Louder than Words
See bottom for slideshow of artworks
Guiding Questions
In a Gallery of their Own: Isolation and Separation
- What, if anything, can art and music express that other subject areas—such as history and literature—cannot? What can they express more effectively?
- Where history and literature deal with the more contextual and logical side of humanity, art and music cover the emotions; pain, happiness, anger or even regret. We tend to view art and music as having “hidden meanings” which require a greater level of analysis in order to understand. It is this hidden meaning, the ability to disguise many interpretations of them in one song or painting, that allows them to convey far more emotional messages than a single history textbook or literature piece can ever hope to.
- Do evolving social values mean that we appreciate certain past works more than we once did? Are there others that we appreciate less?
- Since a social value of this day and age is somehow a nostalgia for the previous day and age, we appreciate lots of past works more than we once did. A Vincent Van Gogh or Pablo Picasso receives much more attention now in schools than it did before. There aren’t exactly specific examples of others that we appreciate less, rather they are overshadowed by far “noticeable” works.
- Is it all right for works to make people uncomfortable? Are certain kinds of discomfort acceptable and others not?
- Since art tends to convey a certain emotion and send a message with that emotion, it isn’t uncommon for artists to wish to make people feel uncomfortable with their work. How they feel that discomfort is also varied, from paintings of distraught refugees making us feel guilty, while paintings of executions make us feel like monsters. There aren’t certain kinds of discomfort that are acceptable and aren’t, simply those that evoke more of a response than others. The general rule is that the more discomfort an image causes, the more likely we are to do something in order to stop feeling that discomfort.
- Do we assume too much about the intentions and beliefs of artists? Do they assume too much about their subjects?
- Art and music tends to be towards the individual, we perceive what our brain thinks was meant to be perceived and sometimes share our thoughts with others. There are times when we assume (due to historical knowledge or scientific examination) that the intentions and beliefs of artists cause a certain emotion in their work, but most of the time we are content to look or listen. Artists on the other hand, do need to tread a fine line between assuming too much about their subjects or not depicting them in the right light. Artists who take on paintings or photography often need to make sure they don’t generalize or assume too much about the actual emotions of their subject.
- Do works of art and music express the ideology and values of the individuals most responsible for creating them, or of the larger group that may have supported them?
- While one of the options may have been the case historically, works of art and music can express both now comfortably. Again art and music are for our own interpretation, the artist or musician won’t tell us if our judgement of it is wrong or not (that defeats the purpose of them making the piece in the first place). Works from both art/music can express the wishes of the singer or painter as well as the thoughts or desires of the group depicted in the work.
- Has it been historically more challenging for members of certain groups to find success as artists and musicians?
- If you wish to learn more about the marginalisation of society and how that impacted their career opportunities, please see our Social Studies section. But yes, the general trend in history is that groups who have been marginalised or even rejected by normal society find it hard to express themselves through the arts or music. While they may be able to start off in a community of their own people, reaching a wider audience and making a greater impact is often harder for these people.
In a Gallery of their Own: Isolation and Separation
- Art
- Office in a Small City | Edward Hopper
- If you were here last year for the World Scholar’s Cup, you might remember Edward Hopper as the person who created “Nighthawks”. The style from that painting (informal and lacking in color) transfers to this one very evidently. “Office in a Small City” depicts a lonely American office worker staring out into a city skyline (likely those of New York or Chicago, though Hopper purposefully made the background seem general so any city could sympathize with it). Emotionally and physically, this lone office worker (whose job is as ambiguous as his office is impersonal) is isolated from society and even his own office coworkers. Edward Hopper was likely sending a message about how post-war America forced people into professional positions that detached them from society and prevented them from going out and making connections.
- Hiding in the City – Vegetables | Liu Bolin
- How very interesting, Liu Bolin is more commonly known by his artist name “The Invisible Man”. He stands still for hours while a team paints his body to blend into the background of whatever statement he wishes to make. He disappears into the scenery, constantly reminding us of the role that individuals have. Initially, he began the project in 2005 after an artist street in Beijing was demolished to make room for the Olympics construction. Over the years, he would blend into the many backdrops of China (as well as London, New York and even Venice) to send reflective messages of development, individuality, humanity, environmental change, consumerism, political propaganda and other concepts. I strongly suggest reading the BBC article linked to get his own personal quotes on why he did what he did.
- Papilla Estelar | Remedios Varo
- Known as “Star-maker” in English, “Papilla Estelar” is a more personal artwork as it reflects the artist’s own plight and trials. Remedios Varo was exiled from Spain to France while her country was plunged into 3 years of civil war (1936-1939), during World War II she later relocated to Mexico when the Nazis came knocking at France’s door (or rather, went around it). She painted this piece in 1958 to illustrate her own time in Mexico and how she still remained hopeful of a return to Spain. In the painting, a woman can be seen sitting in isolation within a mill that harvests star stuff. This star stuff is later fed by the woman to a caged moon. The small room and caged moon likely depict how Varo felt isolated and outcast in Mexico, considering how unaccepting they were of European artists back then. Yet the star stuff being fed also represents the fostering of hope (in her case, the hope she can return to Spain without the fear of oppression). It sends the message that hope comes out of our trials and that we must harness it.
- Here We Are | Kushana Bush
- The link that the WSC chose is actually a rather good one as it explain the artwork in some detail as well (good job Daniel, Chauncey, Joga, Dylan and co.). “Here we Are” is actually a rather ironic title, as artist Kushana Bush depicts a mingling of humanity in such a way so that where we are is anything but clearly stated. Bush took inspiration from Mughal miniatures, medieval paintings and even Italian Renaissance pieces to cobble together a scene of mingling humans through gouache (a type of watercolour paint with higher ratios of natural pigment). She blurs the temporal, geographical and cultural boundaries that we often associate with our world to create a message that we as humans need not divide ourselves with what history dictates we should.
- Untitled (Cobweb/Crossings) | Reena Saini Kallat
- An installation at the Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Mumbai, this artworks sends a message and serves a purpose I am most interested in (which means a slightly lengthier explanation than usual, yay). Reena Saini Kallat took inspiration from street names for this project. You see when India was under British rule (which was quite a bit of its history), many of the cities that the British had a heavy presence in had their streets named with colonial prefixes (i.e Baird road, Cornwallis road, King George’s Avenue). In the early 1990s however, with India long freed from British rule, the government of the city of Mumbai began the process of urban decolonisation. This meant changing many street names to harbour indigenous names (i.e Baird road becoming Bangla Sahib Marg, Cornwallis road becoming Subramania Bharti Marg and King George’s Avenue becoming Rajaji Marg). The Bhau Daji Lad Museum was actually given its modern name during that period, having previously been called The Victoria and Albert Museum. In an effort to preserve the names of old streets and make people realise that even street names can reflect the manner of a city and its people. The artwork is an oversized cobweb (a symbol for something being able to hold traces of the past) formed with hundreds of rubber stamps (again symbols of bureaucratic endorsement or rejections in history). Each stamp bears the name of a colonial street in the city that now hosts a modern name, reflecting the transformation Mumbai took in decolonisation.
- Open Border | Atelier ARI
- Thanks for this Donald Trump (maybe you can create things of beauty, sadly the same cannot be said for your presidency). “Open Border” is another installation of art that occupies the skating trail on the Assiniboine River in Winnipeg, Canada. It consists of a four meter high red barrier made out of insulating strips that allow for a warmer atmosphere inside it. Inside, skaters and pedestrians are encouraged to mingle. It was inspired due to rising political tensions, namely when Donald Trump confirmed his plans to build a border wall along the Mexican border (yeah good luck with that now Donald, you caused the longest US government shutdown in history for that idea). It reflects the human spirit to unite and become one, despite geographical differences and falsely justified prejudices.
