Santigold

So Arik and I liked this video a lot. The first half is of little importance, but we were both interested in the representation of violence in the second half. Violence becomes something distastefully colorful, playful, and surreal. Brightness that we usually associate with happiness becomes something twisted. Anyway, take a look. (O yeah, she's also playing at Spring Weekend this year, in case you were wondering.)

The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters

The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters
By Francisco Goya

Today, we were reading over Act II Scene 2 in which Macbeth emerges out of Duncan's chamber. He speaks of sleep, "the death of each day's life," and the cry that calls an end to that sleep.

This talk of sleep reminded me of this print, a testament to the fears of the Enlightenment. The monsters of irrationality and anxiety prey upon man's mind while Reason sleeps. Bats, cats, and owls descend upon the figure, a haunting force upon his psyche. We've talked about maybe adding the witches into this scene, who taunt and confuse Macbeth with Lady Macbeth's lines. I think it would a really interesting moment, his madness and fear is drawn out by these phantoms and monsters. Plus this group already has an impulse towards the masochistic.

But then again:
"...the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
That fears the painted devil..."
(Lady Macbeth, Act II Scene 2)

Here's another one by Goya that I'm reminded of. Cannibalism becomes a theme. It's called Saturn Devouring his Son. Click for a larger version...if you dare...

Fun Times

Emily 3/20

March 20, 2009

Because I can't get enough of fun images, here is another. This is a depiction of the Whirlwind Lovers from Dante's Inferno. The artist is William Blake (that crazy motherfucker with paintbrush). The scene shows the Second Circle of Hell, where all the lustful lovers swirl in an endless tempest. Blake depicts the windful souls gusting through ethereal streams. It's beautiful, and once again touches upon that connection that we're beginning to establish in our work. Their bodies spin together, wrapped about each other in endless movement. I always thought they got off fairly easy. Though in an neverending spiral, the lovers remain united in their punishment.

And pity, like naked new-born babe,

Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubim, horsed

Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

That tears shall drown the wind...

(Act II Scene VII)

Emily 3/19

March 19, 2009

The Temptation of St. Anthony By Salvador Dali

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about demons. Not in a satanic ritual kind of way, mind you. Yet they keep on popping up everywhere it seems. In my early modern history class, we've been discussing the fine line between the natural and supernatural in the mind of an sixteenth century person. In between these two points lies the idea of preternatural, that which stretches the boundaries of natural law. This includes angels, demons, and yes indeed, witches. These individuals twist and manipulate the elements, throwing the natural order off-balance without necessarily defying it. They remain part of the natural world. According to Thomas Aquinas and various other philosophers, God alone can break nature's laws. Therefore witches and demons can not perform miracles but rather produce "wonders" using their intelligence and power to create something extraordinary.

I've also been looking at images of The Temptation of St. Anthony. St. Anthony is a third century hermit, who lived as an ascetic in the Egyptian desert. While hiding in a cave, a pack of demons came to plague him with images of sin and torment. This temptation has been represented in art throughout history. The demons' mockery of Anthony reminds me a lot of the dynamic we've been creating between the witches and the Macbeth clan, a whirlwind of creatures twisting around these poor mortals. Here are some more pictures, in addition to the one by Salvador Dali at the beginning. Click the image to enlarge.













L: Martin Schongauer, 1470's R: H. Bosch, 1505

Emily's Posts

March 17 2009

Hey everyone. Here some things I noticed in rehearsal today.
-Nick/Olivia balboa with everyone else doubling up and dancing around-possible opening? banquet scene?
-competition developing between Nick and Mat in Big Booty- pretty
intense, guys; Mat needs to channel that shit into the play, and Nick thrives off of competition (don't pretend to deny it).
-McDuffy= Blood, Heath, Wounds, Drunk, Choke, Betray- I liked the
moment at the end when the pace was sped up by Nick.
-hilariously wonderful spoon party and mocking loveliness

Cool word combos I was playing with/ noticed:
-Cling together and choke
-doubtful swimmers
-choking the words
-cling to the art of wounds
-heath blood