Marat/Sade

I saw a very interesting theater production over the weekend. I came across the annoucment for it via Facebook (I am both sad to say that, and also embrace the fact). Courtney is involved with the theater department at Cornell College (which by the way, I realized as I arrived, was just as cute a small liberal arts college campus as I remember it from my elementry Writer's Workshop days)
The sun had set, and a drizzling mist had fallen upon the grounds. I parked on the far left side of campus, not entirely sure where the theater was, but knowing I'd have fun wandering around a bit before the performance started. Well, I wound up at the library. (Ironic huh?) The Cornell library is in the middle of the campus, and yes, the metaphorical irony of centrally located and the "heart of knowledge" wasn't lost on me. Courtney called shortly after my assessment to ask where I was. She had secured a ticket for me. YAY! (Initially there was a possibility I wouldn't see the play because it was sold out. Honestly it wouldn't have bugged me to not see it, as really I'd come in order to give Courtney birthday gifts from her brother and myself, and hang out with her. The play was a bonus, and a chance to see her in behind the scenes action. She was the head of the student costume design workshop for the production.) And for sure, telling people that you are going to see the play "The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade" does raise some eyebrows. In fact, Cassi remarked as we were leaving the Sanctuary after dinner, "I'm impressed you could work the word esoteric into any dinner conversation description"
The play was, in fact, quite esoteric. If you don't remember your history book lessons on the French Revolution, this play wouldn't have much substance. You could still marvel at the abilities of present day actors to play mentally/physically ailled patients acting out the death of a man in a bathtub, but the why and the so what would probably be lost. Even for myself, (an avid theater buff, and literary afficianado) I went into the Armstrong theater lobby with a sense of expecting to not understand the real "meaty bits" of themes, character analysis, or plot. And well, as I like to say "if you can't understand the plot, then what have you really got?" Answer: not much.
I can appreciate most theater productions in many aspects. Becuase I have alot of friends and some family involved with theater, in capacities from playwrights and actors to lighting designers and sound mixers, I know some of the "lingo" and some of the more intricate problems that arise with productions.
I can say, this production appeared as a smooth running machine, and that is a hard task to accomplish when three fourths of your "actors" are Asylum patients and vocalizing at seemingly random intervals. I credit my Art History and my AP European History for my ability to remember what happened leading up to and after the French Revolution. I couldn't for the life of me remember the Marquis de Sade. But, because of this painting, I did know a bit about Marat. In fact, a friend that is a current art history major saw my away message about seeing Marat/Sade and asked if it was about Marat from the David painting.
More importantly than the historical aspects of the play, are the themes and questions it provokes(yes I know, how 'english major' of me) You see, basically, all of Marat's efforts, as displayed by debates between the Marquis and Marat, show that, really, no one was better off after the Revolution. In fact, they even stop, right before Corday murders Marat, so that the Marquis can tell him what happens in between Marat's physical death and the date of the play's performance. 1808. In the 15 years since his death, Napoleon took over, and the opression still reigned. Once Napoleon was overthrown, the monarchy was restored. So really, in the Marquis opinion, Marat just signed peoples' lives away. Marat is plagued not only with a skin disease requiring him to stay in that bathtub and not venture into the streets but also with the souls of those who died in the name of the Revolution. I don't want to spoil the ending, but suffice it to say I saw it coming through some great forshadowing, and if it's any indication the rest of the "crowd" was pretty unsure of what to do at the end. Partly this was understandable because usually at the end of a play, the stage lights go down and the houselights go up. If you want to really mess with your audience and what they've been trained to do. Leave the stagelights and houselights on at the end. In a fantastic move, someone began a slow-clap to signal the rest of us that the play was over. We left the theater not from the way we came in, and it was great.

First Comes Love, then comes marriage. and well you know the rest...

The adage, "when it rains, it pours" always struck me as sort of funny, because really, if it hasn't rained in awhile, Nature doesn't usually decide to unleash a massive storm or something. But, in terms of the reality we live in day to day, perhaps it does ring true sometimes. Lately, I have be introduced to a number of couples that are in the stages of post-proposal bliss, or are planning to welcome a bundle of joy, or are entrenched in life with the first bundle. It isn't nearly as hard to grasp these events as "marking the time when we grow up" as it was four years ago.
Four years ago, I was settling into my senior year at the University of Iowa, working on dual degrees in Art HIstory and English. I had a slight inclination that library science was the way I wanted to go career-wise, because I enjoyed my part time job at the Health Sciences Library. I also enjoyed working as a photographer's assistant, partying with my friends, and generally trying to figure out my life. I knew I was taking a fifth year to do an honors thesis so that took some pressure off and allowed me a little more time to prolong that college experience, and avoid the "real world" and "real world" activities.
The first of my close friends to get married was Heather. I was a bridesmaid in her wedding, which seemed to come too quickly, only because we were still in college. She and John were prefectly matched in all ways, and the wedding was really just the formal celebration to their life together, which had begun much earlier. But, when it rains, it pours....soon, I had 7 wedding invites for that summer. The next summer I had a few, and then a dry spell. But now, I again find myself in the "it rains, it pours" camp for proposals..and also...babies.
I guess the point of this post is mostly to wish my friends and friends of friends, and co-workers the best of luck with their new life milestones.

Sorry Everyone, apparently my blog posts have become longer ramblings than even I can stand. From now on, I'll try to limit the posts in both length and content, so they are easier to understand and follow. I am afterall someone with a degree in the English language so we'll see if I can put that education to better use. No promises though...

