not really attractive, nor is he a women.
I recommend seeing this produtction. The good things definitely outway the bad.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
What do a man dressed as a rabbit and uncle sam have in common?
They both appear in the MacBeth currently playing at St. Ann's. I didn't think it made any sense either.
A friend of my (or my parents) once quoted a proffesor of their's and said that a play must be a "of a piece". The friend didn't know what that meant at the time by as they acumulated experience in theater they came to understand what was implied. This production was absolutely not "of a piece" all the disparate parts did not add up to a whole.
Aside from the rabbit, other audience members asked each other as I ran out of the theater "what was going on with lady macbeth, what she like a geisa or something?" I think the answer is NO. She was attempting to performing in a highly stylized way that did not fit in with the rest of the cast, except that they were just as stiff, but with less purpose. The costumer also mistakenly put her in a komono.
The show ran 2 hours which is usually short for MacBeth. But if they had been able to cut out the unnecesary pauses they could have cut out another half hour and made the evening only a torturous 90 minutes. I'm not sure if it was the cultural differences in acting style or if they were just bad, but everyone's idea of acting involved standing very still and whispering very intensely without and variation in volume or prosody. I don't think I've ever seen a more boring MacBeth.
If you want to see a good highly nuisanced MacBeth go see the one with Patrick Stewart. Or even go ahead and rent a movie version, doesn't matter which one they're all better than this play.
A friend of my (or my parents) once quoted a proffesor of their's and said that a play must be a "of a piece". The friend didn't know what that meant at the time by as they acumulated experience in theater they came to understand what was implied. This production was absolutely not "of a piece" all the disparate parts did not add up to a whole.
Aside from the rabbit, other audience members asked each other as I ran out of the theater "what was going on with lady macbeth, what she like a geisa or something?" I think the answer is NO. She was attempting to performing in a highly stylized way that did not fit in with the rest of the cast, except that they were just as stiff, but with less purpose. The costumer also mistakenly put her in a komono.
The show ran 2 hours which is usually short for MacBeth. But if they had been able to cut out the unnecesary pauses they could have cut out another half hour and made the evening only a torturous 90 minutes. I'm not sure if it was the cultural differences in acting style or if they were just bad, but everyone's idea of acting involved standing very still and whispering very intensely without and variation in volume or prosody. I don't think I've ever seen a more boring MacBeth.
If you want to see a good highly nuisanced MacBeth go see the one with Patrick Stewart. Or even go ahead and rent a movie version, doesn't matter which one they're all better than this play.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Sketch Comedy as its...um...best
On Friday night I saw the sketch comedy group FUCT. A group I'd probably not be aware of unless I had a few friends performing in the troupe. And now all of them are my friends.
Their tag line "Sketch comedy so funny, it hurts" is probably the best way to describe them. Their show is a combination of fairly tradition sketch comedy material, although they are edger than your average, run of the mill sketch comedy group. For FUCT, nothing is sacred, nothing.
I would include in the highlights of the evening the acrobatic curtain dance sketch. They had a guest acrobat who performed a routine on a set of hanging curtain's. So did one of the members, who actually did quite well, but the humor arose from his struggle to master the curtain, which the acrobat performed with ease and grace. And of course, they wore matching skin-tone unitards with sequence and ribbons in their hair. The acrobat was a female, the FUCT member was a male. That was funny.
Their use of video for this show was particularly good. Their handle on the medium and how it works for their particular brand of humor has drastically improved over the last few shows. They truly out did themselves with four shorts, styled like commericials to fit with the title of this show "FUCT as seen on TV".
The low point of the night, in glorious FUCT tradition, was the spitting contest. However, this is no ordinary spitting contest. In this one, each of the three contestants was required to spit as much saliva into a little cup for one minute. When I minute was up the person with the most spit in their cup won. The person with the least spit in their cup lost and had to drink everyone else's spit. I couldn't sit through that, so I went to the bathroom after they announced the winner.
