In the Red and Brown Water : By Tarell McCraney

  

The performance In Red and Brown Water was a story about a talented runner named Oya. Many obstacles were placed in her way in order to redirect her from achieving her dreams. She was offered a scholarship in order to run in college, but she declined the offer because she wanted to stay home and take care of her mother, who was extremely ill. Eventually time passed and her mother passed away. After her mother death it seemed like the little fire left in Oya died also. Symbolism is displayed many time throughout Oya life. For example when she is running her life seems to be on track but once she stops it all falls apart. She also falls in love with thing that she can’t have. She falls in love with an unfaithful man who is taken away from her because he is fighting in the war. Everything that Oya loves is taken away from her.

I think that the tribal music was the most compelling thing about the performance. The music played as the narrator of the story. By the different tempos you could almost predict what was going to happen next. The audience was aware of when something bad was about to happen. The music helped to build suspense throughout the play.

Oya decision making was the most compelling parts in the play. For example she invested her time in things that she couldn’t have. She fell in love with Shango who was actually unfaithful. He actually got another girl pregnant. I think that she was down so down for so long that she didn’t think that she could do any better. Many times throughout the performance we see that Oya looses hope. I think that once opportunity was there she wasn’t ready but when she was in need it didn’t come.

The only thing that I didn’t understand by watching this show was where exactly did this show take place. When I first saw it I thought maybe it was in Africa because of all the tribal music. Otherwise it was not that hard to follow.

This was not my first time seeing a live theater performance. This performance ended up being better than I thought. I felt like it kept the audiences attention and it was realistic. The performance shows that based on your decision obstacles in your life can change for the good or the bad. In Red and Brown Water it shows us that everything may go wrong at onetime but life goes on and it is your choice to recover or not. As long as you maintain hope there is always away. 

Scream 2 : Movie Review

“ What’s your favorite scary movies” is by far one of the most famous lines asked by the killer in Scream 2. The movie draws the audience to the edge of their seats when they hear the phone ring. You quickly think do not answer the phone. The movie opened in 1997 and was written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. Scream 2 won numerous awards in 1998. The movie won ASCAP award, Blockbuster Entertainment Award and the MTV award.

When the director builds suspense you already know that something is about to happen. I enjoy the thrill of not knowing what will happen next and or being scared out of my mind. Unfortunately I watched the Scream series out of order, but it did not effect anything because they give you the introduction to the previous movie at the beginning and or through out the movie. So it isn’t that hard to catch on. I love sitting their thinking Run. Get up. Hide. NO! I love scary movies.

One year after Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) falsely accused her mother murder she decided to go off to college hoping that she could leave her tragic past behind her. The movie begins in the movie theatre with a film called Slash. This film is based on Sydney’s life. The killer attacks again. But this time who is the killer? The previous killers are dead. Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) a famous new reporter continues to but her nose into information that has nothing to do with her. Dewey Riley (David Arquette) is injured police office that will do anything in his power to keep Sydney safe. There is another suspicious and annoying news reporter by the name of Debbie Salt (Laurie Metcalf) she always appears to be on edge and at the crime scenes. Many personalities throughout the movie foreshadow whom the killer maybe. The killer often uses threats to keep his callers on the phone such as “do you want to die today”. The idea of intimidation is easily displayed throughout the movie.

This movies fits into the category of college films because the plot revolves on a college campus. It provides you with this atmosphere in order to lore the viewer in and make them feel as if they can relate to the situation. The moview uses college students partying and drinking to show that some of them are naive and has no idea what is going on in their surroundings. 

 The ending I feel was a little weak. I feel like they build up the suspense and then people were killed and that was it. The blood and gore could have been a little more realistic also. I really think that the writer and director set up the plot nicely though. The tone of the movie is calm for the most part. The best audience for the film would be people who love to be a little scared and on the edge of their seats.

Arboretum Experience

On Monday we took our first field trip to the H.O Botanical Gardens, which is located at the Penn State Arboretum. This was my first trip to the Arboretum. I’m not really an outdoor person but yet I do track and field weird right? I am allergic to pollen and freshly cut grass so most things in nature tends to make me sneeze and it also makes my eyes all irritated and puffy so I try as much as possible to avoid it. I also dislike bugs. I can tolerate them but I prefer not if I don’t have to. I think that I have a love/ hate relationship with nature I’m not totally against it but I will not go out of my way to be encounter in nature.

