Terrible! Yes. But Great.

They say anything can be achieved if you take it one step at a time- even greatness. Good, better, best, seems a logical progression. Start with the little things- a bit of service of here, a quality education there, and you’re on your way. But what exactly is greatness? Is there another path to get there? How about greedy, greedier, greediest? Following a similar formula of increasing intensity with attributes such as determination, aggression, and pride, would appear to produce the desired result. But by whose standards?

“After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things. Terrible! Yes. But great” (J.K. Rowling). The issue of greatness lies in its relation with moral standards and the nature of its influence. Some would argue that the mark of a great man is the effect he has had on the world around him. If he has influenced his culture or environment in a positive manner he has truly found success. Others contend that greatness is power, regardless of how it is used. It is a matter of affecting society for better or worse. I, however, would raise the question of whether greatness must be found on a large scale at all.

It is common knowledge within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that we are all spirit children of our Father in Heaven. As such, greatness is not something to be achieved, but rather something that we must develop. It is an intrinsic trait within each individual on earth. If there was ever an example of true greatness, it was Jesus Christ. As faithful members of the Church we are all striving to follow Christ and be more like Him. I would submit that there is truly no better method for achieving greatness in this life. Only as we learn to develop qualities such as compassion and selflessness, and forsake traits resembling aggression and pride, can we truly achieve the greatness that is inherent to each of us.

Greatness in Society

Over time, greatness has come to be a standard goal of people in society. In essence, achieving greatness has become one of the main motives for a person's every action. Greatness is defined as an extent, amount or intensity considerably above normal or average. Likewise, If everyone were to achieve greatness, in turn, no one would be great anymore: for no one would be above average.

The evolution of greatness puts enormous pressure on students and society today. As people continually get better, smarter and stronger on average, the standard of greatness rises as well. For example, in sporting events records can only be broken; they do not oscillate or get worse over time. Regardless of when studies are taken, world records of sports are always becoming more difficult to set, acknowledging a continual trend. Like that of sports, society as a whole has raised its standard of living and expectations. One hundred years ago it wasn't necessary for everyone to graduate college in order to have an above-average job: now it is. These increasing standards will only make greatness in the future more difficult to obtain and will require much more effort from people wishing to attain it.

Most of the time, greatness can be measured. Questions such as - Who is the best tennis player, or fastest runner at this time?- have one definite answer. By means of competing and testing, the majority of life can be measured against itself, enabling society to define greatness. While many social aspects of greatness can be measured, some can not. Categories such as writing, art, music and other qualitative aspects of life, appeal to society sensually, making it extremely hard to acknowledge one particular piece as better than another. Every person's likes and emotions are different. Who then has the authority to actively judge which piece of art, music or writing is considered great? Society today tries hard to set standards of greatness on these things. This begs the question, can qualitative arts be given a quantitative value of greatness?

Greatness will continue to have both definitive and relative traits. Because greatness pushes people to do better in all they do, greatness is, in turn, the reason for societal progression.

So You Think You Can Dance?

I sat down to watch World of Dance, excited for the wide range of dance styles advertised and was not disappointed. While all the dancers performed very well - the folk dancers taking us to far away countries like Romania and Belgium and the contemporary dancers taking us through a forest - I was most impressed with the ballroom team. As a previous ballroom dancer, I was looking at their company with a sharper eye than the other groups, but they did not let me down. By far, the ballroom team had my favorite performances of the night.
Their numbers were always crisp, precise, and together. When choreographing ballroom, it’s not just about the six individuals; it’s about coming together first as a couple dancing as one and then as a team creating an overall effect. The dancers made it look so effortless, but as a dancer, I’ve learned that the art of precision is hard to master. Every movement was in sync with each other and with the music making each number come to life.
The variety in the ballroom numbers showcased their wide range of dancing. The opening Latin dance was fun and full of life; the standard waltz was graceful and fluid; the theatre arts was beautiful and awe-inspiring. The dancers caught the spirit of each style and danced it beautifully. The costumes that were chosen matched the dances and added to the overall effect. The bright costumes of the Latin dance were bright and eye catchy while the waltz dresses fanned out gracefully as they spun across the floor.
Overall, World of Dance was a great showcase of BYU’s dance department; but, for me, the ballroom team stole the show and left all the other dancers in the dust. By the end of the performance, I realized that all who performed definitely proved that they could dance.