I'd say the ideal audience for this show is frat boys and the members of FUCT say gay men. Although, there doesn't seem to be a limit on who likes it or who they make fun of. Everyone can go.
The show runs for three more weekends.
Also catch them at The SkitSkat Live Comedy Festivalon Wed 18th
Or on Aug 20th in Austin Texas at The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
Their tag line "Sketch comedy so funny, it hurts" is probably the best way to describe them. Their show is a combination of fairly tradition sketch comedy material, although they are edger than your average, run of the mill sketch comedy group. For FUCT, nothing is sacred, nothing.
I would include in the highlights of the evening the acrobatic curtain dance sketch. They had a guest acrobat who performed a routine on a set of hanging curtain's. So did one of the members, who actually did quite well, but the humor arose from his struggle to master the curtain, which the acrobat performed with ease and grace. And of course, they wore matching skin-tone unitards with sequence and ribbons in their hair. The acrobat was a female, the FUCT member was a male. That was funny.
Their use of video for this show was particularly good. Their handle on the medium and how it works for their particular brand of humor has drastically improved over the last few shows. They truly out did themselves with four shorts, styled like commericials to fit with the title of this show "FUCT as seen on TV".
The low point of the night, in glorious FUCT tradition, was the spitting contest. However, this is no ordinary spitting contest. In this one, each of the three contestants was required to spit as much saliva into a little cup for one minute. When I minute was up the person with the most spit in their cup won. The person with the least spit in their cup lost and had to drink everyone else's spit. I couldn't sit through that, so I went to the bathroom after they announced the winner.
I'd say the ideal audience for this show is frat boys and the members of FUCT say gay men. Although, there doesn't seem to be a limit on who likes it or who they make fun of. Everyone can go.
The show runs for three more weekends.
Also catch them at The SkitSkat Live Comedy Festival
Or on Aug 20th in Austin Texas at The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Theater World is Tiny!
In the Spring of 2000 I was in a play version of Cinderella directed by Rob Duval (no not ROBERT Duval, but this guy is pretty cool) assistant directed by his then high school student Zoe Kazan.
In the Fall of 2007 Zoe Kazan performed in the play "100 Saints you should know" written by Kate Fodor at Playwrights Horizons. She is now nominated for a 2008 Drama Desk and a 2008 Lucille Lortel award for outstanding featured actress. Which is amazing.
But this is where it gets weird.
The play "100 Saints you should know" was supposed to be a Mentor Project play at the Cherry Lane Theater, where I was interning during the Spring of 2007. I was slotted to work on the play, but Playwrights Horizons bought the rights out from under the Cherry Lane.
Weirder still...
The Stage Manager for "100 Saints" at Playwrights Horizons was also the Stage Manger for "Romeo & Juliet" in Central Park last year, which I did worked on as a literary researcher.
The theater world is so small.
I wish Zoe all the luck in the world.
In the Fall of 2007 Zoe Kazan performed in the play "100 Saints you should know" written by Kate Fodor at Playwrights Horizons. She is now nominated for a 2008 Drama Desk and a 2008 Lucille Lortel award for outstanding featured actress. Which is amazing.
But this is where it gets weird.
The play "100 Saints you should know" was supposed to be a Mentor Project play at the Cherry Lane Theater, where I was interning during the Spring of 2007. I was slotted to work on the play, but Playwrights Horizons bought the rights out from under the Cherry Lane.
Weirder still...
The Stage Manager for "100 Saints" at Playwrights Horizons was also the Stage Manger for "Romeo & Juliet" in Central Park last year, which I did worked on as a literary researcher.
The theater world is so small.
I wish Zoe all the luck in the world.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
And the reviews are in...
My Weekend in Review
Since I work in a restaurant my "weekend" is a little different than the calendar. I get Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. Due to the scorching heat, which inspired the orange font, I worked very hard to put myself in entertaining air conditioned situations. And what better way to do that than see a movie or a play, or four. This "weekend" I saw 2 movies and 2 plays.
