Referencing Stuart Hall’s essay, Puccini’s iconic opera Madama Butterfly presents the Orient (the East) in binary opposition to the Occident (the West) through depicting cultural stereotypes. Cio-Cio-San’s loyalty to Pinkerton is clear as she is devoted to him. She incorporates feminine stereotypes into her behavior which can be seen as Eastern femininity. Pinkerton disregards her and sees their marriage as temporary and not a true commitment which shows his Western ways. It seems like the West exploited the East. The song “America Forever” in Madama Butterfly engages what Hall identifies as a stereotype of the exoticized “Other” because it captures the perceived notion of Western dominance and entitlement over the East. In Hall’s essay “The Spectacle of the Other” he mentions that “Difference signifies. It ‘speaks’” (Hall 230). This song captures in a sense how the East satisfies the West.

I enjoyed seeing opera for the first time because it was completely different from anything I have ever watched. Specifically, the music was played by a “live” orchestra which was unique, plus the voices of everyone had a unique tone. The high pitches amazed me because I can’t imagine how difficult it is to project your voice like that. While it was intriguing to me, I would say that it is not one of my favorite genres of music just because I prefer fast paced songs. For example, I like rap music due to the flow, wordplay, and rhythmic aspects of it. Opera on the other hand seems to be more focused on projection, pitches, and ranges. However, opera offers an entertaining visual experience which enhances my connection to the music. Unlike my usual experience while listening to music, having the ability to watch the orchestra perform added a new layer of engagement.