World of Dance= Jealousy

In anticipation for the World of Dance performance, I was anxious, excited, and happy to be going! However, as the performance began, those feelings slowly began to change. I started to feel a new feeling: wonder mixed with a strong undertone of jealousy... Why are they so good and I'm so bad? Obviously, it's because they've dedicated their whole lives to the arts, and I've dedicated my whole life to, well, other things. But still! I've always admired dancers and I wished I had the same talents that these performers did.

If it's not yet obvious, I was very impressed with the performances in World of Dance. All the numbers were extremely professional. This included not only the dancing itself, but the costumes, lighting, dancing, and special effects. It was so impressive! I also loved the fact that these were all my fellow peers. It made the show more meaningful.

In the performance of “High on the Mountain Top” by the Ballroom Dance Company, there were many different aspects that were worth analyzing. First of all, the performers knew that they’d be able to appeal to the senses of the audience because most everyone was LDS. By dancing to “High on the Mountain Top,” I felt the Spirit in their actions! I even heard one girl say that it brought her to tears, so I know it wasn’t just me. The costumes also added to the performance because they were bright and appealed to the senses, yet flowed with every movement across the stage. It was a wonderful balance! I also loved that there was fog on the stage and a beautiful mountain background behind the dancers. It was an overall beautiful and inspiring performance!

Although I know I’ll never be a professional dancer like these wonderful BYU performers, I can still appreciate the arts and talents of other people. I guess I just need to suppress my jealousy and accept that I have some great talents too. Those talents just don’t include anything with dance! Overall, though, I really enjoyed World of Dance and was sad to see it end.

Clothes Make The Man (And Dancers Of Both Genders)

Whether it’s swishy skirts, bold colors, or sweater vests; clothes make a lasting impression. World of Dance takes this sentiment to heart by combining fantastic costumes with brilliant routines which are sure to make a lasting impression.

Guys in tuxedos. Girls in shimmery elegant dresses. Immediately, the brain keys on to these visual cues and lets us know that what is coming is supposed to be classy and elegant. The Ballroom Dance Company’s piece “A Daisy in September” and “Wheelenese Waltz” by Contemporary Dance Theatre. The ballroom waltz is very elegant and the grace of the performance is enhanced by the sumptous costumes. The long dresses the ladies wear complement the dance by twirling around the performers. Likewise, the tuxedos make the men in the ballroom piece look classy in a way that simple denim jeans would not.

In contrast, the “Wheelenese Waltz” plays on the audiences expectation for class and elegance. They give it to us--but with humor! The performers all wear tuxedos, their movements are smooth and beautifully choreographed-why then is this performance so amusing? Because their “dance partners” are female dolls attached to the heads of scooters! The choreographers combination of the classic cliché of performance dancing with these zany elements creates a stunning presentation that both entertains and astonishes.

Costumes are a powerful element when creating the mood of a dance, however; they can also aid in telling “the story” of a choreography. The Contemporary Dance Theater performers in “Excerpts From Barefootin’” all wore casual clothing that would have been worn by adolescents during the 1950’s. This clothing, coupled with music and dancing, allows us to picture a group of high school students gossiping and eventually dancing. If the performers had worn business attire from the 1950’s, the setting of the dance’s “storyline” shifts to a business and perhaps more adult environment.

Whether it be the story or the mood, effective costuming is crucial to a successful performance. World of Dance presents a myriad of diverse dance routines; and the costuming of each is as different from the next as the dance steps themselves. Despite their differences, the performances in World of Dance have at least one thing in common: they’re dressed for success!

Just Dance!

I’ve never been much of a dancer. Sure, I love to move and “get my groove on”, but I feel sorry for the other people who have to witness it. I’ve never had the grace and poise of a ballerina, or the precision of a ballroom dancer, and I doubt I ever will. However, going to World of Dance opened my eyes to a beautiful reality: anyone can dance.