Iron Man
Despite my abhorrence of Robert Downey Jr. personally and the rather foppish beard he was sprouting in this film, its hard not to love super gadgets or robots with personalities, or men who talk to their robots.
The one hiccup that made me squirm in my seat, was the fact that despite Tony Spark's (Downey) loads and loads of money, his personal workshop was still in his garage. Also in his garage was a bevy of very expensive cars. Why would he risk it? Does he just have so much money he doesn't need to worry about putting little dings in his customized Porsche? Or do American film audiences actually enjoy watching muscle cars get pulverized? I don't. And yes, the cars do get pulverized.
Everything you could possibly want from an action film. Sit through the credits for a sneak peak at what the future holds.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Aside from the aliens, pardon me "transdimensional beings," the movie is fine.
I think people forget that the first three movies were relatively corny. By Shakespearean standards it is a comedy because it ends with a wedding.
Although it does seem like it tries to hard most of the time. There was an obviously concerted effort to bring in "big things" about the first three movies. For example, the way they worked in Indy's fear of snakes was both rather contrived and detoured the forward motion of the plot. But who doesn't like a good quick sand pit? (Pardon me, it wasn't actually quicksand, it was a dry version, but I stopped listening to Indy's explanation).
The action sequences are good, except pieces of the plot get in the way of making it really great. However, its pretty cool that it is set mostly in South America, particularly in the Amazon jungles since they are getting a bit of attention right now regarding their inhabitants.
I do recommend seeing it, we have been waiting a long time for this movie and despite the downfalls, or the rather many tumbles the actors take off cliffs, its fun. Who doesn't like hear that theme song play over and over, and over, again.
Top Girls
By Carol Churchill
However, this production did prove to me that Martha Plimpton actually is a talents actress. Also in the production was a very versitile Marisa Tomei and Ana Reeder, who I was supposed to have worked with on "Secret Agenda of Trees" by Colin McKenna at the Cherry Lane theater Spring 2007. But Ms. Reeder dropped out of the production half way through the rehearsal process because she had contracted a parasite while in India before rehearsal. You can also catch her in the swimming pool scene of "No Country for Old Men". I think they were filming that during the Spring of 2007. Hmm.....
Anyway, the set was pretty cool.
http://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/current-season/top-girls-showsite/INDEX.HTM
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
By Tennessee Williams
Starring: James Earl Jones, Felicia Rashad, Terrence Howard and Anika Noni Rose.
Ms. Rose was stunning. I don't think I actually heard most of the exact words she was saying throughout the first act, but I understand exactly what she meant and what she wanted. Her desires oozed out of her body like juice from crushed grapes. Maggie the Cat (not an actual cat), was being crushed harder than any vinter would dare press their grapes for fear of bruising.
James Earl Jones has a stunning voice, but somehow he didn't quite shine the way I wanted him to. The role is not a huge role, although it does demand some range. He played it subtly.
Sitting in the audience I wondering if any of the dialogue was changed from the original during the rehearsal process because everything fit so well. Performing "Cat on a hot tin roof" with an all African American cast just makes sense. The only reason I ask if they changed some of the words, is because I know Tennessee Williams (although, not this particular play) and I don't think he would use the word "poon-tang". For those of you who don't know what that means, I suggest looking it up. Actually don't look it up, if you don't already know what it means I can promise you don't want to know what it means.
However, after a bit of research Tennessee Williams did write those words into the script. But he was asked to take them out when the play originally premiered in 1954. Now it all makes sense. The words made sense in context, people have been saying them in private for decades, but not in public. When private is made public on stage, in 1954 you had to abid by the rules of public descency. Things are a little different now. Maybe we got rid of the idea of public descency. Although, if the words are original keep them. I'm jsut against altering a writer's work. No alteration, no foul, err... no error, as the words are foul.