Vindication that Marketing Makes Holidays and Valentine's Day Mussings

Usually, Valentine's springs to mind with visions of jewelery, big soft bears holding pink hearts, chocolate, cards, and flowers or lonely Misses with Ben and Jerry's and a chick film.
The true origin of Valentine's Day may often be lost on today's couples that get more caught up in the commercial nature of it all. "I have to remember to get my girlfriend flowers this year" or "I hope he'll get me something really special for Valentine's Day, becuase I hand made a gift for him" In fact, the roots of Valentine's Day really depend on which belief you hold. A pagan holiday adapted by Christianity, a priest that died while trying to secretly marry couples to avoid a war draft, the day birds pick their mate, or Hallmark's Ultimate ploy...
I think we all probably remember designing Valentine's Day boxes to hold our cards from fellow classmates, and sorting through the candy and chocolates. We all remember, "Everyone in the class must get a Valentine from everyone else." But you know you gave your friends and secret crushes the best pieces of candy.
I have sucumbed to the world of Valentine's Day cards for many many years...giving them to friends even in college. I'm not jaded, per say. I like reminding people that I care, and that Valentine's Day should really be like any other of the holidays ( a chance to party or hangout with friends/loved ones)
But You see, I have been single for every Valentine's Day except for this one, and the last. And now, it seems my still single, or newly single friends, aren't calling me a "turn-coat" or something, but it seems just below the surface. Because I am now a happily relationship'd woman, I can't possibly understand their pain, heartache, and loneliness.

I have done the following things on past Valentine's Days:

* Made a protest t-shirt that read "Chocolate, My only boyfriend"

* Avoided phonecalls from a stalker, who called to tell me he was sure I had three or four dates lined up that evening, and when I said, I had no plans as ofyet, he tried to invite himself over to where I was dogsitting. I responded kindly that the "puppy is my Valentine this year"

* Went to an art museum with a friend

* Was given a poem of friendship from someone I once had a crush on, but no longer had any feelings for

* Was meant to get a carnation delievered to my 6th hour English class via the HighSchool's fundraiser, and instead, the boy I thought was a friend and only saw as a friend, showed up at my house door at 3:35 with the carnation and a card that read "Love" - to my credit I almost threw up on his well-intending shoes, not from disgust mind you, but because I hadn't gone to school that day as I was wrecked with a 104 fever and the stomach flu.

*the ever loving 5th wheel on a blind date, set-up by another well-intending friend and her boyfriend. My match "made in heaven", ran into his ex-girlfriend and invited her to join us...And yes, the date was already going so badly that I welcomed her addition

*teeth cleaning at the dentist

This year was a lovely and calm celebration. Erik and I went to Fired Up! (as mentioned before). We had fun, and he created a very lovely stick bowl for me to use when I visit him (it says turtle in Japanese on it, and the inside looks like a turtle shell). So, when my mom and I went for her birthday, she created a utensil holder with a cat stamped to the side, and I went a little "star crazy". I wanted to design a stick bowl to compliment Erik's for me, by making one with something he's interested in. I had to go across the street to the ICPL to check out a constellation book because I had initially thought I'd stick the line drawing (star chart?) of the Big Dipper on the inside of the bowl. Unfortunately I quickly realized I didn't know the exact number of stars in the Big Dipper. Having an astrophysicist be the receiver of a bowl that says "Astronomy" in Japanese, and isn't accurate would be plain folley. So, armed with a Summer Constellations star chart, I put Hercules, Draco, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and a few others in the bottom of the bowl. I was surprised and pleased it turned out as well as it did (I had to scratch the drawings into the glaze, rather than just paint them on)
I also had a good time going to the Habitat for Humanity Valentine's Day celebration with Laura. Chocolate-covered strawberries alone would have been a big enough draw to get me there, but knowing that the organization does a world of good by not only building literal houses, but metaphorically building communities, made me quick to say yes. (On a huge sidebar - if you are in need of a charity to donate to, I'd suggest Habitat -they take cash, checks, older working appliances, new appliances, and will gladly accept your time)
So, as you can see my relationship with Valentine's Days past is tenuous at best, But, that's not quite the point here...and my relationship with the present Valentine's day was amicable, also not the point. The point, my friends, is that I've been introduced to ANOTHER version of Valentine's day. Not just it's history, but the actual day. Sort of a "bizzaro" world Seinfeldian day....
Korean White Day happens on March 14th, and is the "opposite" of Valentine's Day, or at least the opposite of Valentine's Day in Japan. In Japan on Valentine's Day the women give the men candy/chocolate. White Day was imported from the Koreans, and it represents sort of the Saddie Hawkins' of holidays. The men give the women candy/chocolates, and it's suposed to be three times as great, in honor of all the wonderful things the women do for them. According to Wikipedia, and some other sources (speaking of, Wikipedia has now been banned from being cited as a source at a certain small liberal arts college, consult, okay, cite, noway) this was done initially by a marshmallow maker in one Korean town, soon it morphed into chocolate companies and candy shoppes weighing in. So, a holiday perpetuated by marketing? Can't imagine who would believe such a thing exists.
Our White Day was spent at a korean place in Chicago with Melissa and other JETT alum, and then Karoke next door, which was also alot of fun to listen to...and yes, I did actually sing "Goodbye Earl" with Melissa.
For those of you wondering about the single people. Rather than saying Valentine's Day is "Single's Awareness Day" you've got your very own day in Korea/Japan. It's called "Black Day" and you eat black noddles with other single friends, and the couples can't join in. ;) I think the asian cultures have it all figured out then. 3 days should keep everyone happy. Now, if only I could figure out what I'm doing for St. Patrick's day as someone 1/16th Irish...