Initially, when I read the play, I thought it was insane. I couldn’t put into words how I truly felt about it. It was funny, and I enjoyed parts of it, but the absurdity and the horror of the climax soured my feelings. However, after going to a read-along, my feelings for the play changed. I still find the play absurd and over the top, but I now admire it for that. The humor shines through much more, especially in the performance of the actress who played the midwife. She transformed her character from a shy, messy figure to a loud and goofy drunk. This simple change made her character much more dynamic and added a lot of comedy to the otherwise simple story.

Although I appreciate her interpretation of the character, I wasn’t a fan of the way Thomas was portrayed throughout the play. When I initially read it, I pictured Thomas as extremely arrogant, with an almost snobbish tone in his speech. However, the actor’s portrayal made him sound far too genuine, and his insults came across as sincere pieces of advice. Despite this, my appreciation and understanding of the play did increase.

The only other thing I found disappointing was that there was no meaning behind the rabbit. In class, we tried to decipher why the playwright had chosen a rabbit instead of a dog or another animal, but instead of having some deeper meaning, it turned out the rabbit was based on actual events. While it was interesting to learn the story behind it, I found it a bit disappointing that the rabbit turned out to be nothing more than a red herring.

The trip to the city was not actually that bad. I went to Bay Ridge with a friend and had a coffee before heading to the Banksy Museum. I took the R train all the way down, and although the ride was long, it was not bad at all. The only real problem was the rain and wind; the weather has really changed to fall. Regardless, when I finally got off the train, the museum was right next to the station.

I knew a little about Banksy before my trip to the museum, but nothing more than the basics. I knew he did graffiti art, and that style often conveys a political message. Graffiti art is illegal, so when it is created, it usually has a message behind it. However, anything beyond that was unknown to me.

Walking into the museum was a special experience for me. The art on display was amazing, and the messages conveyed were powerful. It is clear that Banksy hates two things: the police and big businesses. In other words, Banksy is the average person’s painter, someone who stands up for the little guy and shows the elite that art is for everyone. This was evident when one of his paintings went to auction and shredded itself after being sold, effectively destroying the artwork. In short, his graffiti art is for the public and is not meant to be gatekept by the elite.

I feel the piece of art that best represents Banksy’s style is titled “I Fought the Law and I Won.” This artwork does a great job of making historical allusions and relating them to modern times. The man getting pinned down is reminiscent of the man who shot ex-president Ronald Reagan. In the piece, however, the man is a graffiti artist, and Banksy tries to show that graffiti artists are treated in a similar way to those who are seen as dangerous. The artwork also alludes to the Clash song “I Fought the Law, But the Law Won.” Along with being a great song, it adds to Banksy’s sense of humor and emphasizes that his graffiti art has legitimized graffiti as a form of art.

My favorite piece in the entire museum was the one shown below. It depicts a criminal holding onto the paper of a typewriter while scaling down a wall. `Besides being aesthetically pleasing, the piece carries a great message. My interpretation is that people can escape from the prison of their minds through creativity. This is very similar to the route Banksy has taken in his art; his creativity comes in a taboo form, but it serves as an escape from tradition.

 

 

 

All in all, my trip to the Banksy Museum was very special, and I genuinely had a great time. Banksy is so different from other artists, and the message he conveys is important: art is for everyone, not just for one class of people.

 

”I Fought the Law and I Won” (top)

Banksy’s criminal (bottom)

The day before, I looked up information about the play and learned it was a new work, so I decided to keep an open mind. While researching, I found out that there would be no intermissions. This wasn’t a problem, but it was definitely a change from what I was used to seeing in the couple of Broadway plays I had attended before. After work, I headed to the ferry and, although I was almost late, I managed to catch the 1:30 ferry.

When we finally arrived at the Roundabout, I didn’t know what to expect from the play. The set was simple yet extremely detailed, and although it was static, the use of lighting created a sense of movement. The play centered around a man named Paul, who comes to the same diner every day, and a woman named Katie, who runs the diner. Paul slowly reveals to Katie that he is depressed and that his world has become mundane. He tries to use Katie as a source of “entertainment” by learning why she moved to this place and how her life became so “boring.”