The bothersome thing about the entire evening however was the over zealous house staff. They felt the need to make announcements at the beginning and end of each intermission (there were two). They alerted us to such things as the need to take our ticket with us if you went outside to get a breathe of hot air or to turn off our cells phone before the new act started. Unfortunately the over abundance of announcements did not curb the abundance of phones ringing during the performance. I counted ten times and all from different phones.
Other than that, its a good show, that is scheduled to close soon. I'd saw there's a 40% chance the run extends.
http://www.telecharge.com/behindTheCurtain.aspx
In Other News
I also hit up the Cooper-Hewett museum's Roccoco exhibit. While I'm not the hugest fan of the decorative arts and I always have a great desire to sit on the fancy chairs and chaise lounge, but I know the museum staff wouldn't like that. However, now I can definitively say that I pick out a Roccoco design in the antique shop. What I did like about the exhibit was that it also traced newer forms that have been influenced by Roccoco, particularly Art Nouveau. Art Nouveau is a calmer version, with longer lines. The curator classified some of the Tiffany vases as Art Nouveau. I would include the Tiffany vases on display as the highlights of the exhibit. I really like Tiffany glass, there is something so absolutely transcendental about their form and colouration, but since they are made of glass they also capture the essence of human frailty and mortality.
Since I work in a restaurant my "weekend" is a little different than the calendar. I get Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. Due to the scorching heat, which inspired the orange font, I worked very hard to put myself in entertaining air conditioned situations. And what better way to do that than see a movie or a play, or four. This "weekend" I saw 2 movies and 2 plays.
Iron Man
Despite my abhorrence of Robert Downey Jr. personally and the rather foppish beard he was sprouting in this film, its hard not to love super gadgets or robots with personalities, or men who talk to their robots.
The one hiccup that made me squirm in my seat, was the fact that despite Tony Spark's (Downey) loads and loads of money, his personal workshop was still in his garage. Also in his garage was a bevy of very expensive cars. Why would he risk it? Does he just have so much money he doesn't need to worry about putting little dings in his customized Porsche? Or do American film audiences actually enjoy watching muscle cars get pulverized? I don't. And yes, the cars do get pulverized.
Everything you could possibly want from an action film. Sit through the credits for a sneak peak at what the future holds.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Aside from the aliens, pardon me "transdimensional beings," the movie is fine.
I think people forget that the first three movies were relatively corny. By Shakespearean standards it is a comedy because it ends with a wedding.
Although it does seem like it tries to hard most of the time. There was an obviously concerted effort to bring in "big things" about the first three movies. For example, the way they worked in Indy's fear of snakes was both rather contrived and detoured the forward motion of the plot. But who doesn't like a good quick sand pit? (Pardon me, it wasn't actually quicksand, it was a dry version, but I stopped listening to Indy's explanation).
The action sequences are good, except pieces of the plot get in the way of making it really great. However, its pretty cool that it is set mostly in South America, particularly in the Amazon jungles since they are getting a bit of attention right now regarding their inhabitants.
I do recommend seeing it, we have been waiting a long time for this movie and despite the downfalls, or the rather many tumbles the actors take off cliffs, its fun. Who doesn't like hear that theme song play over and over, and over, again.
Top Girls
By Carol Churchill
Even at her most lucid Carol Churchill is a nut job. The play on stage was nothing like the play described in the playbill notes.
However, this production did prove to me that Martha Plimpton actually is a talents actress. Also in the production was a very versitile Marisa Tomei and Ana Reeder, who I was supposed to have worked with on "Secret Agenda of Trees" by Colin McKenna at the Cherry Lane theater Spring 2007. But Ms. Reeder dropped out of the production half way through the rehearsal process because she had contracted a parasite while in India before rehearsal. You can also catch her in the swimming pool scene of "No Country for Old Men". I think they were filming that during the Spring of 2007. Hmm.....