- Self-Portrait with Jewish Identity Card | Felix Nussbaum
- What a horrible piece that evokes feelings of discomfort. Felix Nussbaum is the oldest painter on this section, having died in 1944 (a year after the work was painted) in Auschwitz concentration camp. Born a German-Jew, Felix Nussbaum would paint this work (along with many others) while in hiding between 1940 and 1944, in the attics and basements of friends and family members. In this work, he depicts himself in a trench coat and fedora with the Star of David on it (a tell-tale sign of his Jewish religion) holding an identity card that registered him as a Jew in Europe. He is cornered against a wall (a symbol for menace and entrapment) whilst his gaze remains attentive and glare penetrating. Is he perhaps telling the viewer that his Jewish identity must remain a secret for his own survival? Is he trying to convince us to reconsider the meaning of “Jew” in that point in time? Is it demanding us to tell him why society has humiliated and persecuted him for simply being himself? Yet while all this occurs, a house stands behind the wall, symbolising the lost safety to Jews in hiding, as well as the bystanders who do nothing in the face of evil. It is truly a work that evokes emotions of guilt and questions why we simply stood by and watched an entire race of humans be extinguished from this Earth.
- Office in a Small City | Edward Hopper
- Music
- Songs of a Wayfarer no. 2 | Gustav Mahler
- Otherwise known as Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a wayfarer), this orchestral cycle by Gustav Mahler was based on his own texts and personal experience. The actual origin of the song itself is difficult to trace, apparently Mahler wrote this shortly after an unhappy love affair with soprano Johanna Richter (the two had met while he was the conductor of the Kassel opera house in Germany). The songs appear to have been created first in 1884, finished in 1885 yet subjected to a great deal of revision by Mahler until their first premier by the Berlin Philharmonic with Mahler himself conducting. The lyrics themselves are written entirely by Mahler, though he drew a great deal of inspiration from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, a collection of German folk poetry that was also one of his favourite books.
- The second movement of this cycle is titled, "Ging heut' Morgen über's Feld" (I Went This Morning Over The Field). The happiest piece in the 4-part cycle, the lyrics marvel at how beautiful nature can be in the simplest of things (i.e dewdrops or birdsongs). Constantly repeated throughout the lyrics are the words “Is it not a lovely world?”. However despite all this joy and wonder, the singer knows his own happiness will not come forth anymore, for his love is gone (referring to the soprano Mahler lost to another guy). The song uses high strings and flutes as well as triangles and was actually reused by Mahler in some of his later symphonies.
- Viva la Vida | Coldplay
- One of my personal favourite songs and one I wholeheartedly recommend listening to in your own time, “Viva la Vida” was composed by British band Coldplay for their 2008 album “Viva la Vida or Death and all his Friends”. It was the second single in that album and the lyrics within it capture a sad and isolationist character. The actual song title translates to “Live the life” or simply “Live life” in Spanish and takes note from Frida Kahlo (a painter who is mysteriously missing from our art list) and a 20th century piece by her of the same name.
- Throughout the song, Coldplay sings of a deposed King who has been overthrown or succeeded. The ruler reminisces about his time on the throne and the many actions he undertook while he possessed the power to do so. There are several historical and biblical references within the song, so I suggest you look at this Geniuslyrics link in order to understand them all.
- Therru’s Song | Tales from Earthsea
- No WSC music list is complete without some song from an anime (god I wish Kenshin was back here to help me with this one). Therru’s Song is from the Japanese anime film Tales from Earthsea, a 2006 production based on the series of books by Ursula K. Le Guin. It tells the story of a fantastical world in which dragons roam and the “Balance” between these creatures and the men who also roam the earth. The entire film focuses around 4 main characters: Arren, Therru (whom this song is about), Sparrowhawk and Tenar. The song itself is sung by Therru (with Arren being present at the time) and talks of a falcon in the sky, never able to rest or find a place to call home. The song likely depicts Therru’s own life experience, being someone with “eternal life” and also able to become a dragon (Japan, you never cease to amaze me!). No one knows what it is like to be as lonely as she is, with no one else to tell of her tales.
- Signs | Five Man Electrical Band
- Relatively unknown by many people (I don’t blame you, this band isn’t that successful). “Signs” is a song by the Canadian rock group Five Man Electrical Band (I’ve never heard of a more literal band name in my life). Written by lead singer Les Emmerson, the single was released in their second album Good-byes and Butterflies (released in 1970). The song is actually related rather strongly to our Social Studies subject, as the singer speaks of 4 signs that anger or concern him. The first is a sign that “long-haired freaky people need not apply” for a job opening, the singer then applies having tucked up his long hair behind a cap, before revealing it once he has gotten the job. The second sign tells of “trespassers being shot” and the singer then berates the house owner for keeping people out and boxing Mother Nature in. The third sign gets him ejected out of a restaurant because he does not meet the dress code nor possess a membership card. The 4th sign welcomes those to church for prayers, with the singer later making a sign for God about how he’s doing well and has no money to contribute.
- The entire song itself is a sort of message about how our society has isolated and separated people by creating signs that form boundaries and barriers between those of race, class, appearance, income and other aspects. The singer hates these signs and notes that they should be removed, something we might try just to unite our communities.
- Motorcycle Drive-By | Third Eye Blind
- A song I can probably sympathise with (scratch that, I can wholeheartedly relate to the singer). “Motorcycle Drive-By” was written by Third Eye Blind for their debut album of the same name in 1997. Lead singer Stephan Jenkins actually took inspiration from his own emotions and experiences to write the song. The lyrics tell the tale of a man who went great lengths to be with the girl he loved, yet knew from the beginning that this girl would never accept him as a lover (been there, done that many times). Originally from San Francisco, the singer moved all the way to New York just to spend time with his crush. Whenever he is hanging out with the girl he feels this “burning” in his heart and he says he’s never felt “so alive” yet also “so alone”. The first emotion relates to how he feels whenever he’s around her, the feeling of joy and happiness telling him that he’s living at last. Yet he also feels so alone because he knows that it will never be anything more than a friendship, despite his strong wishes it could be romantic (felt this before too!). Towards the end of the song, he puts it all on the line and tell her his feelings, with her turning him down (expected). The final verse talks about he returns to California and becomes a new man, getting over this love interest while adrift in a boat on the ocean.
- Other People’s Stories & An Ordinary Guy | Amour
- Come on WSC, you could’ve at least saved the musical songs for a later section. Now I’ve got to listen to both anime songs and musicals (hence why I hate doing art and music). Anyways, these two songs come from a French musical first produced in 1997 and performed on Broadway in 2002 (sadly, the musical received mostly negative reviews due to its weak story and character development). The musical itself was based on a short story called Le-Passe Muraille by Marcel Ayme, set in Paris shortly after the end of the Second World War. The main character is one Dusoleil, an “invisible” civil servant who works for a tyrannical boss and is constantly obsessing over Isabelle, who is unhappily married to a Prosecutor (he literally has no name just that title). After gaining the ability to walk through walls, Dusoleil uses his power to monitor his neighbors and find out more about their own lives (as well as some Robin Hood “steal from rich, give to poor” type actions). He also gains the self-confidence to attempt to woo over Isabelle, who is constantly locked at home due to her husband. Throughout this time, he becomes known to the public as “Passepartout”, a mysterious criminal who can walk through walls (likely a reference to Monsieur Fogg’s multi-talented valet in “Around the World in 80 Days”). As their relationships takes a more romantic turn, Dusoleil admits to being the criminal and is put on trial. He is saved when the prosecutor (yes the prosecutor) is revealed to have been a Nazi collaborator by Isabelle (way to rat out your husband sweetie). The story ends when Dusoleil takes some pills from his doctor, mistaking them for aspirin (when instead, somehow, his doctor knows the exact formula to cure this magical power). He becomes stuck mid-leap through a wall and his memory is carried on through song and tale.
- Get Some Sleep | Bic Runga
- A song by New Zealand artist Bic Runga, “Get Some Sleep” was recorded in 2002 as the lead single for the album Beautiful Collision. Interestingly, Bic wrote the song based off her experience touring the United States for two years (hence the reference to "Union Square", a plaza in San Francisco). The lyrics of the song are heavily repeated and many believe that Bic was trying to communicate how, despite the tour having a serious negative impact on her physical health, she continues the tour out of love for her fans. As the adoring "observers" of musicians, we don't often get to appreciate how much they're sacrificing to go on tour, such as the hours of sleep that Bic refers to in the song.
- Songs of a Wayfarer no. 2 | Gustav Mahler
- Art
- Between the Margins | Toyin Ojih Odutola
- Toyin Ojih Odutola uses a ballpoint pen in order to question the geopolitical and social significance of skin colour in our everyday lives. In the work, there is a coloured person hidden in plain sight with some flowers in a meadow, though the person is wearing what appears to be American school clothes, they are looking at us with a questioning gaze, as if though they wonder why they were allowed in to an American school in the first place.
