Western Influence on Asia; Opera and Society and a Dilemma Week 5, Writing Essay Homework Help

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“Western
Influence on Asia; Opera and Society and a Dilemma” Please respond
to one (1) of the following, using sources under the Explore
heading as the basis of your response:

  • Describe (1)
    example of how either black slaves or white abolitionists used literature or the
    visual arts as a form of protest against slavery; and compare this to a modern
    example of art used for social protest.  This may seem redundant from last week,
    but building upon additional readings, key here is how you relate modern issues
    to the foundation of, impact of slavery protest and add new ideas from what we
    have discussed to-date!
  • Building on the
    key motives involved in the increased presence of Westerners in India, China,
    and Japan in the 1700s and 1800s – British policies influences, how can you
    relate them to contemporary trade issues between the US and/or India, China and
    Japan? What lessons have we learned in our current policies, or
    not?
  • Read, listen to,
    and watch the sources for the opera composers at the Websites below and in this
    week’s Music Folder. Pick one composer, identify and discuss the major
    influences they exerted upon opera in terms of making it more innovative,
    realistic, and even controversial.     Next, consider Wagner and this dilemma:
    Wagner’s brilliance is clear because his works remain some of the most popular
    and admired productions in our own time. Yet, he was a blatantly antisemitic and
    held notions of racial purity, traits that have stained his artistic legacy.
    (This was compounded by the later celebration of Wagner’s music by Hitler and
    the Nazis). New York Times writer Anthony Tommasini wrote of Wagner in 2005:
    “How did such sublime music come from such a warped man? Maybe art really does
    have the power to ferret out the best in us.” So relating to Wagner, consider
    the issue of whether we should or can separate the artist from the art, whether
    we can appreciate the art but reject the artist. Or whether we should reject
    both the person and his or her art. Identify one (1) modern musician or artist
    where this dilemma arises. 
  • This question
    asks you to reverse our focus – start with the modern adaptation to search and
    explore, then look back to address cultural impact(s).  How can you relate a
    modern opera to our CH readings this week? Choose (1) below to explore the
    modern application and how it ties to our weekly learning:      Modern operas
    include:

    • Amahl and the
      Night Visitors      , Gian-Carlo
      Menotti, about the visit of the Three Kings to a humble peasant. 
    • Candide, Leonard
      Bernstein’s comic opera based on Voltaire’s famous satire. 
    • Sweeney
      Todd,       Stephen
      Sondheim’s operatic take on a creaky nineteenth-century horror play.
    • The Ghosts of
      Versailles      , John
      Corigliano’s opera about the ravages of the
      French Revolution. 

Explore:

American
Dilemma–Slavery – The Art
& Literature of Protest

Intrusions in
Asia

Opera and
Society