Anyway, the set was pretty cool.
http://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/current-season/top-girls-showsite/INDEX.HTM
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
By Tennessee Williams
Starring: James Earl Jones, Felicia Rashad, Terrence Howard and Anika Noni Rose.
Ms. Rose was stunning. I don't think I actually heard most of the exact words she was saying throughout the first act, but I understand exactly what she meant and what she wanted. Her desires oozed out of her body like juice from crushed grapes. Maggie the Cat (not an actual cat), was being crushed harder than any vinter would dare press their grapes for fear of bruising.
James Earl Jones has a stunning voice, but somehow he didn't quite shine the way I wanted him to. The role is not a huge role, although it does demand some range. He played it subtly.
Sitting in the audience I wondering if any of the dialogue was changed from the original during the rehearsal process because everything fit so well. Performing "Cat on a hot tin roof" with an all African American cast just makes sense. The only reason I ask if they changed some of the words, is because I know Tennessee Williams (although, not this particular play) and I don't think he would use the word "poon-tang". For those of you who don't know what that means, I suggest looking it up. Actually don't look it up, if you don't already know what it means I can promise you don't want to know what it means.
However, after a bit of research Tennessee Williams did write those words into the script. But he was asked to take them out when the play originally premiered in 1954. Now it all makes sense. The words made sense in context, people have been saying them in private for decades, but not in public. When private is made public on stage, in 1954 you had to abid by the rules of public descency. Things are a little different now. Maybe we got rid of the idea of public descency. Although, if the words are original keep them. I'm jsut against altering a writer's work. No alteration, no foul, err... no error, as the words are foul.
The bothersome thing about the entire evening however was the over zealous house staff. They felt the need to make announcements at the beginning and end of each intermission (there were two). They alerted us to such things as the need to take our ticket with us if you went outside to get a breathe of hot air or to turn off our cells phone before the new act started. Unfortunately the over abundance of announcements did not curb the abundance of phones ringing during the performance. I counted ten times and all from different phones.
Other than that, its a good show, that is scheduled to close soon. I'd saw there's a 40% chance the run extends.
http://www.telecharge.com/behindTheCurtain.aspx
In Other News
I also hit up the Cooper-Hewett museum's Roccoco exhibit. While I'm not the hugest fan of the decorative arts and I always have a great desire to sit on the fancy chairs and chaise lounge, but I know the museum staff wouldn't like that. However, now I can definitively say that I pick out a Roccoco design in the antique shop. What I did like about the exhibit was that it also traced newer forms that have been influenced by Roccoco, particularly Art Nouveau. Art Nouveau is a calmer version, with longer lines. The curator classified some of the Tiffany vases as Art Nouveau. I would include the Tiffany vases on display as the highlights of the exhibit. I really like Tiffany glass, there is something so absolutely transcendental about their form and colouration, but since they are made of glass they also capture the essence of human frailty and mortality.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
June in NYC
June in New York has so far been more bearable weather-wise than last year. Last year was horrible. Today is the first rather grossly hot day, with temperatures expected to reach 93 degrees today. And to top it off its sticky, I feel like I was dumped into a pot of honey. I today is the kind of day where you shower in the evening and exfoliate your face to get rid of the skin cells that drowned in their own sweat.
I saw the Shakespeare in the Park production of "Hamlet" on Tuesday, I'm not sure if the production has officially opened yet, so here is my unofficial review:
Its a fine production. Not spectacular and not disappointing. It gets the job done well and makes some interesting choices. Although my friend and I both found the last action of the play rather disturbing, because it seemed "untrue" to the play. It was almost an excessively bold, ballsy, unnecessary choice.
However, all the other choices made were strong and clear. Hamlet is pretending to be mad, but Ophelia truly is mad. Hamlet felt like a driving force of the play, moving each action forward, while Gertrude seems a little weak. To top it off the production carries a light humor throughout the entire performance, which leads a refreshing newness to the play.