- Woman Ironing | Vik Muniz
- This work of art has a deep story behind it. Look closely at the background and you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for dabs of paint. The background is actually a photograph of a collection of worn pots, shoes, bottles and cans collected from the Jardim Gramacho (the largest landfill in South America). Muniz actually collaborated with people whose job it is to scavenge through this landfill to find recyclable materials. It was one of these people whom she used as a model for the woman ironing. This work is actually a modern interpretation and even challenge to a similar work by Pablo Picasso, a work by the same name. This time however, Vik Muniz challenges the perception of domestic labourers in a time of global warming and poverty.
- Seodang | Kim Hong-Do
- Perhaps one of the older works on this entire list, Seodang refers to the private village schools that were present in the Korean Joseon dynasty (1300s to 1800s). This specific scene shows a typical class of youngsters (as Seodang only gave elementary level education) sitting in front of their teacher (wearing a square headgear known as a banggeon). At the centre of attention is a snivelling young student, with his back turned on the teacher and his classmates likely taking great amusement in this. Perhaps this student was misbehaving in class or was simply misunderstood by his peers. A historical painting, this situations is also reflected nowadays in schools. Many public institutions often have students who are “special” and unique in their abilities/personalities, misunderstood by the rest of the their peers and often treated as though they are unable to be a part of society.
- Free Period in the Amsterdam Orphanage | Max Liebermann
- This 1882 piece by German-Jewish painter Max Liebermann was a notable example of early impressionism in Europe, with many calling him the “apostle of ugliness” due to the lack of detail in his work compared to the more traditional painters. In it, Liebermann depicts a free period during the day in the Amsterdam Orphanage (otherwise known as Burgerweeshuis). In the painting, no male subjects are present. These females are probably the caretakers of the orphanage instead of the orphans themselves, enjoying a free period whilst the young ones nap or they themselves are the “young ones” playing. Many of the women are chatting to one another and a group in the front right can be seen stitching or repairing their white aprons. This scene likely plays on how women in society were unseen and misunderstood back then. For much of human history they were confined to housekeeping and domestic roles, perhaps these dutchwoman are also training for their future duties.
- The Fourth Estate | Giuseppe Pellizza de Volpedo
- It honestly might be better if you just read the article here and skip the explanation.
- Stag at Sharkey’s | George Bellows
- In this beautiful oil-on-canvas painting, George Bellows depicts a turn-of-the-century American boxing match (most likely a private one) at Sharkey's, a saloon located near his New York City studio. During this time in American history, public boxing matches were outlawed and as such private events had to be made in order to compete in the sport. Usually, participation was limited to members of the club/saloon/bar in which they occurred, but whenever an outsider was granted a slot, they were known as a “stag” and given temporary membership. While boxing was still generally considered a “cutthroat” sport with “uncouth” participants, many of its proponents (among them US President Theodore Roosevelt) considered it a healthy practice for manliness. Yet around the time of this painting, boxing became a sport not just for working-class people (as it had been for many decades), but also for gentlemen of the upper classes (granted their boxing form was slightly more civil). Many began to see boxing as an analogical sport that proved how the strongest and fittest would survive in society.
- The Potato Eaters | Vincent Van Gogh
- Hardly any WSC arts list is complete without a really famous painter’s work takin up a spot. In this case, we visit Vincent Van Gogh in one of his more criticised pieces, The Potato Eaters. The painting consists of 5 people sitting around a table pouring drinks and sharing food, likely a family sitting down for dinner after a hard day’s work. The dress and colours that Van Gogh decided to use when depicting these people suggests that they are a peasant class family. Their bony hands and coarse faces have little sign of nobility and Van Gogh did this to suggest that their potato dinner is an “honest dinner” since they have tilled the land that grew them the potatoes. When it was released to the public, many of the critics focused on the poor body anatomy and lack of bright colours (something they were used to with Van Gogh). Yet in painting this unorthodox piece, Van Gogh depicted the unseen peasant classes who often toiled for long hours with little pay in order to feed and fill the coffers of the upper classes.
- Hotel, Room 47 | Sophie Calle
- Sophie Calle is one of those more daring artists here. In this 2-piece work, she records her notes and photographs from three weeks worth of experience as a chambermaid in a Venetian Hotel in February of 1981. With each room, she has no shame in investigating the belongings of their occupants, reading through their personal texts and even using some of their belongings (read: vanity bag and discarded shoes). From these belongings, she compiles a series of deductions and opinions about the occupants and their lifestyle (not unlike Sherlock Holmes would do!). Yet when we come to room 47, Calle finds that it is occupied by a family of 4 (2 children, 2 adults). She does not search through their belongings as thoroughly, noting that she has gotten bored of her job already. Instead she simply notes from their passports that they are from Geneva and from one of their letters that the family is struggling to stay together. After her work experience is over, Calle works on this piece of art. Chambermaids and other hotel staff that we don’t see a lot of are just one of many jobs that are unseen and misunderstood. Chambermaids are given the responsibility of cleaning rooms, but they can usually do so much more than that .
- Pacific | Yukinori Yanagi
- When you look at this piece of art, do not mistake it for a painting, instead Pacific is an installation of forty-nine plastic boxes arranged in a rectangular grid and connected using resin tubes. Each box contains a national flag made out of synthetic coloured sand. If you look closely you’ll notice that each box has some lines in it, those lines were actually created by allowing ants to run around those boxes (and the pipes that connected them). In fact there are some dead ants lying in the flags. The aim of the project was to make an artistic analogy of migration, as creator Yukinori Yanagi is a Japanese emigre to America and often travels because of his work. All the flags within are countries that either border the Pacific Ocean, once had colonies in the Pacific, or represent indigenous groups that have no sovereign claims there (i.e Aboriginals or Maori). Furthermore, the artwork also sends a message about how ‘Nations, ethnicity and religions are all ghettos. They are surrounded by imaginary boundaries born out of social or institutional constructs’ and that when the ants erode the clear boundaries between the flags in these works, this serves as ‘a simple, equal and hopeful way of expressing the gradual unification of all the world’s nations’.
- Fountain | Marcel Duchamp
- You probably scratched your head a little at this artwork (I did for quite some time and failed to produce my own explanation). "Fountain" is an actual toilet urinal turned on it's side, signed with the initals "R.Mutt" on it (it's believed this was a false name for Marcel, who wished to avoid public attention). The history of fountain is quite interesting, as it was actually turned down from the first exhibition in 1917 by the Society of Independent Artists. This caused quite an outrage, as Duchamp himself had helped found the society whose constitution stated that they had to accept all members' submissions. After some diplomatic actions and heated discussions (look at the website for more details on that), it was finally agreed to have Fountain displayed. The artwork itself is thought to be a challenge to the "conventions" of art at the time it was made (early 20th century). Duchamp wanted to ask "what is art?" to the audience, as up until then art had often been associated with beautiful paintings that took months to create. The very notion of simply turning a toilet urinal and signing it much the same way an artist would sign their magnum opus was very radical to the world at the time.
- Between the Cracks | Cynthia Decker
- When one “reads between the lines” in a book, they can also “see between the cracks” in society. In this artwork, Cynthia Decker depicts a sort of “hidden community” of people who society does not wish to see or rather people whom society shun from public. In every nation these people exist and they often “fall through the cracks”, left to their own with no acceptance from others.
- Between the Margins | Toyin Ojih Odutola
- Music
- Me and the Sky | Come From Away
- Of course, I rest for a bit and immediately get welcomed back by another musical (god I wish Kenshin was here to help me get through these musicals). Hang on, actually this musical isn’t that bad as most other plays I have had the absolute displeasure of watching. “Come From Away” tells the true story of the week following the September 11 World Trade centre attack, when 38 planes were unexpectedly ordered to land in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Known as Operation Yellow Ribbon, it was an attempt by Canadian officials to immediately clear American airspace of any dangers. This specific song actually focuses on one character of that play, pilot Beverly Bass of an American Airlines Boeing 777. She was actually the first female pilot of a major US commercial airline and this song commemorates that achievements. It tells of her long and winding road (with more than a few naysayers) to earning her wings and being able to pilot huge aircraft over long distances. Fun fact, her first job was actually earning 5 dollars an hour flying corpses out of Fort Worth, Texas.
