Methologies III: Interpreting Performance
Interpreting Performance
Last night, urged by the promise of an academic grade and a chance to practice real-time ethnographic research, I attended the Williams’ Campaign Ultra Lounge event. Held in the hub of student life, there in Paresky Center a mixture of students, professors, alumni and their children gathered for free food, gifts, and a host of other side attractions with the main one being the Williams College Jazz Band… or at least that was my perception.
I arrived at the event around 7:40 PM, wanting to get a chance to set up, take in my surroundings, and to eat since the event was slated to start at 8:30. I walked into Paresky Center entering Baxter Hall expecting the dimmed lights, hors-d’oeuvres, and décor suitable for an evening event, as the poster advertised.
Instead I walked into a perfunctory mish-mash of haphazard signs, some misspelled, luxurious appetizer tables, scantily decorated standing tables, and a solitary stage dotted with instruments and three purple columns too add some sense of flair (that admittedly it didn’t do much) to the setup. As the outdoor activities drew to a close, numerous bodies poured inside the center searching for warmth. The confused and excited crowd seemed more concerned with the heady spread of fall themed ‘deserts’ than the impending performance.
Anxious to begin our observation and participate in the night’s festivities that included a photo booth and caricature drawings, my classmates and I decided to staunch the pain of the wait with apple crumble in a cup, hot cider, chicken wings, and random note taking. This bought us maybe 15 minutes until we noticed it was 8:36 and not a movement was made toward the stage. The lights were on at full power and errant conversations about celebrities and people exchanging pleasantries surrounded me. Hurried students tried to hunt down the source of the ‘free gift’ (a portable phone charger adorned with the Campaign motto: “Teach It Forward”) a lucky 250 people would get for attending the event. The occasional parent-child duo milled around unsure of the ‘next big surprise’ the Campaign had in store for them.
Everything about this atmosphere read as if people could care less about the band and it’s apparent tardiness except for my classmates and I. So what did we do? Took more notes. The ferocity of our note taking interested many the passer by. “What are you guys writing? Is that, like, homework?” “What’s this little writing circle you guys have going on?” And the plain, almost aggressive “What is that?” were the questions our peers and alumni had for us. At first I responded saying that this “was a part of our Africana studies senior seminar class, and [that] we’re currently studying performance ethnography. We’re supposed to be taking notes on the jazz performance.” And with that people either joked about their apparent absence or left us alone, satisfied with the answer; but as the night wore on I got lazier and lazier and wound up saying, “Yeah this is homework for class” with a what-can-you-do face. In hindsight stationing ourselves in the back of the hall at standing table in the center wasn’t the brightest idea. We made a quasi-spectacle of ourselves in the absence of the band.
After these visits we realized this on some level and stopped taking notes. Partially tired of writing and tired of waiting, we took a break. My two classmates and I turned to the childhood game of *M*A*S*H*, to pass the time. It would be an understatement to say that this wait hardly put us in the mood to watch a performance. Even the crowd grew weary of waiting and petered out to a mere 70 some odd people still floating around. Fast-forward a whopping 30 minutes later, members of the band saunter onto stage and eek out a couple notes. I shook my head in disbelief at my cellphone screen that read 9:50 PM. The band seemed just as tired as I felt. Their movements oozed nonchalance as they slowly tested out the sound of their instruments. A blare of a horn here, a lazy sax note there, and timid keying of a piano made up the first sounds of the Williams Jazz Ensemble. Eventually they found it in themselves to play “Play That Funky Music”.
Being the first number of the show, the performance was still getting its legs. The musicians peered over at each other trying to match nonverbal cues with the rise and falls of the song. After a time the band seemed to ‘gel’ with one another. The base and the drums created an infallible foundation on which the horns, the saxophone, and the piano keys not only stood but also weaved in and out of one another. The band seemed to actually like what they were playing. For a moment it didn’t seem obvious to the meager audience that they were contractually obligated to be here.
However the true magic happened when another student provided vocals to the instrumental. At first it was unclear as to if he was a part of the ensemble. He sat down on the edge of the stage for about 20 minutes of the performance, and all the sudden he started vocalizing. Low and timid at first the voice seemed lost in the muddle of music, but as the song progressed so did the voice. With a bowed head and singular concentration the vocalist made his words stronger, clearer, filled with intent. It seemed as though the others felt this intention; the saxophone player especially. He not only swayed fervently to the singer’s words but he replied to them. The rest of the band lived within the pocket of music the two created. Though the crowd had dwindled to nil, the band played their best number. Two spectators even got up to dance to the smooth sound. In that juicy moment what happened could be described by Dwight Conquergood’s principal of dialogical performance:
This performative stance struggles to bring together different voices, world
views, value systems, and beliefs so that hey can have a conversation with
one another. The aim of dialogical performance is to bring the self and the
other so that they can question, debate, and challenge one another (Conquergood, 9).
