I thought reading Scenes from a Latin Quarter was alright. My favorite chapter was chapter 1. This chapter showed how easy it is to make connections and friends. In chapter 1, Schaunard was basically evicted from his home. He went to a place to eat where he met Colline and Rodolphe, and they basically instantly became friends. Later, Schaunard and his new friends went back to his room, which was already occupied by a new tenant, Marcel. Schaunard and his friends basically invited Marcel to the group, and they quickly became friends.

Rent was alright. I could connect it to Scenes of a Latin Quarter, as they were both talking about artists who struggle with money. The artists in Rent were living through the AIDS epidemic.

I did not like the opera. I personally do not listen to music, nor do I have opinions on it, but I personally do not like classical music. My mom used to play classical music in the car, so that’s why I do not enjoy it. Since I do not like classical music or music of that sort, it made the opera not very enjoyable.

This may sound brutal, but works like these are what made me always dislike arts, and English class. Starting with Scenes of a Latin Quarter, I feel like it was a bit basic in the sense of it was a classic struggling artist situation, and the writing style used was just not my style. Rent I felt indifferent about, the message of people trying to find their identity in a time where the world was much less accepting was a good message, but I just really dislike musicals and find it quite irritating. Finally, the opera was boring, annoying to hear, and quite frankly pointless. I understand, it takes a lot of talent to sing at such a high pitch, which I respect and acknowledge, but opera just seems so pointless.

First, a similarity in Rent and Scenes of a Latin Quarter is the theme of friendship. In Rent, they are all struggling with the feeling of being left out, financial issues and also the fear of the ongoing AIDS epidemic. In Scenes of a Latin Quarter, all the characters are aspiring artists who struggle to even get a meal on the table. In the end, they all work together to try to overcome these problems, and although there is conflict within their respected groups, they work through the conflict to resolve the issue. Both pieces also used art as not just a way of income, but an escape of reality, of worrying about illnesses, or worrying about paying rent, it was a way of expressing themselves.

I am very ill informed on operas, but in the lectures one of the more appealing operas was the one where they only used a piano, the piano was beautiful and much less irritating than the opera! I am glad now that operas are more affordable and people of varying financial status can watch, not just the upper class.

Although these 3 pieces of art weren’t my style, I still receive the message as intended, and takes a lot of talent to make any of these pieces.

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.

       The movie “Rent” was fascinating in providing me with insight into how the political climate looked during the late 20th century by focusing on different groups of people who were affected by it. A gay couple, Mark and Roger, for example, had dreams of their own in the art field even when struggling to make ends meet. Even when Mark was on the verge of death from AIDS, he was willing to continue his music pursuit, which shows his passion for driving through it even when rising health conflicts are occurring to him. This relates heavily to my play “Angels in America,” when Prior Walter is left alone to share his voice with the public, despite being diagnosed with AIDS. The movie was presented with several emotional scenes that had my undivided attention, which included when Angels and Collin sang “I’ll Cover You” and Maureen’s protest. These scenes further allowed me to connect with the core message of the film, which is to live the best of life even when facing unpredictable circumstances.

       Reading through the book “Scenes from a Latin Quarter”, I was able to get an overview of an alternative societal struggle that artists faced when pursuing their careers. These societal struggles involve generating less income and thus leave these artists facing numerous financial challenges. For instance, Marcel lived in poverty during his years as an early artist, as shown by his having to resort to borrowing clothes from friends, Marcel’s portrayal of bohemian life highlights this dependence on patronage and social networks, adding a layer of insecurity to Marcel’s situation. Marcel only began to find success and improve his finances after his recent literary work, “The Passage of the Red Sea,” became popular. Marcel’s motivation in pursuing his passion in the arts is very similar to Mark’s motivation. Similarly, Mark remained dedicated to his passion for making music right up until his deathbed, despite being diagnosed with AIDS.

       Opera music was a genre of music I found fascinating throughout the Broadway performances I attended throughout my childhood. In the lecture, Amanda Hick did a fantastic job of explaining the origins of opera and how it transformed throughout history. It was interesting to me how opera started with themes that explored mythology and religion, which eventually spread to a variety of genres. I’ve also learned that composing opera music is quite different from composing pop music, as it involves the artist taking their lyrical style first before adding music to it. Throughout listening to all of the opera performances, my favorite one was from the artist Wagner. This was because of his style of music making me unable to hum to it, which gave me insight into the uniqueness behind opera.