- Three Romances for Violin and Piano | Clara Schumann
- Yet another story of a woman defying social conventions and stereotypes in order to achieve great things, Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer who composed these 3 pieces in 1853 and later performed them in 1855. During the Romantic period of music, it was believed that women were not all suitable for the job of composing music (Nannerl Mozart anyone?). Indeed Schumann herself said that “Women are not born to compose”. Dedicated to legendary Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim, the three songs were later played by Schumann and her husband (Joachim himself) on tour. They even performed in front of King George V of Hanover, who appeared “extremely ecstatic” at hearing the lovely romances. It almost seems shameful that Schumann’s career would always remain overshadowed by her husband’s
- The Way You Make Me Feel (Cover) | Renata Flores Rivera
- This one is slightly different. You’ve probably already heard of “The Way You Make Me Feel”, a hit song by the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. In this cover, Renata Flores Rivera made her reputation by translating the entire song into Quechua, a language spoken among many indigenous tribes and people in South America. With regards to this specific performance and singer, Rivera managed this with help from her 72 year grandmother who is a Quechua speaker.
- Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd | Folk song
- Never have I ever been so interested in a WSC song in the course of this work. “Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd” was first published in 1928 and it is believed to have originated from the early 1800s, during the period of the Underground Railroad (a covert network that whisked slaves in the South away to freedom in the North). Apparently, common myth has it that a conductor on this railroad, one Peg Leg Joe, began singing the song to remind slaves how to find their way out if they were alone. While the “Drinkin’ Gourd” was a euphemism for the Big Dipper constellation, the true message was to face this constellation and then follow the North Star (Polaris) to freedom. While it has been disputed multiple times throughout history, if this song was really used then it would’ve guided slaves from Mobile, Alabama to Paducah, Kentucky (where they could cross the Ohio River to freedom in the north). Its origin and context remain a mystery, since not all slaves on the Underground Railroad could’ve used it.
- Didge Fusion| William Barton
- In this very interesting fusion piece, William Barton not only demonstrates his ability to play 2 instruments at once, but also a “new-meets-old” fusion between guitar and didgeridoo, a stereotypical yet extremely common Aboriginal instrument that can be found in many parts of Australia. He wishes to highlight how the two can merge together, not having to try and remove the other from the song. Perhaps as an analogy to society, we should and must include all members of a community, not try and marginalise or shun them.
- Mbube | Solomon Linda
- You may have heard of this song before, it has been parodied and replayed many times. It’s often known as “the lion sleeps tonight” and was originally written by Linda in the Zulu language, way back in 1939. It later became a number one hit in the United States with its English translation taking the top spot, whilst the original Zulu recording faded into the annals of musical history. Truly a sad example of language barriers causing songs to become more well-known as well as forgotten.
- It’s the Hard-Knock Life | Annie
- Yet another musical whose song I have to analyse. Well let’s get this over with then. “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” is a song from the “Annie” musical, first produced and performed on Broadway in 1977. In this film version produced in 1982 (and most notably a recent contemporary adaptation in 2014), the namesake character of the play and her friends sing of how dreary life can be in an orphanage. During the time period (great depression America), orphans were often ignored in society and their treatment was left to private institutions, some of which were notorious for their dreadful conditions and harsh caretakers (not unlike the one Annie has to face daily).
- Little People | Les Misérables
- A recurring musical on the World Scholar’s Cup, Les Miserables is also one of the most famous musicals in history. Based on a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1862 and adapted for a play in 1980. Its London production has been running since 1985 and as such is the longest-running musical in the West End as well as the second longest-running musical in the world after the Off-Broadway run of The Fantasticks (lasting for a total of 42 years from 1960 to 2002). The musical focuses on the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant attempting to seek redemption after serving 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Along the way, he and his friends are swept into a revolutionary movement centering on a street barricade where young idealists demand reform for the government. Sung by young Gavroche, this song appears in the Third Act, when a police inspector (who appears throughout the play) by the name of Javert is exposed as a spy within the midst of the demonstrators. Gavroche sings about how people shouldn’t underestimate those “Little People” for they will fight to the bitter end to get what they want. During this period in time, children were often shunned (and for many decades afterward they would be), adults didn’t take them seriously as they still “had much to learn” until they could play a serious part in society.
- Black Man | Stevie Wonder
- Well it appears Billy Joel just got some competition here. In this song, famous singer Stevie Wonder sings about his dream of interracial harmony and equal rights for people of all backgrounds. First recorded in 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life, the song’s verses consist of many “firsts” and achievements that go to people of different colours. Admittedly the song nowadays is less culturally acceptable due to its use of a colour-based terminology (i.e “black”, “yellow”, “white”).
- The first verse names Crispus Attucks, a black slave recently freed and the first martyr of the American Revolution, when we was among the 5 “massacred” in the Boston Massacre of 1770. It also names “the red man’s” as the Native Americans who inhabited North America long before white people did. Pedro Alonso Nino is also named, as the guide of one of Christopher Columbus’ ships. The railroads that connected America and revolutionised travel were laid by “yellow men”, Chinese immigrants coming to seek a better life.
- In hindsight this is getting slightly tiring, so I’ll leave this Wikipedia link to help explain who all the people he mentions are.
- Me and the Sky | Come From Away
- Art
- The Awakening Slave | Michelangelo
- In this work by Michelangelo, one can note the figure of a man trying to escape the marble block from which he resides. This is a common example of Michelangelo’s non-finito style, where he purposefully left work unfinished to send some sort of message about the work being left in that state. For this case, Michelangelo depicted 4 slaves and servants of Italy, attempting to break free of the marble (an analogy to them breaking free of the shackles that their masters had put on them). He left them unfinished in order to illustrate how the struggle with slavery and freedom is often an eternal one.
- Isleworth Mona Lisa | Unknown
- When you visit the Louvre in Paris, you’re likely there for some very famous paintings. One above all trumps the French Museum’s collection, a fairly ordinary painting of a woman seated in a normal position with a mysterious expression on her face: The Mona Lisa. Yet another Mona Lisa also exists, named the “Isleworth Mona Lisa” for the British estate which it hung in for several decades when purchased by British art collector Hugh Blaker. Currently touring Asia and under the care of the Mona Lisa Foundation (on behalf of the anonymous consortium that actually owns it), this younger Mona Lisa appears to have been the same person that Leonardo Da Vinci painted in his most famous artwork, just 10 years younger. Many have theorised that this Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo at the behest of her father/husband, allowing him to practise his legendary painting skills. Others believe that another Renaissance artist simply painted the original Mona Lisa in a younger light as a “sexed-up” copy. Whatever the case, this Mona Lisa hides even more secrets beneath that mysterious smile than her older portrayal in the Louvre.
- Woman-Ochre | Willem de Kooning
- Willem de Kooning takes quite a bold move with this painting. "Woman-Ochre" was painted in 1955 using the abstract-expressionist style. It was controversial during that period in time, with even notable artists like Jackson Pollock criticising Willem for failing to stay true to the original goal of abstract painting, instead relying upon obvious figurative painting. The oil painting itself depicts a woman figure, highly stylised and blurred over (if you look hard enough you'll make it out though). Perhaps more interesting however, is the fact that this artwork was actually stolen and remained hidden from the public until very recently. Here's the full (sort of) story:
- On November 27th, 1985, an older woman and younger man walked into the University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA) and asked a security guard about some of the artwork on display. After the male companion had returned from an upper floor, the two left the museum (the guard later noted how unusual their actions were, he expected them to actually look at the art for much longer). After some investigating, the guard realised that "Woman-Ochre" had been removed from it's frame, with suspicions that the man had hidden it under his coat (it was cold outside after all) on their exit. No fingerprints were found, no security cameras were installed at the time (can you guess what their first investment after that was?) and witnesses provided rough descriptions of the pair. Even the FBI were unable to find any leads, so the "Woman-Ochre" disappeared into the Arizona desert.
- It was actually not until 2017 that a nephew of Rita Alter and Jerry discovered the painting lying around his deceased parent's house in New York. As of now, the painting has yet to be restored or hung up in it's original place. FBI are still investigating whether or not the Alters actually carried out the crime or simply purchased the painting from another source. Seems like Kooning's work has attracted attention from an unwanted source.