The stage was set for an exciting night. The curtain rose on a dense fog illuminated by a full moon looming in the background. In the distance, there arose a quiet tinkling of bells and soft chanting voices. The sounds blended and grew as the dancers transported the audience to another world. I was completely hypnotized. Not only did the movement of the dancers’ bodies capture my attention, but every aspect of the dance, from lighting to set to costumes, created a scene I could never have imagined alone.

When the first number ended, I was amazed to see that each dance number, one after the other, had an identical effect. Some struck me more than others. Some left me puzzled as to exactly what I had just been a part of. Others caused me to cry because I was laughing so hard! From ballet to blow-up dolls, from ethnic dance to romance, from clubbing to barefootin’, each dance was unique and stirred up its own set of emotions.

By the end of the show I was on cloud nine, but also deeply depressed. I had witnessed something amazing, and yet I was overwhelmed with a realization that I could never dance like that. My waltz would be spastic, my ballet shameful, and my ethnic dance would start the next world war. Just as I was about to give in to my personal pity party, the finale began. Together, all the dancers joined in a dance that was meant only for fun. The overall message of the show hit me like a brick. The dancers weren’t trying to say, “Dance like us.” They were trying to say, “Just dance.”

No matter who you are or how much talent you have (which in my case is none at all) you can dance. Dance isn’t only about precision or storytelling; it’s about having fun. My roommate and I were so eager to let loose that we threw a dance party in our bedroom. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones struck with dance fever. Before we knew it, we were involved in an impromptu dance party on the sunroof of Young Hall. Sure we broke three city ordinances and neighbors called to complain about the noise, but it didn’t really matter in the end. What mattered was how my outlook had changed. I’m no longer afraid to let loose and perform silly and possibly slightly embarrassing dance moves. From now on, I’ll just dance.

The Variety of Dance

I came into the World of Dance concert thinking that I already knew everything there is to know about dance; I was very wrong. The first Romanian piece provided a sense of immediate professionalism. The dancers, all in perfect formation, performed with elegance, stomping and yelling in a synchronic manner. I was immediately sucked into the performance.

The World of Dance concert’s variety of dance types, costumes and musical numbers continually amazed me. I was intrigued with the immense variety of numbers chosen to represent the BYU dance team. Seeing the difference between ballet and contemporary; foreign and ballroom helped me understand the wide range of art that “dance” covers. Even the slight differences between ballroom numbers, such as the scooter performance, kept the concert lively and interesting. The assortment of numbers kept members of the audience on the edge of their seats, never knowing what was coming next.

The experience I had at World of Dance made me consider how many aspects of art I know nothing about. I began to rethink previously formed opinions, looking at art holistically, with a more open perspective. I then took this idea to another level, considering how many aspects of society and life I had never experienced or just outright knew nothing about. I began to think of the little art background I had, the little knowledge I had of foreign culture, the little knowledge I had even with politics in my own area. Watching this concert inspired me to decide to learn more about aspects of society I have little knowledge of at this time.

This concert, as a whole, helped me change my attitude concerning dance. Seeing the vast perspective covered in World of Dance as well as the interesting little twists added to many performances helped me better recognize many wonders of dance that I never knew about. Going to World of Dance introduced me to the importance of looking at dance, art and anything else I may not know much about, in a better way: more openly.

The Curious Dance of Inspiration

            As I watched the different performances, I was captivated, I was thoroughly impressed, and despite my limited technical knowledge in an artistic area like dance, I really enjoyed it. I was really interested in what made it so interesting, and why I was moved by a couple of the particular performances. Why is it that dancing is able to inspire us, or bring out certain feelings?

