In “The Spectacle of the Other,” Stuart Hall discusses how representations of non-Western cultures often rely on stereotypes, emphasizing a binary set of “the exotic Other” against the “familiar West.” In Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, this binary becomes vivid in the opening scene, where Lieutenant Pinkerton, a U.S. naval officer, meets Cio Cio San, a young Japanese girl he is set to marry temporarily. The opera uses music, dialogue, and costumes to portray Cio Cio San as submissive, naive, and mystical– all qualities often stereotypically assigned to Asian women in Orientalist frameworks. Her delicate voice, traditional attire, and ritualized movements are all made to appeal to Western ideas of the “exotic”…

Before seeing Suffs, I had looked up a synopsis so I could have an idea of what kind of show I was seeing. When I saw the play, however, it was much more exciting than I had anticipated. The energy kicked in from the opening number with Alice Paul, the main protagonist. Paul’s relentless drive made her a powerful leader but also, at times, difficult to fully empathize with due to her “get it done” attitude. This tension is reflected in Carrie Chapman Catt’s character, who represents a more cautious, gradual approach, highlighting the different strategies within the movement. Their exchanges brought out the ideological divides that shaped the fight…

Hamilton, in my opinion, is one of the most unique musicals of the 21st Century. The musical uses many different genres of music to appeal to a wide audience, such as rap, pop, jazz, and classical Broadway. This variety of genres allows almost any generation to appreciate the rich history of the beginnings of America, and the people who created this country. Although the musical encompasses many different real-life characters, it is primarily focused on Alexander Hamilton and his legacy. Like how Hamilton says: “What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see…America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me!” The legacy told…

In Ai Weiwei’s piece “Study of Perspective – Hong Kong”, a person is seen flipping off a view of the Hong Kong skyline. The photograph is black and white, cutting out all color (and life) from the piece. His hand with the middle finger is extremely visible in the center, blurring the background and taking the place of the subject of the photograph. His hand is light and has distinct texture and lines as it takes up a large portion of the image. In the background, I can see part of the Hong Kong skyline. There are tall buildings and skyscrapers, although they appear slightly out of focus compared to…