- Willem de Kooning takes quite a bold move with this painting. "Woman-Ochre" was painted in 1955 using the abstract-expressionist style. It was controversial during that period in time, with even notable artists like Jackson Pollock criticising Willem for failing to stay true to the original goal of abstract painting, instead relying upon obvious figurative painting. The oil painting itself depicts a woman figure, highly stylised and blurred over (if you look hard enough you'll make it out though). Perhaps more interesting however, is the fact that this artwork was actually stolen and remained hidden from the public until very recently. Here's the full (sort of) story:
- Mike the Headless Chicken | David Herrera
- By far one of the more interesting pieces on this list in terms of its inspiration; the artwork in question is a metallic sculpture of a headless chicken in Fruita, Colorado. The actual inspiration for this piece comes from a true story. In September of 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorado beheaded a Wyandotte Chicken named “Mike” for supper. Though the axe cleaved most of the head off, it missed a ear and the brain stem. Yet Mike still continued to peck, walking clumsily and even attempting to crow (it sounded more like a gurgling sound from his throat). Olsen decided to care for the bird, seeing the public image it would gain if researchers found out about this “miracle survival”. Mike was put on display over the next 2 years, gaining a lot of money for simply being there (it is estimated that he was worth $10,000). In March 1947 however, during a stopover in Phoenix, Mike choked on a kernel of corn and died then and there. Scientists later determined that the axe swing had missed the jugular vein, causing a clot to prevent him from bleeding out. The brain stem being left behind also meant that Mike was still capable of basic body functions such as pecking, walking and (attempted) crowing.
- La Sagrada Familia | Gaudi
- Visit Madrid and you will likely have the Sagrada Familia as a stop on your visit. This majestic, unfinished church is the result of almost 137 years of constant work and renovation. Laid down in 1882, the original architect died a year afterwards. Famed Catalan Architect Antoni Gaudi took over the project and scrapped the original design in favour of a much grander vision. Despite having died in 1926, the church continues to be worked upon by a succession of new architects. Unfortunately, each architect has had to add their own spin on the design, as many of Gaudi’s original models were destroyed in vandalism during the Spanish Civil War. As a result, the church is almost an amalgamation of different styles and designs, but then again, as Gaudi said “my client is in no hurry”. God can wait until judgement day for this church to finally be complete, though perhaps 2026 may not be so far away right about now.
- The Awakening Slave | Michelangelo
- Music
- Symphony No. 10 | Ludwig van Beethoven & Barry Cooper
- Yet another legendary composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven was actually dead when this work was first performed in 1988 (161 years dead actually). This symphony is actually what one calls a “hypothetical work”, where the entire piece was assembled from fragmentary sketches of the sheet music that Beethoven had lying around his study after his death. Barry Cooper took up the job of compiling, composing and ultimately publishing this 10th Symphony, first performed by the Royal Philharmonic Society in London (to whom Beethoven had originally offered the new symphony to). Apparently, after his completion of the Ninth Symphony in 1824, the legendary composer focused on his string quartets. Apparently in an 1827 letter he references a new symphony and is rumoured to have played a movement of it for his friend Karl Holz, whose descriptions of the symphony match the notes identified by Barry Cooper. Truly an amazing story of resurrecting an artist’s work beyond his time.
- Trying to Get the Feeling Again | The Carpenters
- Yet another lost piece to the times, “Trying to get the Feeling Again” was initially written by David Pomeranz and sung by Barry Manilow in 1976 (when it became a top 10 hit). The Carpenters actually recorded the song a year earlier 1975 for their sixth album, Horizon. During the recording session however, it was found that there wasn’t enough space on the vinyl disc for the song to fit with the rest of the album (typical during those days of limited music storage and no mp3/Spotify/Itunes/digital recording). In 1994 however, backing singer and band co-founder Richard Carpenter was searching through the old tapes to find the master backing track for “Only Yesterday”. Instead he also stumbled upon the original recording for this gem of a composition, he found it good enough to record and produce that same year. Almost 20 years after its original recording, Trying to Get the Feeling Again would finally be released for The Carpenters.
- Unfinished Symphony | Franz Schubert
- Ah I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, an entire section of music without a single work from a musical! (insert throat clearing noise), anyways let’s move on to yet another mysterious piece from a legendary composer. Schubert’s Symphony No.8 in B Minor (though it has been renumbered as Symphony No.7 at times), is a musical composition that he started in 1822 but left unfinished despite having lived for 6 more years. When the work was discovered, only 2 movements had been developed as well as a scherzo with only 2 pages (a scherzo is usually a smaller composition that forms part of a movement). Brian Newbould, the composer who later finished the composition, has suggested that this work would’ve originally been a transition piece for Rosamunde (a play which Schubert composed the music for). This theory is circumstantial thought and it remains unsolved why he left it unfinished (perhaps we can also slip this into the Special Area section!). I will however, allow myself (and in some part you fellow scholar) the joy of writing out the history of this piece.
- The first appearance of Schubert’s unfinished symphony occurred in 1823. Having just been given an honorary diploma by the Graz Music Society, he felt obliged to dedicate a symphony specifically for them. As a result, he sent an orchestral score composed the previous year to his friend (and leading member of the Graz Music Society) Anselm Huttenbrenner. It contained the first two movements that were made by him as well as the first two pages of a scherzo. That is where the trail goes cold. We don’t actually know if Schubert had actually finished and symphony and some inexplicable reason caused him to only send part of it, or whether it was purposefully left unfinished. Eventually the rest of the scherzo (save for the second strain of the trio) was discovered in a separate manuscript after the famed composer’s death. Interestingly, the scherzo that Huttenbrenner had received was missing some pages (had Schubert torn this out and recycled them for future use?). Even more curious is that Huttebrunner made no effort to contact Schubert about the missing pieces, nor did he even reveal the work’s existence to anyone until 1865 (almost 40 years after Schubert had died!). It was then that the existence was revealed to conductor Johann Von Herbeck, who premiered the first two movements in Vienna that same year.
- Requiem in D Minor | Wolfgang Mozart & Franz Süssmayr
- You’ll have to forgive me for not listening to the entirety of this requiem mass by Mozart, the entire piece is 55 minutes long. Otherwise known as piece K. 626, there is an interesting story behind this work. Rumour has it that it was commissioned by one Count Franz Von Walsegg-Stuppach, who liked to pass off the work of others as his own (poor Mozart). As part of this act, he made Mozart sign a contract (and even have a witness present at the signing) that made sure he would not make copies of the work nor tell anyone else of his involvement in it (furthermore, the first performance was for the count himself at the anniversary of his wife’s death on Valentine’s day). A tall order for the old composer, whose glory days were behind him. Constantly weakened by a series of fevers and time, Mozart dedicated most of his final months in 1791 to the writing of two operas (never resting I see). These were The Magic Flute and La clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus). From time to time he would dedicate time to the requiem, but in the end he only finished the orchestration, and the “Introit.” The “Kyrie,” “Sequence,” and “Offertorium”. The remaining parts that his student, Franz Xaver Sussmayr finished were the “Benedictus”, “Agnus Dei” and the “Communio”.
- Ah I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, an entire section of music without a single work from a musical! (insert throat clearing noise), anyways let’s move on to yet another mysterious piece from a legendary composer. Schubert’s Symphony No.8 in B Minor (though it has been renumbered as Symphony No.7 at times), is a musical composition that he started in 1822 but left unfinished despite having lived for 6 more years. When the work was discovered, only 2 movements had been developed as well as a scherzo with only 2 pages (a scherzo is usually a smaller composition that forms part of a movement). Brian Newbould, the composer who later finished the composition, has suggested that this work would’ve originally been a transition piece for Rosamunde (a play which Schubert composed the music for). This theory is circumstantial thought and it remains unsolved why he left it unfinished (perhaps we can also slip this into the Special Area section!). I will however, allow myself (and in some part you fellow scholar) the joy of writing out the history of this piece.