From an individual perspective, one of the pieces that stuck out to me was the last dance performed by the ballroom team. This dance had me set on the edge of my seat, not because it was suspenseful, or I thought that something monumental was going to occur, but simply because of the way that their style and flow were literally entrancing. I went home that night and thought about what it was that made that dance stick out to me so much, but I don’t think that I came to a final reason. One speculative answer could be that their bodies moved in a direct parallel to my feelings and imagination as the music played, but I don’t know if I can settle with the answer that it was just feeling that grasped my attention. Nor did it feel like some eerie supernatural experience though. I thought that it might have been some relation to experiences that I’ve had, but if it is, it’s too multifarious for me to understand. I know that there is some logical answer for my admiration but it will probably take more experience to come to a solid conclusion.

Obviously the love of art like this is something shared by many people so I considered why the beauty of dance is understood by almost everyone. Howard Gardner is a developmental psychologist and a professor at Harvard. He came up with a theory back in the 1980’s that I find applicable to this question. He discusses how there are multiple intelligences, instead of just the traditionally valued western ‘logical-mathematic’ kind, there exist other categories of understanding and knowledge that can be learned. In his book “Changing Minds” he references the way that everyone we meet has something that they can teach us. The dancers that were in the World of Dance undoubtedly possess the spatial and bodily-kinesthetic knowledge Gardner talks about.  We all have varying degrees of understanding in different intelligences and often this determines our ability to relate to expressions of knowledge like the ones exhibited. I think that this is a useful theory in understanding the way that we relate to art such as dance. Although, maybe we are just predetermined to think of certain movements of the body as beautiful, I've heard of studies that have attempted to confirm ideas similar to this. Is special movement a value learned from society or intrinsic to being human?

In conclusion, this was an experience that got me thinking about what makes something beautiful, and how it is interpreted. I will definitely be attending a couple more performances like this one, with the hope that my ability to interpret and understand becomes greater. 

A Whole New World

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what exactly you’re in for when you’re heading in to a performance like World of Dance. It’s an assignment, which makes you wonder if you would really go if you didn’t have to. Maybe you don’t know much about dancing, so you’re not sure if it’s going to mean anything to you. The second the show opens though, you’ve made up your mind: it’s worth it.

I don’t think they could have chosen a more appropriate title for the show. The performance truly opened my eyes to a world of unique cultures and traditions spanning both great distances and times. From the moment the fist performance began, I found myself entranced by the intricacies of the set, costumes, and choreography. The dancers so personified the essence of their piece, that I found myself wishing that I could know more about that culture, and experience that time.

Not only did the performance open my eyes to the world around me, but also exposed me to the world of dance itself. The precision and beauty with which the dancers present their numbers allows the audience to catch a glimpse of the dedication requisite of a life in dancing. It was clear that each performer truly loved what they were doing. They loved being on the stage, and inspiring feelings of awe and appreciation. They loved personifying foreign cultures and eras through their art. Most of all, I think they loved the effect they had on the audience.

As my friends and I exited the De Jong Concert Hall, a beaming performer came up to us and thanked us for coming. He didn’t stay long, waiting eagerly for us to compliment him, he just wanted to let us know that he loves what he does and he was glad we could be there to see it. I was glad I could be there to see it too.

I'm Not Alone Anymore

I’m not entirely sure what I expected from the World of Dance show. I knew it was popular; tickets were a rare commodity and the entire De Jong Concert Hall was full up to the balcony. I went on Thursday, painfully aware of my singularity, feeling entirely isolated from the groups around me.

And then it started. Fog and a full moon set the stage for the rhythmic jingle of the International Folk Dance Ensemble’s Romanian dance. I was completely, utterly entranced.

In general, I loved the International dance pieces, was extremely confused by the Ballet, enjoyed the Ballroom couples, and was neutral about the Contemporary dance. I loved the cultural differences presented in the Romanian and Hungarian folk dances. The precision, as I previously said, completely blew my mind. I was in love with the idea that they were making their own music to dance to and I was very impressed with their inner metronomes.

Normally, I’m a fan of ballet, but I could not for the life of me decipher the story the dancers were trying to tell. I was left scratching my head, trying to make sense of the vaguely non-ballet ballet that was occurring on the stage below me. I admit that I really liked the Tango Sabroso, if only for the fact that it finally had a story and a purpose I could follow.