 I’m not actually sure if I would have gone to the Arboretum on my own. But after seeing it in the fall I can only imagine how beautiful the plants would be in the spring and summer time. I actually did enjoy my experience because it was something out of the norm for me and it was definitely amusing. I think that I actually would bring friends back. The Arboretum is able to captivate the beauty evident in nature.

As I traveled through the Arboretum I saw a huge map of State College engraved in rock on the ground. That was awesome because I was familiar with particular areas that are near my home. Then I started to travel through the Arboretum I saw various amounts of different flowers. Some of the flowers were actually recognizable. Some of the flowers reminded me of the ones that my mom included in our garden back home. When I was younger I used to help my mom plant flower and as I grew up I was able to watch them grow and progress through natures life cycle. More specifically we saw sunflower they were simply beautiful and bold and definitely stood out to me. We also saw rocks that were in some type of formation. I noticed that on some of the rocks you were aloud to sit on them and on others it clearly stated “do not sit”. We went underneath this this arc of flower and when we looked up we saw these oddly shaped fruit and or plants I’m not exactly sure what it was.

Going on this field trip I learned that you could have your wedding at the Arboretum. That would be such a remarkable experience. It one of the most imporatant days in your life and you can experience it in such a beautiful atmosphere. That would be a dream come true. I also was able to recognize the orange mums. They quickly reminded me of the fall. My mom always puts orange mums on our front porch. My favorite thing at the Aroboretum by far was the fountain. The fountain was simply incredible. By standing on the outside looking in it seems like if you stood directly in the middle of the fountain you would not get hit with the water. The angle on the fountain are precise which makes it seem perfect! My overall experience at the Arboretum was definitely fun and one to remember.

Palmer Museum Visit

The piece that I chose is called St. Sebastian Healed by an Angel. The artist of this magnificent piece is Giovanni Baglione. This work of art was created in 1603 and Giovanni Baglione used oil on canvas as his material.


The piece displays a weak man leaning on his left shoulder with his left arm placed across his stomach. He is obviously wounded and in a enormous amount of pain. A women who is referenced to as a angel in the title is placing a thin stick with a feather on the end of it into the mans right side. She seems extremely confident and calm as if the situation is know big deal whats so ever. Well since she is a angel that means she has faith in God and believes that all thing are possible.

During this time period religion was a big thing and often stirred up controversy. I believe that throughout history we often come upon religious debates and disbeliefs of certain things that occurred. I think that this painting was in order to provide a simple scenario and show the affects of God if you choose to follow him.


Immediately when I looked at this piece I became extremely emotional. This picture made me revert back to ten years ago when my brother got shot. This is by far the most tragic event in my life. But to make a long story short, I remember the nurse leaning over my brother and placing a tube into one of his sides in order to drain all of the blood. In a religious aspect I could say that the nurse was referred to as the angel that helped to save my brother life. I agree with the picture it shows that anything is possible as long as you have faith and believe in it.
 


He seems like he is a credible artist.  He was Italian and an art historian. He created most of his pieces for the church. He is commonly known for is depiction of the Last Supper. He also wrote two other pieces of work.
 
The claim that the piecing is making is that everyone should part take in church. God is able to heal if you trust in him and simply believe. I think that is trying to convert people into Catholicism and or some other religion so the people will be saved. All of his pieces are based on religion, which make me believe that is big on the idea of religion. I think that this piece was made in order to get people to trust in God and confess all of the sins. It also alludes to the idea of helpfulness and togetherness.
 

I actually enjoyed my experience at the Palmer. This was my first time visiting this museum and I plan on taking my dad back one of these days because he loves art. It was definitely better than I expected. There were a lot of pieces that I have learned about previously and it was just amazing to see them outside of a textbook and or the Internet. It was also cool to see new unique or different textures and forms of art. I just applaud all of the artist and there talents.

http://www.wga.hu/html_m/b/baglione/sebastia.html