After reading Scenes of a Latin Quarter, I was intrigued to read more of it. The reading was not as dense as I expected it to be, and the mini plots within each chapter were enjoyable. Scenes of a Latin Quarter explored the typical life that bohemians experience. It consists of pursuing creative aspirations with a lack of money and complicated romantic relationships. For example, the first charterer introduced to readers is Alexander Schaunard, and he faces the problem of paying the debt he owes for rent. Furthermore, the relationship between Mademoiselle Mimi and Rodolphe the poet explored how heartbreak and deceitfulness hinders an artists’ creativity. While Rodolphe was stuck in a slump, he wrote about the absence of Mimi’s white hands and the departure of his youth and future. Contrastly, Mimi did not love Rodolphe and she was using him for attention and money. The bohemic impoverished lifestyle is not a simple task, but rather a risqué adventure that requires an artist to sacrifice and dive all in for their true passion.
Listening to the opera lecture was not my favorite part because by the end of it, I had a slight headache. Learning about a brief history of opera in Western classical music, with a focus on Europe and the United States, was slightly compelling. The developments that have been made allowed for new themes to be explored in the work of art. The transition from mythology and religious themes to the common emotions of “normal” townsfolk made opera more personable. While I was listening to the opera clips, I noticed that the high-pitched, screeching voice of female singers was not enjoyable for me. The male singers were easier to listen to, but overall it was hard to comprehend some of the songs. The facial expressions helped to carry the message, but it would have been better to actually see an opera.
Watching the movie Rent was a good conclusion to the lesson. It portrayed the story of a group of bohemians who struggled to express themselves through their art and “measuring their lives in love.” The setting was New York East village and it highlighted the extra challenges, like poverty and the AIDS epidemic, that artists had to face. Within the movie, there was a songwriter, a filmmaker, a dancer, a performance artist, a lawyer, and a philosophy professor. Most of the characters were exploring relationships, and the addition of homosexuality made it more relevant to today. Also, the constant battle to pursue your art with no money or sell your soul for some cash was prevalent through the filmmaker character. This rock opera had a few catchy songs, but I rather hear a normal conversation than someone singing.
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