At the Museum of the City of New York, I visited the seasonal gingerbread exhibit on the fourth floor. All the gingerbread creations there were mesmerizing and showcased either unique landmarks or buildings in New York City. The one that stood out to me the most was the Fort Wadsworth gingerbread creation. As a Staten Island resident, I recognized it right away, and it was exciting to see Staten Island be included because it is often considered as New York’s “forgotten borough”. Fort Wadsworth, which dates back to 1663, once protected New York harbor from foreign threats and played a role in both the Revolutionary and Civil War. Today, it…

A scene from Madama Butterfly that represents the stereotype of the exoticized “Other” discussed by Stuart Hall is the “Un bel dì vedremo”. In this aria, Butterfly expressed her hope for Pinkerton to return to Japan and imagines the joy of their reunion. She is certain that he will come back to claim her as his wife. This scene depicts Butterfly as a naive, loyal and devoted woman whose life revolves around her Western lover. She is what the West fantasizes as the exoticized “Other”,  and reinforces the stereotype of the East as submissive and inferior to the West. Seeing opera for the first time was really interesting but also…

One object that fascinated me at the New York Historical Society was the Tiffany lamps. Their vibrant and unique designs made them stand out beautifully in the dark room. The intricate glass designs on the lamps featured different styles, representing animals, flowers, and more. Two of my favorite pieces were the dragonfly and cobweb shades. As Wood and Latham explained, ”Object knowledge emphasizes human connection to objects by understanding the lived experience of the visitor and how these experiences resonate with objects they interact with with in the museum”(116). When provided with background knowledge of these artifacts, we are able to connect with them on a more personal level. I…

This photo I took at the High Line showcases Ongrowth by Kapwani Kiwanga. I was attracted by its geometric structure, especially how the glass interacted with light. Based on the angle I viewed it from, the glass would change colors and these vibrant colors strongly contrasted the artwork with the greenery around it. Inside the glass case, there’s a fern enclosed, which seems to emphasize how industrialization has woven itself into nature and become part of the environment. It shows how humans have worked to co-exist with nature and advance our society. Ongrowth can also symbolize the connection between the city and the elevated freight rail line. The glass case…

Washerwomen Washerwomen by Paul Gaugin shows several women bent over by a riverbank appearing to be washing their clothes. Standing to the left, a woman appears to be holding white sheets and at her feet, there is a pile of clothes supposedly waiting to be washed. The women are wearing plain blouses and skirts of muted colors, as well as white and blue head coverings. Across from the river, there is a grass meadow consisting of shades of warm greens and yellows, depicting a peaceful rural environment. The figures’ dull tones contrasts the vibrant colors of the grass meadow and hills, which allows me to focus more on the lower…