Wayang Kulit & Theatrical Performance

Wayang Kulit 's History Explained Video 

(Courtesy: Khatulistiwa.info at Vimeo.com)

Wayang Kulit, the Indonesian theatrical performance of shadow puppets, is deeply ingrained in the country's culture, history, and livelihood. It is so important that there are three specific regions where it has become infamous for this art form. Careers, theaters, and pass times have been created as a result of this cultural performance. Wayang Kulit can be used to describe the current social structure of Indonesia, give out sermons, and a medium of education as mentioned in the video. It can also be used as a medium for dispersing information to the people. It is seen as an ingenious cultural heritage of Indonesia and the world to many Indonesians, often synonymous with the identity of the country. 

In the video a man who now works as a Dalang, a shadow puppeteer, was taught since the age of three to master Wayang Kulit. As a Dalang he is expected to orchestrate the puppet movements in synchronization with the music and dialogue, as well as play instruments at the same time. According to the video, a single performance can use up to 400 different Wayangs, each with their own characteristics and distinct features that contribute to the storyline. 

Much like Wayang Kulit, American theater has shared its history with storytelling and performances. Puppet shows, marionettes, and films have been used to achieve many similar goals that the Indonesians seek with Wayang Kulit. Despite the low technological integration that the Indonesian theatrical performance has, it still requires a great amount of skill and has remained true to its origins. American theater unless specified as solely one type of show has evolved to a more contemporary style. This change has developed in order to satisfy the ever-changing interests of the American public. Adaptations from classic performances have now become common and most of the old styles are performed for a sense of nostalgia or urge for avant-garde trends. 

Grid Art

Bottle Cap Grid Art (Courtesy: Matthew Chang)

The photo above is a grid project that was made with bottle caps. In total the number of bottle caps used to make this piece is 63. The bottle caps come from 14 different drinks. These bottle caps are just a few of the many I have collected with the intention of using for a future project. Each one is significant of a memory that has occurred over the past 3 years, both good and bad.

Personally, I enjoy the idea of this project. Using unconventional items to create a grid pattern had sparked creativity amongst the class. It was impressive to see what other students had come up with, in particular, there were projects made from baked goods. Other designs featured candy, Post-it notes, and Solo cups. 

Of all of the various drinks represented above, my favorite was Cusqueña, a Peruvian beer with the bottle shown in the top right corner. The image shown on the bottle cap is of Machu Picchu, the Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Although it is rare to find at most establishments, it can still be found in America. To many who have had the pleasure of having this drink, it is a comfort that can be enjoyed in North America not only South America.

1st Day of ART211 with Cat Thompson

Art & Technology clash, an ongoing topic for discussion
(Courtesy: The University of Iowa)

Hey! I am Matthew Chang. I am an International Business and Management major taking this course as it seemed most concurrent with the advancement of art as opposed to the many others. Art is not one of my strong suits, however, I do favor music and drawing when I have free time. Hopefully there will be time to cover these areas throughout the semester.

My first thoughts before beginning class was that it would follow the same constructs as any other art class I have previously taken. In high school and prior to that, the course would cover topics that were determined by a board of educators that deemed particular content important. More often than not, there would not be room for additional material chosen by students in the lesson plan.

Upon arriving to class and listening to Professor Thompson, I knew this would not be the case. She made it fundamentally clear that what we learn in class would be relevant to our daily lives and the influences it draws upon.  I am particularly excited to see how art has evolved from its most basic form to its most modern representation.

After concluding our first meeting, I left with a great sense of relief knowing that the class is instructed by a professor with an unconventional way of teaching. This creative approach will surely breach the gap that many other professors have a difficult time overcoming with their students.

The story of Dr. Cuero is a fine addition to the classic tales of struggling at an early age, striving for greatness and eventually achieving it. With 9 scientific inventions claimed in his name, it is no wonder why he is considered a revered microbiologist. His invention of a product that helps clean up oil after spills and discovery of a process, stimulating anti-oxidant production in plants are extremely helpful to many businesses as well as applicable towards an environmental effort. I agree with Dr. Cuero, in that to be creative you need to exceed preconceived notions of you by innovating and changing expectations. Many born into luxury are at a disadvantage as they are not challenged to find solutions to life's most basic obstacles, leaving them with only the most challenging which are left incomplete or unsolved. Learning inductively, new knowledge, is imperative for growth in addition to advancement of our society. His interview with Patricia Ross made it clear that many obstacles can be overcome as long as the individual sets realistic goals without the fear of failing and interacts with their surroundings creating new ways of thinking.

So far it seems to be a good start to the spring semester, I am looking forward to the next class.