Ballroom has always fascinated me, and though A Daisy in December confused me like ballet had, Kaboom was one of my absolute favorite numbers of the night. I loved the 1920’s flapper vibe the ladies had, and the fun dynamic they threw into their steps. I wasn’t totally in love with the costumes for High on the Mountain Top, but I appreciated the sunset-like aura they gave the dancers.

I’m still not entirely sure how I felt about the contemporary performances. All In A Day… was too hard for me to follow. I felt like I was watching this strange interpretive dance of a pre-history world of hunter-gatherers. I kept waiting for them to evolve and make the dance into this story of the history and journey of mankind, but it they did that I totally missed it. I can’t deny their talent, but they didn’t completely win me over. However, the Wheelenese Waltz was by far one of the best numbers of the night.

As the performance progressed, my case of the “isolations” disappeared. The theater became a community as we laughed together, nearly cried together, and were generally awed together. By the end, I didn’t feel awkwardly alone: I was with a group of people who had just shared an amazing experience with me.

Shall We Dance?

I'm a huge fan of dance, so every time I watch a dance performance, I'm amazed by the talent and enthusiasm of the dancers. World of Dance was just as wonderful as expected.

I was disappointed by the first ballet number because I felt like it did not display the strength, agility, and finesse that ballet requires, but I felt like the other ballet numbers more than made up for the lacking first number.

I didn't really like the contemporary dances because I didn't understand the stories they were trying to tell. What were the chairs for in Barefootin'? Were the performers in All in a Day in a hunter-gatherer society? The contemporary dances just didn't click for me.

I was thoroughly impressed by the international dances. I really enjoyed the first dance because I felt like I knew how much work they had put into it. All the bells and stomping and clicking were perfectly in time, and I know ow hard it is to get a group of people to do the same thing at the same time – I was in marching band, and we had to try to make 150 people step out at the same time – it's almost impossible. So I really commend them on the great job they did staying in time with each other and the amount of stamina they must have had to keep dancing that fast for that long. The second dance was fast and furious – those girls' feet were moving most of the time in a tight little step. The two straight lines make it harder to get the performance visually clean, but they did a fabulous job.

My favorite dances were the ballroom numbers. I thought their costumes, music, and choreography were all fantastic. I thought it was interesting that the ballroom numbers were consistently the most well received by the crowd, while the other types of dances had their ups and downs.

Watching World of Dance made me want to learn to waltz and foxtrot so it's a good thing I finally get the chance in my social dance class this semester!

The Better Part of Dance

Spencer Tolson

Katherine Cowley

Writing 150 Honors: Writing and Rhetoric

21 September 2010

The Better Part of Dance

The only part of the World of Dance show I was excited about was that it only cost two dollars with my freshman pass. I showed up, expecting to have to fight my sleeplessness of the night before with tooth and nail. However, from the first performance, I was enthralled. The costumes, moves, and music of all the performances captured my attention. My weariness disappeared as fast as the dancers were moving their feet and slapping their sticks. I absolutely loved all the variety of all the dances. ‘World of Dance’ was an appropriate name for the show. My favorite piece was ‘Kaboom.’ It featured only six dancers, which stood out from other dances. Also, instead of reminding me of a dance maybe performed in a warm bar on a cold night in Russia, I was reminded of a night in New York City. It was so interesting how the music and the choice of background could influence my feelings like that. The background had several tall building with lights on in the windows, as if it was nighttime. Also, the music was fast and very appropriate for the type of dance. It was the dance that influenced me the most. The dancers looked like they were having fun. Smiling at each other, and smiling at the audience, I could not help but smile myself. It was just a fun, upbeat dance. I wanted to get up and start dancing myself. The choice of costumes for this dance was also very appropriate for it. Classy dress ups matched it up. Another thing that struck me was that dance can be serious or hilarious. Much of the foreign dance was intense and serious. I felt the dancers took their role seriously and tried to portray their parts with respect for the country the dance was from. The other end of the spectrum was also reached when male dancers led their blown up counterparts through the steps on scooters. I truly loved how this performance led me to serious dances, funny dances, and classy dances. I think I will keep an eye out now for performances such as these for my own viewing.

