In honor of our theatrical production this week I'd like to turn your attention to the topic of culture and arts. While eating lunch at a restaurant today, I was struck by the complete silliness of it all: a crowd of people paying for food and service…and something else – the pleasure of eating tasty food. If we were strictly governed by logic we would choose our meals based on nutritional value and cost effectiveness. Mealtime would be similar to recharging a cell phone – plug in, fill up, and go on. But that’s not what we do because, while our needs would be met, another need – the need for enjoyment – would go unfulfilled. So we are motivated much more than we are usually ready to admit by the joy of creative art. One could apply the same standard to the clothes we wear, houses we live in, and many other things we do.
Society is usually defined by culture. When you think of the ancient Egyptians you probably think of their art and architecture (flat people and pyramids). When we talk about the past decades (think 1980s day) we picture the clothes people wore and the music they made. It seems that we are defined by a completely superfluous segment of our lives. (When I first arrived in Britain the TV shows Melrose Place and 90210 were big hits; I was asked several times if those shows were realistic portrayals of life in the US. Because Forrest Gump was in theaters, everyone wanted me to tell them the words to “Sweet Home Alabama”). Look around you…isn’t that just a little unsettling?
For millennia the stage has been a prominent part of human culture. It’s another illogical way that we find enjoyment - and accomplish complex tasks through storytelling. In America the heart of the stage can be found on a New York City street that dates back to the days of New Amsterdam; that street is, of course, Broadway. Every year millions of tickets are sold to the numerous theaters as crowds from around the world travel to see the very best in show business. This week our homework assignment will focus on the history of Broadway since 1900.
Follow the link http://www.talkinbroadway.com/bway101/ and choose an e
ssay about a decade of your choice (1900-1950) and report on your findings. Also comment on your favorite stage production (if you have one). The parameters of this assignment are exactly as every other assignment that has preceded it. Hope you enjoy it!