- Free as a Bird | The Beatles
- Free as a Bird is one of those songs on here with a fairly confusing and somewhat interesting history (more for me to explain then). Released as a single in 1995 as a promotional teaser for The Beatles Anthology (a three-part documentary about the era-defining band), "Free as a Bird" was criticised for being "dreary" compared to previous compositions as well as extremely repetitive. The reason for this was because the Beatles didn't actually know what they wanted to do with the song. In 1977, John Lennon had actually recorded the piece as a home demo (a private recording meant for referential use). It wasn't until the Anthology was due to Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr asked Lennon's widow Yoko Ono for some unreleased material to publicly record. "Free as a Bird" was one of the songs she gave the band, who later gave it some new instrumentation, vocals and arrangements. Interestingly, the band actually "got back together" for a brief while thanks to this song, having broken up in 1970 and Lennon himself being assassinated in 1980.
- Symphony No. 10 | Ludwig van Beethoven & Barry Cooper
- Art
- Key to the City | Paul Ramirez Jonas
- When we think of the “Key to the City”, newsreels and articles often give us the impression of a huge key that doesn’t really open anything, but instead is a symbol of trust and respect for the hero/dignitary to whom it is awarded to. Yet in this spin on that concept, Paul Ramirez Jonas crafted a master key that could open over 20 sites in the 5 boroughs of New York City (this included museums, police stations, cemeteries and community gardens). Instead of giving the key over to dignitaries or heroes, Jonas gave them out to the normal citizens of the city. As such, the keys portrayed New York’s social landscape as a place for tourists and locals alike, where one could not just tour the popular sites but also find hidden gems. The handing of the keys, still using a bestowal ceremony, also represents a growth of trust and friendship, as this key can do many things.
- Harold Whittles Hears for the First Time | Jack Bradley
- In February 1974, young 5-year old Harold Whittles was captured in a Readers’ Digest magazine when a doctor turned on his hearing aid. Having been born deaf, young Whittles’ face lit up with an iconic expression of surprise and wonder at being able to distinguish sounds for the first time in his life. Yet when photographer Jack Bradley took the photo, he never knew what controversy it could cause nowadays. In capturing a deaf person hearing using medical technology, he sent the message that the inability to hear is a “defect” that society must right. The author of that article (who is deaf himself) argues that this is yet another example of deafness being oppressed and sign-language being frowned down upon in society.
- A Show of Hands | Htein Lin
- In practically every society, a simple raising of a hand can signify many things. From supporting a political stance, to objecting at a wedding to even questioning the teachings of a superior. In this light, artist Htein Lin invited three past political prisoners in the New York City area to have their hands cast by him in the Asia Society Visitor Center. These 3 people dared to raise their hands in objection to the policies of their country’s leaders (likely a Southeast Asian country) and for their protests paid the price by spending time in prison. This work of art can both help and hurt, as raising hands in objection can show a hope for the betterment of society, but also hurt the individual who dared to perform such a gesture.
- Key to the City | Paul Ramirez Jonas
- Music
- God Help the Outcasts | Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Alright this one is edging slightly closer to musicals (worryingly). Luckily the WSC has slightly better taste when it comes to animated movies (musical fans please don’t kill me). The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a great Disney movie released in 1996 and is based on the 1831 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo (we’ve heard his name before haven’t we?). Instead of focusing on young idealists however, this movie focuses on the story of a hunchback who is confined to a life in the belltower of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. Many regard this movie as one of the darkest Disney productions, since it explores heavy topics (read: infanticide, genocide, sin, damnation, lust). In this particular song, the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda (the later love interest of the namesake hunchback Quasimodo) seeks refuge in the cathedral after Judge Frollo (the cruel antagonist whose somehow been granted a position of power in the city) tries to hunt her down. She prays to god (at the suggestion of the ever dutiful archdeacon) that all the outcasts who’ve been rejected from society can be included.
- Is This The World We Created…? | Queen
- Ah Queen, yet another band whose quest to fame is one of tragedy and triumph (I’m not going to go into detail with this, so I will wholeheartedly refer to the Oscars and say you watch Bohemian Rhapsody). In line with “We Are the World”, this song was composed by Freddie Mercury and Brian May after both had watched the news of the Ethiopian famine that devastated millions in Africa. The song serves as a call to action by asking people to look at the sorry state of society, with so many “hungry mouths we have to feed” and all the “suffering we breed”. It was performed at the Live Aid concert in 1985 as a finale piece, the Live Aid concert being a monumental event which gathered some of the biggest names in music at the time to raise millions for humanitarian aid.
- YMCA | The Village People
- One of the most famous songs in existence (there’s a high chance you’ve heard it before), this song deserves a Wikipedia explanation as I am beginning to tire heavily with analysis and backstory. Enjoy yourself again.
- Wavin’ Flag | Young Artists for Haiti
- In 2010, the Haiti people bore witness to one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake devastated local infrastructure and killed approximately 230,000 people. Neighboring Latin American, South American and even North American countries sent as much aid as possible (from materials to specialist search teams to Red Cross personnel). Canada tried to keep this aid as ongoing as possible by forming the Young Artists for Haiti, a group of young musicians under the guidance of famed producer Bob Ezrin. The title song was actually first sung by Somali-Canadian singer K’naan from his album Troubadour, it expressed the aspirations of the Somalian people and their desire for freedom. When released, the song hit the #1 single spot in Canada and reached even higher fame when Coca Cola chose it for their promotional anthem at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- We Care A Lot | Faith No More
- If you haven’t chuckled or even remotely considered the irony between the band name and the song name, I will give you some time to process it.
- Now then, let’s get to the analysis. “We Care A Lot” is a song by Faith No More, who released the original version in 1985, about the same year the Live Aid concert occurred. Keep in mind though, that this song was neither played at or would’ve been welcomed at that concert. “We Care A Lot” was actual a parody song meant to mock the “popstar trends” that were being played at the Live Aid concert. Throughout the entire song, the band states that they “care a lot” about some things that weren’t actually a huge concern at that time. This included the Los Angeles Police Department, America’s constant war-waging and even Madonna (for the original song). The song was later updated and covered 2 more times, first in the band’s 1987 album Introduce Yourself and again (without the lead singer) in 1991 at their live album Live at the Brixton Academy.
- Streets of London | Ralph McTell
- Our final musical piece of the 2019 course (breaths long sigh of relief). I seriously recommend that you watch the actual video, as the pictures that accompany the song are truly moving and fitting. “Streets of London” was composed by English songwriter Ralph McTell for his 1969 album Spiral Staircase and wasn’t actually released in the UK until 1974 (understandable given the inspiration, topics and lyrics). The song has since been covered by over 200 artists and re-released in December of 2017 with Annie Lennox and Ralph McTell performing it for the CRISIS Homelessness Charity. The songs lyrics talks about the common problems between people in society and the homeless, lonely, elderly as well as other groups society often shuns. McTell gained inspiration from the song after his years backpacking, hiking and busking (playing music in the streets) throughout Europe. Initially the song was going to be called “Streets of Paris” after he spent a while observing the homeless there. After realising that he was talking about London however (and the small hitch that there was another song called “People of Paris”), he changed the name to what it is now. Interestingly, the “market” he refers to in the song is the Surrey Street Market in Croydon.
- God Help the Outcasts | Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Consider each of the following roles in producing a work of art or music. What are some other occupations not mentioned here but still necessary for us to appreciate the arts?
- curator | handler | restorer | concept artist
- Curator: Originating from the Latin word “cura” (literally “to take care), a curator is often the person in any museum or other institute who will look after the entire collection and ensure that visitors are aware of it’s value. The curator is often someone who possess a wide array of knowledge about the materials they look after. Curators often take the time to lead tour groups or guests around their museums, making sure to curate details about the artwork being displayed. Curators are also responsible for the introduction of new works into their museums, often bargaining with private collectors or governments to lend “exhibitions” of temporary displays for a few weeks or months.
- Handler: The handler is rather self-explanatory, they handle (pun intended) specific artworks or groups of artworks within galleries. Their duties include ensuring that artworks are packaged and unpackaged properly, installing and removing artwork as well as overseeing any transportation of the collection. Within music the handler does not exist as a job, so this role is limited to art.
