A Clockwork Orange is a masterfully crafted movie directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the book of the same name by Anthony Burgess. One scene in particular is known for its power and ability to make viewers quite uncomfortable is the infamous rape scene in which Alex sings "Singin' In The Rain". Though one of the reasons for this song is because it was one of the only songs Malcolm McDowell had memorized, it seems to have a significant meaning behind it. It is as if, through this scene, the song and the viewer have lost their sense of innocence. Being forced to watch as an innocent woman is raped and her husband can do nothing about it is emotional, but the glee heard in Alex's voice as he sings such a song just adds another level of creepiness. Just like having this song ruined for the audience and the poor old man that Alex and his droogs terrorize, Beethoven is besmirched for Alex during the social experiment he is put through. In a way, Alex gets the taste of his own medicine, but "Singin' In The Rain" may never be the same for the audience.
While watching some of the amazing stylized music videos provided by the Art & Technology webpage, I was reminded of this unique music video, created by Dustyn Logan Peterman and Derrick Acosta.
A Trip to the Moon is really an amazing piece for its time. The sets reflect those of the over-exaggerated and heavily descriptive stages of classic opera. The effects that are used may not seem like much, but for a film from 1902, it really leaves one to wonder just how they pulled off such fantastic visuals. Georges Méliès was truly an innovator of his time, bringing about special effects and magnificent settings that can still be appreciated even now, more than one hundred years later.
Broadway plays can be amazing in their own right, but sometimes the magic behind them can be even more magnificent.
As the curtain rises in this musical number, lights flash, and the painting in the back seems to catch the eye and make the audience believe that there are more people on stage. Then a set-piece begins to appear on-stage, and out comes the main performer as shown by the spotlight directed onto him. This technology may seem basic, but it really livens up the scene.
Another seemingly basic technology, the use of set-pieces that can easily be moved and set up quickly while a music number is still going actually makes for a very interesting performance, allowing scenes to pop-up or change in a matter of seconds.
In this montage of a performance of Sweeney Todd, one can see the use of harsh lighting in order to convey tension and horror. Lighting may be simple, but sometimes it can have create very emotional scenes when used correctly.
Speaking of lighting, the way that this stage was built makes for some amazing use of lights. The setup just seems so surreal, but it really adds to the emotion of the musical number. As the band swells and the performers dance happily, the stage lights begin also dance in their own way, changing colors and flashing with the music.
Using colorful lighting and smoke machines to create ominous scenes is not the only creative thing that can be seen in this montage. The scene in which a cross made of lights descends and shows Jesus hanging from it is just spectacular. This also incorporates the growing trend of rock, rather than relying the old method of catchy show tunes. Even the way we make our music is a technological advancement when you think about it.
Old Broadway musicals and even operas relied on fancy costumes to catch the eyes of the audience, but these ended up being quite expensive. With new technology comes more effective and efficient ways of creating clothes and costumes, allowing plays such as these to have a wide array of colorful, awe-inspiring clothing without the hefty cost. Even stark contrasts can be seen between characters simply based on the clothes that they are wearing.
As our technology advances, so does our uses of it in the entertainment industry. Even simple technologies can be used to create spectacles when placed in the right creative hands. A simple music number can become a fantastic period piece with enough time and commitment towards really using all the resources at one's disposal.
Racism was rampant in the early 20th century, and the theaters were no exception. I had heard of "black-face" and minstrel shows before, but I never realized just how horrible they really were. The fact that minstrel shows went on for so long as a form of entertainment is just stunning, and according to the documentary Blacks and Vaudeville, even when African Americans were finally accepted in the theater, they were still portrayed as stereotypes and could really do nothing about it. Not only did they appear discriminated in the shows themselves, but the posters portrayed them in the worst stereotypical ways known for the time, and some of the names of the songs and shows were just awful. I cannot wrap my head around the fact they even managed to make the stage seem racist at one point in time, just because an African American band happened to be performing. While racism may still exist today, at least it does not seem as socially acceptable as it did in the past.
As for the story of Josephine Baker, it really is a pity to know just how discriminatory America can be. It's shameful to know that such a beautiful performer could be shunned simply because of the color of her skin. I'm glad to know that while it may have been full of hardship to have to actually leave the home you hold dear just to live out your dream, there were people who really did appreciate her for what she did when she went to Europe. With so much potential and talent, she really was a superstar, and deserved so much more.