He discovers that Katie ran away from her past, moving from the big city to this small town in an attempt to escape. The person she tried to escape was a guy named Gil, a friend with whom she had developed romantic tension. When she decided to kiss him, thinking it was the right thing to do, she was met with a reaction she hadn’t hoped for. Instead of facing the consequences, she ran away.

On the flip side of the story, Paul tries to get Katie to open up by divulging details about his own life and how he ended up in the diner. He begins by telling her that he is depressed and tired of how predictable the world has become. To create a surprise, he offers her a bottle of poison, stating that he wishes to be “poisoned” by her as a final surprise. At first, Katie protests and tries to come up with different solutions, which temporarily keeps the problem at bay.

As the play unfolds, Paul continues to share more about his life, revealing the loss of his brother and mother. This clearly serves to illustrate why Paul is so jaded toward life, highlighting the significant grief he has endured.

The climax of the story occurs when Paul becomes upset with Katie for prolonging his death, feeling that she has no idea what he has been through. In an effort to calm him down, Katie reveals that she had a hysterectomy, and on the day of the procedure, she felt a part of herself die. She shares that the only two people who know about this are Paul and Gil. This revelation allows Paul to better understand Katie’s situation, and the scene concludes with a silent hug, accompanied by an unspoken promise from Katie to end Paul’s life the next day.

When the next day arrives, Katie receives a call from Gil, who is in the area and asks if she’s free to meet. Hesitant, Katie realizes that the right thing to do is to reconnect with him and attempt to restart her old life. Paul fully supports her decision and decides to take over the diner in her absence. The play ends on an ambiguous note, with Paul staring at his untouched coffee, which may or may not be poisoned.

The play, though slow at times, builds beautifully toward the finale, with the tension between Paul and Katie escalating until it culminates in a single scene. Everything feels genuine; these are two people with very different outlooks on life trying to find common ground. Paul, much more jaded, views every experience as the same and believes that the only surprise he is missing is death. In contrast, Katie is comfortable with the mundaneness of her life, fearful of opening herself up to new possibilities and confronting her past.

Through their interactions, both characters evolve. Katie seizes the opportunity to revisit her past and attempt to right the wrongs she once made, while Paul is surprised to learn that Gil, rather than abandoning her, had spent two years trying to find her. This revelation surprises Paul so much that he hesitates to drink the poisoned coffee at the end, beginning to realize that maybe there is more to life than he initially thought.

The trip to the city was extremely rough; the subway and ferry were a mess as always. However, when I finally arrived, I had a great time. I spent the day with friends, and we enjoyed a visit to the museum, followed by dinner and shopping. The museum itself was beautiful and featured art from all over Asia. Additionally, the food my friends and I had was amazing.

Asian art is quite different from European art. In my opinion, the main difference between Eastern and Western art is the way scenes are depicted. In Asian art, sculptures and pottery are more prevalent, while Europeans traditionally painted on canvases or stained glass murals. Although I generally prefer European styles, visiting the museum opened my eyes to the beauty of Asian art. The statues of the Gods were intricately detailed and vibrant, and the paintings, when present, were often more rooted in reality than their European counterparts. This contrast highlights the unique beauty of life as seen through different artistic lenses, compared to European art, which often portrays an idealized vision of life.

When walking around the Rubin, three pieces of art struck me much more than any other:

Art piece #1

Shakyamuni Buddha

This painting of Buddha bears a striking resemblance to how Europeans might depict God. In Buddhism, Buddha is a teacher who guides people toward achieving nirvana, and this painting reflects that perfectly. As the central figure of the religion, Buddha is depicted in the middle, surrounded by the events of everyday life. Despite the chaos around him, he remains calm, embodying the inner peace he has attained.

 

Art Piece #2

This piece of art reminds me of our conversation last week about women in art. Unlike traditional representations where women are often portrayed as objects of the viewer’s gaze, this sculpture presents a woman who exudes power. In this work, it is not up to the viewer to interpret her role; rather, the artwork itself conveys her identity and strength.

Art piece #3

Bhavacakra Wheel of Life and Death

This picture represents the Buddhist view of the cycle of life. The intricate coloring and detailed drawing illustrate how Buddhists perceive death, life, and rebirth. This image, along with the others, is very pleasant to look at. The style differs significantly from traditional European painting, but it effectively conveys the Eastern perspective on life. Each piece reveals beliefs about death and how people should live their lives.