- Restorer: This is pretty obvious, the restorer is tasked with the delicate and often nerve-wracking job to to restore and conserve (hence the more formal name conservator-restorer) priceless works of art (or musical instruments) for display in galleries. Often the restorer is an expert on the certain art form and is well-versed in restoration tactics. They can be paid thousands and sometimes millions of dollars depending on the value of the art they’re restoring, but their reputation can easily be tarnished (just like a botched restoration job) if they mess up poorly. Take the example of this St. George sculpture as a case.
- Concept Artist: A concept artist is one of the coolest jobs on this list in my opinion and I’ve left some examples of their work on the slideshow below. A concept artist (or team of them) are the people who are responsible for converting ideas into sketches. They convey these ideas through their art, putting the vision of the producer/director on canvas (yes, they can use tools other than pencil and paper) before sharing it to the production team. Concept art is usually revisited several times before it gets the greenlight “go-ahead” from the creative team. After that, concept art can also be used in press releases or promotional videos to begin generating awareness about the upcoming media. Concept art is often used in video games, films, animations and event comic books (each has an example below).
- museum registrar | conservator | collection manager
- Museum registrar: The registrar is another museum role that often doesn’t get as much attention as other jobs. Yet without the registrar, none of those jobs would have been able to perform their work in the first place. Registrars are the people in museums who oversee the policies and procedures regarding the acquisition, loaning, exhibition, storage, packing and shipping (to name a few) of the artworks or other pieces in a museum/archive. Registrars work in close partnership with conservators and curators to ensure the museum has met its professional standards and reflects what it wishes to show off. Registrars often work in documentation and record-keeping, ensuring that no piece from the museum leaves or enters without having gone through them. Their key role lies in documenting the restoration, condition and movement of any permanent pieces the museum owns, while also ensuring that new (or even loaned) pieces are given a registration number and looked after properly. Should a museum have too many items, registrars often deal with the deaccession (essentially the selling or disposing) of unnecessary items. Perhaps the most crucial job of a registrar however, is to oversee the transport and unpackaging of any art piece being loaned or coming into the museum. Often times, they will take it upon themselves to train a courier who will remain with the piece until it arrives at its final destination. In certain cases, especially if the artwork is extremely valuable and of great significance, the registrar themselves will accompany the priceless piece as a courier.
- Conservator: A conservator is not to be mixed up with its sister job, a restorer (see above for that one). A conservator deals with looking after contemporary art pieces (i.e recent works from the past decade) and ensuring that they maintain their quality. A restorer on the other hand, works in ensuring that older pieces of art that may have some damage of time on them are restored to what they would have been like just after they were made. A conservator can also do this role, but often museums will prefer two separate departments. Conservators are required to be knowledgeable about ways to make art look as if though it was just made yesterday as well as have some background information about the piece they’re working on.
- Collection manager: Just like how conservators and curators report to registrars, registrars need to report to someone as well. That someone is the collection manager. Collections managers oversee the cataloging, inventory managing, loaning and procurement of entire collections (either for certain historical periods, concepts, art movements, music genres or even temporary exhibitions). They often inform conservators, curators and registrars as to upcoming changes or unseen shifts in the museum’s inventory that isn’t shown to the public (i.e within the archives).
- sound engineer | producer | licenser | backup singer
- Sound engineer: When you hear a recording of music, you hear it in such crystal clear quality (or earrape quality if you’re one of those teenagers) because the sound engineers who worked on the recording while the band performed a song were able to adjust the different aspects of the music to be better for digitization. I’m not going to go into detail with the specifics on how they manipulate what they manipulate, but the general idea is that sound engineers. I’ll let you explore that in detail here.
- Producer: Record producers or music producers are essentially the head honchos of musical industry. They are the people who oversee the production of a band or performer’s music as well as the sound recording of the piece (as such, they work in close conjunction with sound engineers). Their roles are far more varied and can easily include:
- Gathering ideas for the music project
- Collaborate with artists to select cover tunes or original songs
- Work with singers to help improve their melodies or lyrics
- Coach singers and musicians in the studio
- Licenser: When a piece of music is released and copyrighted by the musicians/band, the licenser is responsible for overseeing the licensing of the music to separate groups or even individuals. If a film company wanted to use a singer’s song in their production, they’d have to contact the licenser to find out the specific terms and conditions needed to include the song in the first place. Licensers also then oversee the integration or use of the song to ensure that the license/contract is upheld. Without licensers, anyone could easily use the song with no consequences whatsoever.
- Backup singer: When a main singer needs a vocal harmony or lead-in part in their work, then backup singers are called upon to provide some additions to the song. In different genres of music this takes different forms. In rock music, it isn’t uncommon to find backup singers doubling as the drummers or guitarists, whilst in Latin American music backup singers may play percussion instruments while singing, even pop culture has backup singers dancing complex choreographies whilst singing through headset microphones. Perhaps the more “modern” incarnation of a backup singer is the role that K-pop bands (I never wish to type that term again) commonly rely on in their live performances: backup dancers.
- orchestrator | record label | roadies | conductor
- Orchestrator: If you’ve ever gone to watch an orchestra (a most calming and culturally informative experience I must say), you will likely notice some key difference from the original sheet music and the orchestral notes. This is because an orchestrator has assigned instruments from the orchestra to the different parts of a piece written by a composer. They look at the parts of the composition and assign roles/parts/solos/group patterns to the orchestra depending on which instruments or emotions need to be played/transmitted. Orchestrators also have a role in adjusting sheet music written for another medium to the orchestra. It isn’t uncommon to see a Mozart piano symphony or Beethoven violin concerto being adjusted so it can be played in such a large group.
- Record label: When a famous musician records a new album or single, they often give the rights to market, distribute, promote, manufacture and copyright enforcement to a record label (otherwise known as a record company). These corporations often deal with the promotion and marketing side of the music industry, promoting the song to radios, televisions and even social media in order to expand the consumer base and get more money rolling in for the artist. Some of the biggest record companies include: Sony Music Entertainment: Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group (lots of film-based record labels if you haven’t noticed, seeing as the best way to promote a song is to put it in a blockbuster which millions can see).
- Roadies: This term doesn’t actually refer to any 1 job, but instead it is an umbrella term used to describe the support personnel who accompany musicians when they hit the road (hence the name roadies) and go on tour. They will often take up separate sleeper buses or trailers and perform every possible duty except perform the piece onstage with the musicians. This team can include: tour managers, production managers, stage managers, front of house and monitor engineers, lighting directors, lighting designers, lighting techs, guitar techs, bass techs, drum techs, keyboard techs, pyrotechnicians, security/bodyguards, truck drivers, merchandise crew, and caterers (as well as others). Without these people, who are often given credit after a performance in a location during the tour, the concept of bands “hitting the road” to promote their songs would never have taken flight in the first place.
- Conductor: Perhaps one of the oldest (if not the oldest) entry on this list, the conductor is literally the person responsible for ensuring an ensemble performs properly. A conductor will often stand on a slightly raised platform at the front of the ensemble (be it an orchestra, chorus, opera company, ballet or other group) with the sheet notation of the compositions in front of them. They will often carry a small baton in the right hand (though historically this may have been a piece of rolled parchment or even huge walking stick) or nothing at all. Throughout the entire performance, conductors make rhythmic pulses or strokes with their arms. Each stroke has a meaning unique to each member of the ensemble (i.e the percussions receive different messages whilst the strings have their own hand gestures). Over the centuries, conducting has been refined into something of an art form in of itself, with conductors having their own interpretations of work and how they were meant to act in the ensemble. Gustav Mahler was a notable 19th century composer from Austria who could dance up and down and make the most vivid arm strokes in his pieces, whilst his counterpart Richard Strauss barely moved his hands at all. The most famous conductor of all though may be Lenard Bernstein, a 20th century American composer who led orchestras in a beautiful and almost fantastical way. I’ll let an actual conductor explain this crucial role to you though.
- curator | handler | restorer | concept artist
- Consider this example of what some might term the music of the marginalised: a genre centered on a traditional Indian drum called the parai. Along with watching the performance, you may want to read articles such as this one, on its significance. Can music be a way to empower or ennoble disenfranchised communities?