I want to dance.

Having lived in culturally deprived Cookeville, Tennessee the past six years of my life, I have to state that my former experiences viewing dance performances were barely memorable. Thankfully, my opinions on dance have been changed after viewing World of Dance. BYU's performers in this performance blew me away. I had no idea that dancing could affect my emotions as much as it did during this show. Throughout the relatively short performance, I felt moved in all directions. One dance brought back memories which put me on the verge of tears. Another dance caused me to cry, but from laughter. Within a short hour and a half, I was taken aback by the range of feelings I experienced.

In one number, BYU's male dancers leapt upon their women doll-clad scooters(a hard concept to describe), gliding across the stage with poise, romancing them throughout the piece. I was doubled over at one point, enjoying every minute of it. My respect for dance also grew during this piece because I have no recollection of ever viewing a dance that made me laugh. I realized all the ways that dance can portray feelings and affect others.

I was also impressed by the mood that changed from number to number. The first piece set the perfect tone to grab the audience's attention. The combination of the large moon looming on the backdrop, the smoke creeping across the stage, and the sound of bells jingling gave me chills. The transitions from the different genres of songs were also extremely effective. The changes from classical ballet pieces to contemporary swing numbers to international dances made every five minutes a new adventure.

I'm glad I had the chance to attend this event and I certainly would like to attend more. I also would like to be a BYU contemporary dancer, but we all know that will never happen.

Dance Dance World

Cultural experiences are often painful, as many people do not particularly enjoy expanding their universe. I include myself in this category more often perhaps than I should. But, after seeing World of Dance, I may be persuaded otherwise.

It was good, I cannot lie. The performers were highly trained and very professional, and there was a real air of professionalism in the concert hall as they performed. The music was also very interesting. I had original assumptions of endless cultural tunes, uninterpretable sounds, and wild forays similar to that unspeakable horror "River Dance". Fortunately, we were privy to many different forms of music as varied as were the dances. So many tunes I found myself swaying along with as I listened, and when the time ended I could hardly believe it was over.

This for me was extremely surprising, and the cultural knowledge I gained hereby was quite pleasing. I am glad I went, and would now recommend the show to anyone who has not seen it. As to going to see more dance shows, I am not sure I will. I liked this one, but, though enjoyable, it was not my choice of a way to spend an evening. The only way I could see myself going back would be on a date with a girl who loved dance. But, should that be the case, I can rest easy knowing I am good hands with BYU dance productions.

A Newfound Appreciation

Right after I had walked into the De Jong Concert Hall on Friday night and got settled into my seat, a prayer was said that the dancers would be able to portray the message through their dancing that they intended to portray. Given my lack of background in dance, I’m not sure if I fully understood the message, but I was thoroughly impressed nevertheless! Other than watching So You Think You Can Dance on TV, I had never been exposed to the art of dance. I always thought that it was kind of overrated, and that everyone could get up on a stage and move their feet and arms. I was mistaken.

From the second the International Folk Dance Ensemble took the stage, I was in awe. Their precision and accuracy was dead-on and their form was mesmerizing. I could not believe how well each dancer coordinated with the dancer next to him. Even during the fast paced parts of the song, each arm and leg would rise and fall with the same abrupt movements.

My attention was held throughout the next several songs and after watching a Romanian dance, ballet number, and contemporary piece, I began to realize how much variety there is in dance. There is so much creativity involved. You can dance to a slow, heartfelt piece, or jump around in bright colored costumes to a song by Gladys Knight. You can dance to a song that didn’t originate in our country, or as demonstrates in the Wheelenese Waltz, you can even dance with a scooter!

After viewing all fourteen numbers, I sat in my seat and decided that the money in my budget I have set aside for entertainment very well might be used to attend dance concerts in the future. I am glad that the first dance performance I was able to attend was World of Dance so I could get a feel for the variety of different dance forms there are.

