My experience reading “Scenes from a Latin Quarter,” a book that portrays the bohemian lifestyle of artists in Paris, was enjoyable. Although the characters lived in poverty, they remained devoted to their art, finding joy in each other’s company. The main characters were part of a group called the Water Drinkers, who vowed not to devote their artistic skills for the sake of money. Their comedic interactions add happiness to the book, making it an enjoyable read. Specifically, I enjoyed reading about how, despite Schaunard’s poverty, he enjoys life by taking advantage of society and relying on his friends.

     On the other hand, the movie Rent offered a poor representation of the spirit captured in “Scenes from a Latin Quarter.” Rent brings the ideas from “Scenes from a Latin Quarter” into the modern New York setting, addressing issues such as gentrification, homelessness, and the AIDS epidemic. The modern ideas made me picture the horrible living conditions of the characters, making me focus on the suffering more than the joy that they felt from art, giving the movie a darker tone. Although I enjoyed the depiction of the bohemian lifestyle in New York, the movie sacrificed parts of the story to musical numbers, making the transitions between scenes feel forced.

     The opera presentation did an excellent job illustrating the evolution and creation of opera over time. The presentation began by stating that modern operas are more affordable, which make them appealing to wider audiences, not only the rich. The presentation continues by using  examples of different types of operas, I was able to visualize the progression of opera through time. The opera that stood out to me was the Oppenheimer Opera because it allowed me to compare how a story is told through movie and opera format.

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