Henri Murger’s piece, Scenes from a Latin Quarter, portrays the Bohemian lifestyle by closely delving into the lives of four friends, Schaunard, Rodolphe, Marcel, and Colline. The work carefully details the conditions under which Bohemians lived. The Bohemian lifestyle is described as a way of life where people make commitments to unconventional lifestyles and live freely, despite hardships. As a result of their sacrifices, the main characters live in poor conditions and can not afford themselves luxury, however they fervently pursue their artistic passions such as music, art, education, and more. Schanaurd struggles to afford himself a normal living, constantly borrowing money from others to pay off the rent for his living space, thus he ultimately ends up sharing the apartment from which he is evicted with Marcel, who can not afford furniture. Colline makes money by tutoring people and Rodolphe who is later revealed to be a former member of the band, Water Drinkers. Another member of this band was Jacques, who is opposed to Rodolphe’s character. Whereas Rodolphe prioritizes Bohemian life over his personal relationships, Jacques leaves his band in order to attain a stable job and earn enough money to sustain his partner, Francine, proving that there are disparities in the lifestyles and priorities of Bohemian members due to the challenges that certain individuals are willing to face. Rodolphe has a brief affair with another lady, however he is unable to commit to a serious relationship unless he leaves the Bohemian lifestyle behind, a fate only Jacques is willing to undertake. Similar themes are recounted in the movie Rent, a musical detailing the lives of a group of New Yorkers during the late twentieth century. These residents struggle with various aspects of their lives such as the outbreak of AIDS, their careers, and personal relationships, similar fates that are experienced by the characters of Scenes from a Latin Quarter. Roger is a musician afflicted with HIV who scrambles for money in order to pay rent to their landlord, Benny. This showcases the difficulties that unconventional and artistic lifestyles may lead to, intensified by the consequences of the epidemic, exemplified by the fatal conditions that their friend, Tom, is afflicted with due to AIDS. Overall, these artistic themes connect with the displayed culture of Opera. The progression of Opera is recounted, where the precursors to opera were medieval dramas which included songs. Italian groups of poets and artistic minds yearned for the aesthetics of Greek style. The first opera performed was in 1958 in Italy, Florence. Baroque was a style characterized by an irregular period of musical changes where lavish things and grandeur were appreciated; mythology and religious stories exaggerated bold colors. Later, Puccini’s work in the late twentieth century explored lives of the common folks. The first all-African-American cast was featured in an opera that also introduced the influence of jazz. On a conclusive note, John Adams’ work on the Oppenheimer opera is shown, revealing the emotional intensity of his coming-to-terms with what he has done regarding the atomic bomb’s development. Overall, the Scenes from a Latin Quarter, Rent, and history concerning Opera, reveal foundational aspects of their significance and interconnectedness.

Opera has long served as the foundation for many significant works of literature and cinema. While it may seem outdated or difficult to appreciate for some, its complex nature may make it difficult for some to fully grasp. Additionally, opera is often associated with being very expensive, thus, making it inaccessible to the general public. However, when opera was adapted into books, musicals, or films, such as Scenes from the Latin Quarter or Rent, they became more accessible, allowing a wider audience to experience and connect with the art. This shift democratizes the art form, reaching far beyond just the elite and touching the hearts of so many more.

Personally, I have never been a fan of opera, but I was enlightened to discover its connection to other works I am deeply passionate about. Rent, one of my favorite musicals, is a perfect example. I was thrilled when we were assigned to watch it for this class, especially since I was watching it for the fourth time. The music and story always move me to tears, and as I get older, I find myself relating more deeply to the characters’ struggles. The themes of love, loss, and perseverance resonate in new ways with each viewing.

Similarly, Scenes from the Latin Quarter were at times difficult to follow, but I eventually grasped the plot and the characters’ challenges. Their unwavering passion to pursue their dreams as artists, despite facing rejection, heartbreak, and financial hardship, was both inspiring and relatable. These themes of triumph and struggle, though set in a different time, are timeless. Whether in the operas of the past or in modern-day musicals like Rent, they highlight the universal challenges of pursuing one’s dreams in a harsh reality set to deter us.

Something that I found to be interesting among the three is the different expressions of art and how they are each just as effective in communicating their message. I think that Scenes From The Latin Quarter and Rent have the most similarities in the way that they both discuss themes of love and poverty in connection to art. Personally, I enjoy it when people fuse love and art which I saw heavily in Patti Smith’s “Just Kids” so I found that I enjoyed Scenes From The Latin Quarter and Rent the most. Honestly, I was not a big fan of the Opera Lecture because as much as I appreciate the skill that goes into it, it is not something that fascinates me. The lecture did help me understand the evolution of Opera and how it came to be which I did like. For example, I liked the late 1880s style which dealt which romantic themes and “verismo” style. The transition of focus from monarchs and myths to common folk was what I enjoyed most because it delve into raw themes like passion, love, and lust. The example of Pavarotti was amazing and you can easily see the artist’s emotion. Even though I didn’t understand the lyrics, while reading the subtitles and observing his emotion I could feel what he was trying to portray in the opera. I liked Rent the most because I actually enjoy musicals and this was particularly interesting to watch. I really liked it because they had a song called “Seasons of Love” that I had no idea was from this movie so the entire time I was jamming out and knew the whole song. The movie overall had similar these to the book Scenes From The Latin Quarter because in the beginning they mention their inability to pay rent which was the same in the book and how they have to live off little. I also liked the shared bohemian theme, what I found admirable is that in Rent they stayed together despite their inability to pay rent and kept on producing art. There were a lot of raw topics like the AIDS crisis which allowed for a greater awareness for what was going on during their time. When Tom Collins and Angel both found out about their AIDS diagnosis it only deepened their bond. Throughout the movie their relationship was interesting to follow because it became my favorite couple as you can see their supportive relationship. When Angel died you could see the severe impact it had on Tom and the rest of the group which was a truly heartbreaking moment. This demonstrates the impact that AIDS had on the world and why it is so important to be aware of. Overall, my favorite was definitely Rent because its musical aspect which I thought fused different genres of art in one.