- What a most interesting musical form indeed. Paraiattam is a form of music based on the parai drum that is practised by some Indians in more rural areas. Since the entire musical form is dominated by drums, dancing and singing, the musicians are often shunned from performing it in their home villages due to the nuisance it can cause to the ears. Yet whenever they perform to a larger crowd in a natural area, clear of buildings or homes, they can often make a profit and attract a lot of praise/attention. This is but one of many ways music has and continues to empower and elevate the status of disenfranchised communities. Once, black musicians were shunned for playing jazz or the blues in the south of America, yet whenever they did perform in large groups it brought great attention to their racial plight and allowed society to slowly accept them more.
- Consider instances in which photographers and the media are able to popularise images of marginalized groups, such as a starving refugee or a victim of violence. Discuss with your team: when is it appropriate to photograph people in times of pain and crisis? Is it ever acceptable for such photos to be staged? Should people win awards for taking them?
- It is becoming more popular nowadays that photographers, journalist, musicians and other forms of expression capture the misery and marginalisation of society. It is more common in art galleries to notice pictures of refugee faces, scars from a burst of violence, or a village in ruins after marginalised groups were attacked. It seems appropriate to photograph these people if they feel like it is necessary to share their emotions with the rest of the world. These photos should never be staged, because only those who truly experience the pain can tell their stories through their emotions. People should win awards for the contributions these photos made in terms of political and social change, not just for capturing our sorrows and pain.
- Consider the history of jazz music as a case study of the music of a marginalised group gradually becoming mainstream. Has the same process occurred for other musical styles? Discuss with your team: do we ever undervalue or overvalue music because of the group of people with which it is associated?
- The history of jazz music is truly one filled with stories of triumph and tragedy. The first ever jazz recording was the Original Dixieland Jass Band with their Livery Stable Blues, recorded on February 26th 1917. While the genre itself was later mocked, criticised and even shunned from American society; the origins of jazz remain as elusive as its actual definition. We can only imagine that sometime in the 1860s, black citizens in New Orleans’ famed Storyville red light district began playing “jas” (an African-American slang term for “energy”) in brothels as prostitutes did their thing (yeah, not the greatest of origin stories). Jelly Roll Morton, one the earliest jazz pioneers, was even known as a euphemism for sex. Jas later evolved into “jass”, not much of an evolution considering that the word was likely a reference to a woman’s backside. Either broadway or jazz bands later replaced the s with a z in order to avoid pranksters scratching the “j” off their posters.
- Even as jazz evolved into a mainstream radio station hit and album bestseller, the genre itself was attacked by white critics, who deemed it a creation of subhuman abilities by people who probably couldn’t even write or read sheet music. Even within jazz fans, there was a harsh divide on whether the refined “white jazz” was better than the true-to-life “black jazz”.
- Jazz is just one example of how we undervalued music based on who wrote it, especially considering the marginalisation of the group that created it. Some might consider that we overvalue “pure orchestral” music from the great European artists such as Mozart or Beethoven, yet we do not even recognize the name Joseph Boulogne (the “Black Mozart” who was actually a frenchmen renowned for his orchestral skills). Music should never be shunned or given too much spotlight because of the skin colour of the person who wrote it.
- You may be familiar with the four most famous Beatles: John, Paul, George, and Ringo. A number of other contributors have claimed (or been given) the title of the “Fifth Beatle”. Discuss with your team: what would it mean to "deserve" this title? Do the most famous four get too much credit for the band’s achievements?
- There have been many people accredited with the title of “Fith Beatle” because of their contribution to the band’s success in the first place. Many, including Paul Mccartney, believe that this title should officially go to George Martin, producer with the band ever since they first played in the 1960s up until his death in 2016. Others credit it to Brian Epstein, the young manager who “discovered” the band in 1961 during a gig at the Cavern Club in Liverpool (it was he who would later set up that fateful meeting with George Martin). Some even claim it to be Neil Aspinall, a former schoolmate of Paul and George who would later be their roadie (driving them to shows and even lugging their instruments onstage). Others give it to former members of the band who quit it for personal reasons; these included former bassist Stuart Sutcliffe (age 21 at death in 1967), former drummer Pete Best (still alive at 77) and former pianist Billy Preston (died 2006 due to kidney disease). Even Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the shopkeeper in the Simpsons, claimed to have been the “Fifth Beatle” after a cameo episode alongside Paul and Linda Mccartney (understandably that claim isn’t as widely supported as the others).
- The attainment of this achievement would likely go to someone who has helped the band achieve their popularity or fame through the use of their own connections or positions. The main four members of the band get enough credit in my opinion, not too much or too little. If they had gotten too much credit, then the existence of a “Fifth Beatle” would be disputed or even ignored.
- She’s the most famous Mozart you’ve never heard of. Read through the story of Nannerl Mozart and discuss with your team: what implications, if any, does this rediscovery of her work and talent have on our understanding of music history?
- The story of Nannerl Mozart, otherwise known as Maria Anna Mozart, is one of social prejudice blocking stardom. Maria would tour Europe with her younger brother Amadeus and was an excellent harpsichord player by the age of 11. In London she garnered critical acclaim and wonder when British crowds saw a woman playing in an orchestra so wonderfully. Sadly by 1769 she was not allowed to show off her musical talent, having reached the age by which she could be married off. During this time, Amadeus would continue to tour Europe (most notably Italy and France) whilst his once prodigal sister was forced to stay at home in Salzburg, Austria.
- The rediscovery of her work is indeed impactful on our understanding of music history. Mozart actually looked up to her when he was a toddler and wished to one day be as good as she was when playing the harpsichord. Perhaps she even helped to write some of Mozart’s sonatas and orchestras, as the two were constantly in correspondence with one another.
- “We are the World” was one of the most famous and successful songs in the history of charitable fundraising, but its remake in 2010 to help victims of the Haitian earthquake was much less well-received. Consider the argument in this article, then discuss with your team: was the remake doomed to fail? What is the best way to raise awareness and funds in the social media era?
- “We are the World” was a 1985 hit charity single that brought together some of the biggest names in pop culture back then (Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie) to raise money for humanitarian aid sent to Africa (a recent famine had devastated multiple countries and millions of people there). In 2010, the Haiti earthquake came about and devastated the small Caribbean island. So it seemed logical that, on the 25th anniversary of the original song, We Are the World 25 came on to gather 80 of the biggest names in modern music (Justin Bieber, Will.I.Am and Tony Bennett). After a short stint on the spotlight (including a number 2 on the charts and quarter of a million downloads), the song completely disappeared. Critics had slammed it and the public had shunned it as a result. We can’t exactly blame the song for being poor in quality, we can instead blame the society in which it found itself being recorded in. Back in the 1985, artists collaborating (especially on a scale as large as the original WATW) was unheard of, information was inaccessible (no internet, quite literally!) and the media controlled what you heard (unlike now, where everyone can be a Youtube Star).
- The best way to raise awareness right now on social media is a simple post. A caption detailing who needs aid and why, and what the reader can do to help.
- Consider this program meant to increase access to (and interest in) the arts among those in Brazil who lack the financial resources to explore them on their own. Discuss with your team: is this a plan you could support, or would you rather see these funds invested in other ways?
- The program referred to by the article is a social welfare one in Brazil that sees the government giving “cultural coupons” to workers who make $300 dollars a month (more than 5 times Brazil’s minimum wage). The rechargeable coupons are worth $20 a month and will allow hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to view cultural exhibitions (everything from art museums to cinema tickets to even live performances). The government hopes that it will start something of a cultural revolution in a country where many struggle to find time to express themselves. This plan is certainly something I could support, given the correct conditions and end goal. Perhaps some of the earnings from the coupons could also go towards improving quality of life in other areas (i.e access to water, infrastructure or other facilities).
- In Canada, the Canadian Content requirements stipulate that 40% of music played on radio stations must be created by Canadians. Discuss with your team: should governments regulate artistic expression to prioritize and ensure representation and inclusiveness, whether of their own national artists or of marginalized communities?
- This is an interesting approach to regulating artistic expression. The Canadian government is likely attempting to promote national artists in the hope that some of these national artists are from marginalized communities. It might work for them, but governments attempting to mandate who can broadcast on the radio might backfire in other countries. I’d like the see the US mandate that at least 5% of the songs played on the radio station are composed by Latinos or other South Americans, as opposed to the usual American white and black creators. Governments should try to encourage both representation and inclusiveness, by ensuring that all social groups in their country get equal say in the popular media (i.e TV shows, News hosts and radio station DJs).