Awakenings

The true nature of human beings as a whole has always been uncertain at best. Throughout history and even in our modern world there have been countless demonstrations, either by a group of people or at the hands of an individual, of the evil humans are capable of, the evil we seem all but inclined to. The question is this: is this evil just that, what we are simply capable of; a perversion of the goodness; the moon to contrast the sun? Or is it something far more terrifying? Is this evil our true nature; the core of our being; what lies beneath all else within us? Either way, there is an undeniable darkness within our hearts. This collage is a representation of that darkness, of that negative energy, of the devil atop our shoulder that has made himself ever so comfortable. (more…)

 Photograph by Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

            The Metropolitan Opera performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s four-act opera “Aida” is a grand production that succeeds in highlighting the talents of the cast and utilizing the Met’s versatile stage.  Staging an opera set in ancient Egypt is no easy task, but “Aida” finds a balance between the grandiose set and the soaring vocal and orchestral music.  This balance gives off a natural, appropriate feel given the opera’s melodramatic plot. The majestic nature of the opera does not overwhelm the audience but instead allows for the plot’s tragic love story to resonate within the Met.  (more…)

My collage reveals one inspiration in my life: my grandfather. He has lived with me for all the 18 years of my life and has been by my side through all my scraped knees, boy problems, tears, and accomplishments. I adore him with all my heart and his love, care, and understanding has shaped the person that I am today.

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        Photo by JEJ Artists

   The production of “Aida” starring Angela Brown at the Metropolitan Opera House is certainly inspiring, but the struggles, unpredictability, and eventual triumph of Ms. Brown’s journey to the stage are elements that any three-and-a-half-hour opera cannot possibly contain.  Having sung in her grandfather’s choir in a Baptist church as a five-year-old and not having been brought up on classical music, Ms. Brown’s ascent to the Met as an opera singer seems all the more unlikely considering that her journey has included such far-reaching places as California, Alabama, and Zimbabwe.  Judging by the enthusiastic praise heaped on Ms. Brown since her Met debut in “Aida” on October 29, 2004, it seems like all that travel was worth it, not to mention the numerous auditions, classes, and clutch performances along the way.  (more…)

photo: Jerry Bauer

           If one was to read a few pages of Sigrid Nunez’s “A Feather on the Breath of God,” it is very likely that he or she would mistake the novel for an autobiography or a memoir considering the similarities it shares with Ms. Nunez’s life.  The novel’s heroine and narrator, the child of a Chinese-Panamanian father and a German mother, could easily be mistaken for Ms. Nunez, herself having the same ethnic background as her protagonist.  Upon realizing that “A Feather on the Breath of God” is indeed a novel, the reader may wonder how Ms. Nunez’s experiences influenced her work.  In addition to reading an excerpt from her latest novel “The Last of Her Kind,” Ms. Nunez elaborated on the effect her life has on the writing and character development processes as she took part in a Harman Writer-in-Residence reading at Baruch College’s Newman Conference Center. (more…)

Debbie Apsan
IDC- 9125

The opera, Aida, revolves around the thoughts, decisions, and actions of the princess, Aida.  After reading the libretto, the plot seemed interesting, but being no princess myself, it was hard to relate Aida’s conflicts, to the story of my life. However, Monday night, November 5, I saw Aida performed at the metropolitan opera house, and it changed my views on life; that night I was transformed into a princess. (more…)

Debbie Apsan
IDC- 9125

The Vision
Every person has a talent they want to pursue in life. Some dream of becoming great artists, while others think that they can discover a cure to the common cold. But unfortunately for many, those dreams rarely become a reality- but they did for Angela Brown. Since she was in college, Angela was taking steps that would ultimately lead her to accomplish her vision of becoming an opera performer. After listening to her story people might think that she has a good voice, and had some lucky breaks that led her to her present job. But Angela’s present life was not always perfect, and it was because of her perseverance and belief in god, that opened the path to her to her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House. She has now been there for three years, and she is still doing a wonderful job. (more…)

Survival is the only thing on the minds of young kids in places like Iraq, Africa, and even the United States. This begs the question, why do children so young have to worry about surviving the next when other people are worried about their image and materialistic possessions? It’s almost unthinkable of how people worry about their hair while there are children in the world who worry about the next time they get food in them because they’ve been hungry for so long. The child mortality rate in Iraq has jumped a staggering 150 percent and all due to what? Is it because these individuals are unintelligent and deserve it? Any individual, let alone child, who has endured this life has only society to blame for their misfortune. These children grew up meagerly and paid for something they didn’t deserve. The greatest misfortune is that they have been cheated of a happy life. (more…)

Scandals intrigue everyone. Whether it’s a politician who admits to be being gay, or a billion dollar corporation that files for bankruptcy, scandals have the potential to change the course of history. For my theme, I decided to focus on four particular scandals, all of which grabbed headlines during their revelation. (more…)

My personal awakening occurred when I adopted American Culture. There is a difference between being American and being Chinese. In life, there are always times when I have to use a different culture. At home and with my family, predominantly I use Chinese. In School and elsewhere, I typically use English. (more…)