Vaudeville Today

Vaudeville was quite controversial for its time, which made it so popular because it was like nothing that had ever been performed before and people liked the originality and freshness.  The combination of comedy, burlesque, song and dance, and specialty acts was quite original and a great spectacle to see.  I particularly liked how it wasn't a regular show, and the acts really had no storyline or relevance to anything else in the show, which made it all new and fun for the audience.  

Today, many shows and movies and comedians are attempting to be original and bring new entertainment to the table, all following the path started by vaudeville.  It created raunchy humor that today everyone is attempting to recreate, from shows like Family Guy and the hit musical The Book of Mormon, which may be the raunchiest comedy ever to make Broadway.  It's because of the trailblazers from vaudeville that raunchy outrageous humor today is possible.

Phantom of the Opera Video Game

When I heard we had to select an opera for our project, I immediately thought of Phantom.  Although it's more of a musical than traditional opera, I couldn't turn down an opportunity to use this as my topic.  I have sort of a personal connection to this show, as my girlfriend of two years is currently the leading lady Christine in the actual Broadway production.  Before she landed this role, she was Christine on the National Broadway tour the previous year.  So, not only have I been dating "Christine" for over a year, but I have seen both the new production and the classic production over a dozen times.

I have listened to the musical multiple times and although I know almost all the lyrics and dialogue I still am amazed at how timeless and beautiful it all is.  I think it will be a fun adventure trying to turn this into a video game.

Greek Drama VS Wrestling

It's always fascinating to compare something as historically brilliant and eternal as Greek theatre to something as simple and laughable as "professional" wrestling.  However, the similarities are quite prevalent if you actually pay attention and look for them.

As an avid Monday Night RAW viewer, I find wrestling extremely entertaining in all aspects of the show, despite the ridiculousness.  It's like a soap opera with people hitting each other with chairs, and it's hysterical as well as throughly entertaining.  The wild storylines for each character, the feuds, the comedic relief, constantly playing on the emotions of the crowd are all things that come from Greek dramas.

People in ancient Greece would flock to the theatre and Coliseum in order to witness something spectacular and bigger than their imaginations.  Much like wrestling, people knew it was fake yet they couldn't look away or get emotionally invested.  The thrill of the show they were witnessing was too good to not pretend it was real.  They're both about putting on a good show for the audience, and seldom do either disappoint in that feat.

Spectacular Spectacles

In class we have been discussing spectacles, their different forms, how people perceive different things as spectacles, and so forth.  It's interesting to think about how many things can be considered a spectacle that you may not have noticed before.  Something as simple as a rainbow or lighting storm can be thought of as nature's spectacles.  A beautiful new car design can be very spectacular to some vehicle enthusiast.  On the other hand, disasters like hurricanes and floods can create unimaginable and horrible spectacles.  The phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" really makes sense here, as we all look at the same thing yet we each can see something considerably different.

Brave New Digital World

10 years ago the iPhone was just a concept.  Think about that.  We all had different phones, if we had them at all.  Flip phones, Sidekicks, Blackberry, and whatever else we could afford or our parents bought for us. 

Today, we all have the infinite knowledge of the Internet and all the information we want right at our fingertips.  Technology is moving so fast that we can't even imagine what's going to be available to us, and how digital our world will be sooner than we think.  FaceTime today, and holograms tomorrow.  Those movies like Avatar or even Star Wars are closer to becoming reality than we think, and soon we will be able to do things digitally that we can't even do in reality.

This could become dangerous, as today we are already glued and obsessed with our smartphones and devices that we sometimes lose track of reality.  Only time will tell how good or bad the new digital age will become.

Makerbots

The Makerbot company is a brilliant new firm that is attempting to bring science fiction to real life.  They are trying to make 3-D printers affordable and available for people of all means and lifestyles.  People have their own ideas and want to bring them to life, and with the help of Makerbot that can become a reality. 

Their printers come in many styles with varying prices and sizes.  The possibilities are endless and soon people will be printing their own products at a touch of a button.  Aside from the fun stuff, the medical field is a major opportunity waiting to be tapped, creating affordable prosthetics and even organs eventually.

Similarities Between Music Videos and Operas

Today most music videos are made by pop stars with shallow lyrics and messages aimed at a younger demographic.  However, once in a while a video comes along that attempts to break through and convey a deeper meaning and has actual real life application.  Sometimes they show real artistic expression and try to make a difference through their music.

This is extremely similar to musicals and operas, which try to tell a story that people can relate to and understand on a personal level.  They are beautiful pieces of art that inspire and move people.  Seeing Katy Perry's video right after the opera show that despite their differences they both use dramatic scenery and intricate costumes to get their message across, and how important the setting is to the storyline. 

First Thoughts About Art and Technology

When I was selecting my classes for my final semester at UT I realized I have yet to fulfill my art requirement in order to graduate and finish my baccalaureate degree.  As a business major, I am not exactly the artistic type and anything to do with drawing has never gone well for me.  However, it is a requirement to graduate and therefore I was going to do my best to select a class I thought I could do well in.

Most people told me to take Form and Idea, however Art and Technology seemed to catch my eye and seemed much more interesting and compatible to my personality.  I like the idea of new age art and its application to the modern world utilizing new technology.

I believe I'll find more interesting and relevant topics in this class than I expected.  I'm looking forward to expanding my horizons and learning something new each class.