JENNA DIETRICH
Arts Scholar
PENTATHLON SEMESTER 2
As an experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attended a selection of five art events during my second semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.
#Theatre
For my second Pentathlon event, I decided to live stream the play, Machinal, presented by the University of Maryland's School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. Machinal is based on the true story of Ruth Snyder (named Helen Jones in the play adaptation), an American murderer who was publicly executed by the electric chair in the 1920’s. The play moves in episodes from Helen’s marriage to a man whom she is terrified of and conversations with her mother including flashbacks of her life, to the birth of her daughter and eventual affair with a man that she met at a bar. By the end of the eighth episode, Helen has become overwhelmed by feelings of constraint in her life by her husband and the “mechanized” nature of society, and she murders her husband to finally feel free. The play was ended with her public trial and execution for the murder of her husband.
As a viewer, I was extremely impressed by the ability to put on such an excellent production over Zoom. The yellow tint of the black and white lighting made me feel transported to the 1920’s. The Zoom screens popping up and disappearing quickly with each scene change made for seamless transitions. The clarity of each actor’s voice, even when speaking at the same time as another actor, was impressive considering the sound-cancelling nature of Zoom. The most notable sections of the play were when Helen was speaking her own anxious thoughts. These long, rambling speeches were absolutely riveting, and I felt drawn into her thoughts; the actress delivered these lines so passionately and emotionally that I could feel her pain through the screen. The music during these monologues also contributed to the commotion and incessant speech patterns. Overall, this play was an extremely creative production, and I learned a lot about the ways that theatre makes insightful commentary on society.
Image Credits: UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, Machinal
#Film
Last weekend, I watched all three of the original Indiana Jones movies after borrowing them from the library. I had heard remarkable reviews about these action-packed movies for as long as I can remember, especially in reference to it’s excellent soundtrack composed by the esteemed John Williams. I always thought that the movies were only for those who enjoy the fantasy and adventure film genres, but after watching, I quickly realized why these movies are so appealing to nearly all audiences. These films are quite action packed and fast moving to keep audience members entertained, but there are unexpected emotional moments as well. The movies are also packed full of comedy, which creates unforgettable lines. There are booby-trapped shrines and near death experiences, trips to exotic places, knowledgeable and entertaining characters, and a lot of fighting with Nazi’s to save the world.
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Beyond the plot of the film, the renowned musical composition was quite exciting. All of the music was instantly recognizable, and Williams showed just how important music is to the feeling a movie evokes. The intensity in these movies is almost completely dictated by the musical cues; the action scenes are more exhilarating, the romantic scenes are more passionate, and the frightening scenes are more spine-chilling. Williams finds a way to weave even the smallest musical innuendos into the dialogue, such as the piercing clarinet riffs in the scene when Indiana Jones encounters lots of snakes in one of the temples. I look forward to learning more about Williams' musical work in other films as a music major and future music educator.
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Through the thrilling scriptwriting, fun characters, quick moving plot, and impressive use of CGI for its time truly show why Indiana Jones became such a phenomenon.
Image Credits: HQCover's Indiana Jones – The Sonic Adventure Collection
#Music
For my fourth pentathlon event, I attended the Stravinsky in Miniature concert, performed by The President’s Own United States Marine Band and Chamber Ensembles, showcasing Igor Stravinsky’s unique pieces for smaller ensembles. This piece was particularly appealing due to the soft timbre and rounded, legato notes that gave the ensemble a full sound, even when playing bouncy or very quiet notes. It was also interesting how Stravinsky passed the same melody around the ensemble in different variations to create distinctive moods.
The next piece was “Suite No. 1” followed by “Eight Instrumental Miniatures” and “Pastorale,” which welcomed Gunnery Sergeant Sara Sheffield as the vocalist. The vocals blended beautifully with the woodwinds, which was especially impressive since the vocal line did not have any words, relying solely on pitch. A peaceful melody was passed around in an antiphonal way, ending with a chord that was built as each instrument added a note. Sergeant Sheffield was the vocalist for the next piece as well, “Elegy for J.F.K..” The dissonance between each instrument and the tritones scattered throughout the piece demonstrate the disconcerting emotions of the topic, and these clashing notes are a result of Stravinsky’s use of the twelve-tone technique, where all twelve notes of the chromatic scale are played equally so the piece avoids staying in one key. I also enjoy how each instrument enters at a different time and note lengths vary to add to the unsettling nature of the piece.
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Finally, the concert ended with “Octet,” “Symphonies of Wind Instruments,” and “Scherzo à la Russe.” Overall, I was impressed by the beautiful tone and balance between all of the instrumentalists, especially since the musicians were placed so far apart from each other. This concert was also informative, as I learned about some of Stravinsky’s less well-known pieces.
Image Credits: The President’s Own United States Marine Band and Chamber Ensembles
#VisualArts
For my third pentathlon project, I decided to experiment with sewing. Throughout the entire month of February and March, I spent my free time learning how to sew and embroider, following beginner tutorials, templates, and asking others for guidance. So far, my projects have been varied, from customized face masks and masks specifically for musicians, to embroidered pillows and a bed for my dog.
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Through sewing, I learned to organize my creative ideas before taking on projects, while also adapting to changes throughout the process. I experimented with different designs of shape, patterns, fabrics, and textures to make the most fashionable products. For example, I used a template to make masks but when they were not as comfortable as possible, I decided to reshape the fabric to individual faces, and added a nose wire to give the masks more protection. Adding new aspects to the masks was an expressive way for me to make them more personalized. Sewing also helped me improve my accuracy and precision, as I had to use a steady hand to prevent any mistakes, and these skills will definitely continue to apply throughout my music and biology majors.
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It was so satisfying to have created something out of just a little bit of fabric and thread with my own hands, and it was even more meaningful when I was able to share these sewed items with my friends and family, customizing each of them with embroidery and unique fabrics. After these projects, I cannot wait to explore more through future sewing endeavors.
#Presentation & #ArtsScholars
For my final pentathlon event, I attended Katie Rees’ Capstone project, Art Behind Bars, on March 24 at 6pm over Zoom. Katie’s presentation showcased work by incarcerated artists affiliated with the local non-profit organization Justice Arts Coalition (JAC). From drawing and paintings to poems and comics, JAC works with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals to create art for justice, uniting all through art. I particularly enjoyed the three poems written by Derrick Grantley, because the word choice was extremely impactful. I truly felt deep empathy for inmates who feel alone and unheard, and it definitely encouraged me to think about prisoners from a very different perspective than before.
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Through this experience, I learned about how JAC helps current and former inmates connect with others through art. After attending, I am definitely inspired to observe these pieces of art more often, and write letters to let the artists know that their art is seen and understood. Katie’s capstone event had such a large impact on so many people. The ability for current and former inmates to make and share their art allows them to connect with the outside world and contribute their perspective to society. Especially with the ability to correspond through letter writing, it helps to unite everyone, giving myself and my peers the ability to understand the struggles of inmates and develop empathy for their hardships in prison. Through art, JAC gives inmates back their “voice” allowing them the opportunity to be heard. After attending this event, I look forward to learning more about JAC and their art projects, and viewing the art pieces from different artists!
Image Credits: Katie Rees and the Justice Arts Coalition