The set at first seems monstrous, lurking over the stage and audience, but quickly that changes. The largest of the set seems necessary, representing the fortress of Denmark. Down stage is a flame that burns the entire run of the show, an eternal flame in remembrance for Hamlet Sr. However, the problem with flames on stage, aside from the obvious burning factor, is that some one has to put it out. Oskar Eustis (director/ The Public artistic director) does not miss this trick. At the end Fortinbras triumphantly stamps out the quivering flame. The dynastic terror of the Hamlet family is over and so is the play.
The wonderful thing about New York in the summer is the absolute abundance of free entertainment in the form of concerts, plays, fairs, performances and other activities to distract people from the heat in the evenings. As a person who needs distractions I've started trying to get to one of these activities once a week. Last week I went to a video/sound installation that was originally made for the Lupercale festival in Rome. It was mostly a meditation on the two main elements necessary for the founding of Rome: Wolves and Water. It was less exciting than it could have been. But that's the problem with experimental installation art. Its either too edgy and no one wants to see it, or its watered down and boring. I think I'd take been shocked with the edgy any day of the week.
I saw the Shakespeare in the Park production of "Hamlet" on Tuesday, I'm not sure if the production has officially opened yet, so here is my unofficial review:
Its a fine production. Not spectacular and not disappointing. It gets the job done well and makes some interesting choices. Although my friend and I both found the last action of the play rather disturbing, because it seemed "untrue" to the play. It was almost an excessively bold, ballsy, unnecessary choice.However, all the other choices made were strong and clear. Hamlet is pretending to be mad, but Ophelia truly is mad. Hamlet felt like a driving force of the play, moving each action forward, while Gertrude seems a little weak. To top it off the production carries a light humor throughout the entire performance, which leads a refreshing newness to the play.
The set at first seems monstrous, lurking over the stage and audience, but quickly that changes. The largest of the set seems necessary, representing the fortress of Denmark. Down stage is a flame that burns the entire run of the show, an eternal flame in remembrance for Hamlet Sr. However, the problem with flames on stage, aside from the obvious burning factor, is that some one has to put it out. Oskar Eustis (director/ The Public artistic director) does not miss this trick. At the end Fortinbras triumphantly stamps out the quivering flame. The dynastic terror of the Hamlet family is over and so is the play.
The wonderful thing about New York in the summer is the absolute abundance of free entertainment in the form of concerts, plays, fairs, performances and other activities to distract people from the heat in the evenings. As a person who needs distractions I've started trying to get to one of these activities once a week. Last week I went to a video/sound installation that was originally made for the Lupercale festival in Rome. It was mostly a meditation on the two main elements necessary for the founding of Rome: Wolves and Water. It was less exciting than it could have been. But that's the problem with experimental installation art. Its either too edgy and no one wants to see it, or its watered down and boring. I think I'd take been shocked with the edgy any day of the week.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Going Back
I am going back across the Atlantic. Starting in September I will start a masters program at the University of Aberdeen. I was just rereading my post from my trip to Aberdeen. Its interesting that I one thing I really mentioned was that the city had a college. I oculd never have possibly know that I would end up back there. The town is absolutely beautiful though and looking at the yearly weather report, it doens't look like its going to be as cold as I thought it would be. Now I don't need to save up to buy a Artic snowsuit.
I will be enter the Elphinstone Institute of Enthology & Folklore. It was founded in 1995 in celebration of The University of Aberdeen's Quincentenary. The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1595 and is one of the 'ancient universities of Britain'.
"The [Elphinstone] Institute is an initiative on the part of the University of Aberdeen to introduce the study of human traditions into its research portfolio, especially the traditions of the North and the North-East of Scotland."
You can view their website here: Elphinstone Institute
The question that everyone has asked is "What is folklore?"