Connections Despite Differences

Ping Pong had an interesting effect on me to say the least. I had never seen a movie in another language so I had no idea what to expect. I must admit, I did fall asleep through segments of the film (because I was tired, not because it was boring); however, the parts that I was awake for were intriguing. The thing that stood out to me the most in the film was simply the lifestyles of the Japanese. Having been born and raised in the United States, I haven’t had much exposure to the way that others live their lives. Seeing as though this film was a Japanese film, the language was, self-explanatorily, Japanese. However, despite the fact that I didn’t understand a majority of what was being said in the film, I was able to feel connected to the story being portrayed.

Until I saw this film, I felt like Japan was a whole other world; but in reality, it is similar to the United States. Sure, there are cultural differences, but humans are still humans despite nationality. Japanese children go to school, Japanese boys play sports like ping pong, and Japanese people feel emotions such as competitiveness and anger, just like Americans do. I know it might sound silly, but I have always thought that being a part of another culture meant living a completely different way and feeling different emotions, but this film made me realize that we are more alike than I thought.

This film was based around the growth and development of two childhood friends, Peco and Smile, and the effect that ping pong had on that development. The messages portrayed were so universally simple! Peco was competitive and wanted to win. Smile enjoyed the sport and was upset by the amount of pressure placed on him. These are natural feelings and emotions. Just because the film was in Japanese, I was still able to understand the storyline and relate the characters emotions to the emotions that I have felt in my life.

The world is a very diverse place. There are different cultures, different customs, and different languages, but seeing this film made me realized that these differences don’t mean that we can’t relate to people of different nationalities, it simply means that we can learn and grow from each other.

An Artist is Never Poor

Babette’s Feast was my first encounter with a Danish language film. I went with a good friend, who is a sarcastic movie-talker just like I am, so that worked out nicely. The first half of the movie was easy to make fun of, but as soon as Babette began cooking her very elaborate French feast, both of us stopped trying to be funny and just watched.

It was entrancing! The colors of the movie brightened and deepened. Before we had been learning about the austere Puritan life of two elderly spinster sisters, their story punctuated with flat colors and shots of a cold, wintery, desolate land. However, when Babette began cooking, rich reds and greens and browns and golds filled her kitchen. It was like a sumptuous feast for the senses. In a way, we as the audience were able to participate in that mouthwatering French meal.

However, what truly hit me about Babette’s Feast was the closing lines. Babette reveals that she had just spent her entire lottery earnings on food and dishes and wines, to the shock of Martine and Philippa, the elderly sisters. “But you will be poor for the rest of your life!” they exclaim. Then came my favorite line. Babette, glowing after finally being able to create food in a way fulfilling to her, squares her shoulders and says firmly:

“An artist is never poor.”

It reminded me of what I have been learning in my Civilization class, how art and economy are separate. One would think that Babette, as a former head chef, would view her cooking skills as a means for making money. But no! She’s a culinary artist.

I consider myself to be an artistic person, so I’ve been pondering. Do I feel the same? Do I feel that as long as I have this ability to create that I will never be poor? And the answer I believe is yes. Being able to create something that enriches the lives of others is so wholly fulfilling I cannot ever imagine feeling poor.

Those five words convinced me to love the movie. That small, tiny phrase contained so much wisdom I walked away from that theater with a new-found conviction to never feel poor again. Babette’s Feast was, all in all, an enriching experience, and I do believe I’ll be back to experience more International Cinema soon.

The World of Il Postino

The theme that I thought was most important and most prevalent in the film Il Postino is the effect we can have on each other as intellectual human beings. The fact is, that “to the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.” This is shown throughout the film through Mario's progression because of his interaction with communist Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda.

Mario starts out as restless, unemployed, barely literate man with no girlfriend or direction in life. Although he was only curious about Pablo because he received numerous letters from women, he gained much more than just social skills from his time with Pablo. He learned how to think for himself. When Pablo first asked Mario why they didn't protest about the lack of running water, he merely shrugged and said it was always promised but never received. Later, Mario challenged Di Cosimo about the abrupt halt of work after he had been elected, saying that he knew it would happen. Mario finds that his opinions are just as valuable as anyone else's and now uses his voice to try to bring about change.