The answer:
In general Folklore is the study of vernacular culture, including (but not limited to) dance, music, story, lore, language and song. These social practices are studied in both modern and traditional contexts, integrating current practice and historical uses in order to understand how culture changes under modern concerns.
How is this different from anthropology?
Its not really. Except that anthropology will not always look at historical context (although sometimes it does) and the modern influences that have shaped current practice. Additionally, anthropology is often more concerned with getting a "complete" picture of a society. Folklore is VERY focused.
Callan, what do you want to do?
I'm glad you asked. I want to focus on oral storytelling. Looking at why some oral stories have remained within the tradition for centuries, while others have not. I also want to look at how modern concerns influence the traditional practise of storytelling and how traditional beliefs influence the modern practise of storytelling.
I'm still waiting for everything to finalize, which means getting my NYU grades to Aberdeen, applying for scholarships and eventually giving Aberdeen money. But right now its just a waiting game.
This is a picture of me in the holding tank at Madison Square Garden, where the Tisch School of the Arts graduation took place. I was a great morning and the speakers were so vibrant and sassy. Not at all what I expected from graduation speakers, but I did graduate from art school and we do things a little differently.
The all University graduation took place at Yankee Stadium. "The first, last and only graduation" to take place there, because they are tearing it down. I didn't go since my parents were not yet in town, I was scared of getting sunburnt and I had to work. I didn't really want to go anyway.
This picture is from one of the many end of school parties that my friends and I threw and attended.
These are two of my very best friends who are launching out on very exciting careers. Theresa is working at Penguin Press (the book publisher) as a publicist assistant and Jake is working at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego as the assistant company manager.
It was very sad that he left New York, but we all know he'll come back. And so will I.
I will be enter the Elphinstone Institute of Enthology & Folklore. It was founded in 1995 in celebration of The University of Aberdeen's Quincentenary. The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1595 and is one of the 'ancient universities of Britain'."The [Elphinstone] Institute is an initiative on the part of the University of Aberdeen to introduce the study of human traditions into its research portfolio, especially the traditions of the North and the North-East of Scotland."
You can view their website here: Elphinstone Institute
The question that everyone has asked is "What is folklore?"
The answer:
In general Folklore is the study of vernacular culture, including (but not limited to) dance, music, story, lore, language and song. These social practices are studied in both modern and traditional contexts, integrating current practice and historical uses in order to understand how culture changes under modern concerns.
How is this different from anthropology?
Its not really. Except that anthropology will not always look at historical context (although sometimes it does) and the modern influences that have shaped current practice. Additionally, anthropology is often more concerned with getting a "complete" picture of a society. Folklore is VERY focused.
Callan, what do you want to do?
I'm glad you asked. I want to focus on oral storytelling. Looking at why some oral stories have remained within the tradition for centuries, while others have not. I also want to look at how modern concerns influence the traditional practise of storytelling and how traditional beliefs influence the modern practise of storytelling.
I'm still waiting for everything to finalize, which means getting my NYU grades to Aberdeen, applying for scholarships and eventually giving Aberdeen money. But right now its just a waiting game.
This is a picture of me in the holding tank at Madison Square Garden, where the Tisch School of the Arts graduation took place. I was a great morning and the speakers were so vibrant and sassy. Not at all what I expected from graduation speakers, but I did graduate from art school and we do things a little differently.
The all University graduation took place at Yankee Stadium. "The first, last and only graduation" to take place there, because they are tearing it down. I didn't go since my parents were not yet in town, I was scared of getting sunburnt and I had to work. I didn't really want to go anyway.
This picture is from one of the many end of school parties that my friends and I threw and attended.
These are two of my very best friends who are launching out on very exciting careers. Theresa is working at Penguin Press (the book publisher) as a publicist assistant and Jake is working at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego as the assistant company manager.
It was very sad that he left New York, but we all know he'll come back. And so will I.
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