Mario's artistic abilities, as well as his intellectual tendencies, flourish under Pablo's tutelage. He learns not only to make metaphors, but to communicate with Beatrice through them. Although the metaphors are actually “borrowed” from Pablo's book, Mario makes a statement that indicates his progression when he says, “poetry is for those who need it.” Mario never needed poetry before. He has become dependent on the tidal ocean of words not only to advance his pursuit of Beatrice, but as a sort of renewal for his soul.

In the end, Mario becomes a hard-working man with a family and a purpose to his life. Although he had all his good characteristics in him already, they could not have surfaced the way they did unless Pablo had encouraged and challenged him to be more. Mario owes his progression to the catalyst Pablo presented to him, but owes who he became to the good already inside of him.

Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

Ping Pong is arguably one of the highest forms of entertainment I have ever encountered. The exploration of friendship, competition, and the spirit of athleticism makes for a compelling story that would entertain even the most cynical viewer. I came out of the theater with a much greater appreciation for Japanese culture, and the game of ping-pong. I found myself uplifted by Peco’s carefree and joyous demeanor, inspired by Smile’s fierce determination and unfailing kindness, and motivated by the essence of the sport.

Not only did the film’s storyline reflect the nature and values of the Japanese people, but the filming techniques presented a similar representation as well. There were several instances when certain techniques were evident, but perhaps the most obvious effect came during the semifinal round of the tournament. Just prior to Peco’s defeat of the defending champion, known as the “Dragon,” the two competitors are transported to an ethereal location in which the audience disappears, leaving only the two players and the ping-pong table, surrounded by infinite white space. This instance seems to reflect an idea of a peaceful, transcendental state of mind. Such outlooks are often related to Asian culture, and are not typically seen in America.

A second example that seems to be extremely indicative of the film’s Japanese nature comes when Smile’s coach is reflecting on his final ping-pong match. “Butterfly Joe,” as he was often known, is seen in a state of deep concentration in the locker room, adorned with a set of butterfly wings. The laughter from the audience at this point was evidence enough that such a scene would not typically be found in American movie making. It does, however, seem to depict a certain relationship with nature that is generally associated with those of Asian descent.

I do not think I could have picked a better film for this project. Ping Pong was inspirational, amusing, educational, and just plain good. I would choose it for a weekend flick or a date any day.

Enter The Hero (aka Peco)

In the Japanese film Ping Pong, Smile constantly refers to Peco as “the hero”. But what makes Peico a hero? What is a hero? The explanation varies and becomes increasingly complex as the film progresses. The makers of Ping Pong use flashbacks, scenery, narrators, and a smile motif to define Peco as “the hero”.

One way in which Peco is a hero, is by standing up for Smile when they were children. The film has constant flashbacks of Peco physically protecting Smile, as well as having faith in Smile’s table tennis abilities as he patiently teaches him.

This simple explanation for why Peco is “the hero” forms the basis for a deeper identity. When not remembering the past, Smile has no need for Peco to physically rescue him or teach him table tennis. Peco’s new purpose as “the hero” is to elevate others to a perfect state of bliss while playing table tennis.

China, the Chinese player, acts as an omniscient narrator. He explains during Peico’s second to last match in the tournament that ‘[Peco’s opponent] is not playing to win or lose, but playing for the simple joy of the game. Playing like that is pure bliss’ This is immediately followed by a scenery change on the tennis court. The two opponents are no longer in the gymnasium, but in a bright white “heavenly” area with no one but themselves. Peco’s opponent (much to the shock of his team mates back in “the real world”) smiles.

This match is the only time Peco’s opponent shows any outward expression of joy or happiness. Peco’s friend Smile, only smiles twice that we are aware of. Both of these are when playing Peco for first place in a tournament. It is Peco’s mission to bring others happiness by playing ping pong with them. Otherwise these players have no one of equal merit to play against, and are unable to truly enjoy the game. That is why Peco has to train extremely hard for the tournament. Only after training is he able to accept that HE is the hero (before this, he ignored it, as he explains to Butterfly Joe). He then goes on to bring his rivals, friends, and self happiness as “the hero”.