The musicians heard each other’s ideas and expounded on them, responded. The people in the crowd saw this exchange of ideas and internalized them into their bodies. Though these ideas I am speaking of are purely abstract it doesn’t change the act of dialogue. Live music and dance is always a conversation, whether it is one-sided is up to the performers themselves. In this moment such an exchange was present. In this moment this was a good performance. However that crumbled quickly.
After becoming hyper aware of the fact they were playing to a mostly empty room, the musicians let the atmosphere die. They let this dialogue “dissolve [back] into the performer”, killing the beauty they had just created. They once again sounded as if they were in someone’s garage practicing for the hell of it, but not in a good way. The band seemed detached from the room, enveloped in themselves no longer reaching out for some sort of interaction with their intimate audience.
All this is to say that this was a lukewarm performance with little shining moments. Aside from two numbers, the jazz band seemed uninterested in their material and the space. The novelty of a heartfelt vocalist gave the performance the wings it needed, but just as quickly they came they left. The Williams Jazz Ensemble lacked connection, which made this event a venture I kind of regretted attending.
Tags: methodologies, performance
You have given us very helpful information through this article of yours, this information can prove to be very useful for us, thank you.
Interesting topic for a blog. I have been searching the Internet for fun and came upon your website. Fabulous post. Thanks a ton for sharing your knowledge! It is great to see that some people still put in an effort into managing their websites. I’ll be sure to check back again real soon. https://wm6969.com/
The author’s expertise in data science is evident from the depth of knowledge displayed in this blog post.
The opportunities that this post has opened up for me are endless. I am truly inspired by the writer’s words, and the methodology used in explaining the latest trends of data science and analytics today, in this blog. We are a group of data science aspirants, and we read this blog at regular intervals to update our knowledge on the subject. This has almost become our benchmark when it comes to explaining the data science trends, and it is our favorite hobby to brainstorm on this post in our group. Thank you for this opportunity 360 DigiTMG Provides
How has the understanding of performance interpretation evolved with the insights provided by “Methologies III: Interpreting Performance”?
You must not stop writing these articles. I want to read it every day. The more I read, the happier I am.
The Best escort in bangalore has many hot escort females who are available to complete the needs of the males. All the clients who are meeting the young bangalore escort girls of bangalore escorts will get full of fun without any issues.
This is a smart blog. I mean it. You have so much knowledge about this issue, and so much passion. You also know how to make people rally behind it, obviously from the responses. last minute naar san bartolome
Nulls Brawl is a modified version of the popular mobile game Brawl Stars. Developed by a community of modders, Nulls Brawl offers additional features and modifications that are not available in the official version of the game.
One of the main attractions of Nulls Brawl is the ability to access unlimited resources within the game. This means that players can get an unlimited amount of in-game currency, gems and coins without having to spend real money or grind for hours. With these unlimited resources, players can unlock and upgrade characters, buy items, and progress faster in the game.
With its user-friendly interface and innovative features, Inatbox provides a unique space for individuals to showcase their work, network with peers, and collaborate on creative projects. In this article, we present the key features and benefits of Inatbox and explain how it is changing the way artists and creatives collaborate and share their work.
RECTV, an esteemed television network hailing from Bolivia, stands as a beacon of diverse channels and captivating programming. With an extensive array of entertainment options at its disposal, this network effortlessly delivers a cornucopia of movies, series, sports, news, and beyond. With a firm grip on the hearts and minds of viewers in Bolivia, RECTV reigns supreme as the go-to destination for all their television cravings.
Inatbox is a revolutionary online platform that aims to foster creativity and encourage collaboration between artists, designers and creatives from around the world. In this article, we present the key features and benefits of Inatbox and explain how it is changing the way artists and creatives collaborate and share their work.
Inatbox is a revolutionary online platform that aims to foster creativity and encourage collaboration between artists, designers and creatives from around the world. With its user-friendly interface and innovative features, Inatbox provides a unique space for individuals to showcase their work, network with peers, and collaborate on creative projects. In this article, we present the key features and benefits of Inatbox and explain how it is changing the way artists and creatives collaborate and share their work.
AeroInstagram is a popular social media platform for sharing stunning aerial photos and videos. With the advent of drone technology and the growing interest in aerial photography, AeroInstagram has become a popular platform for photographers, drone enthusiasts and adventurers to showcase their stunning aerial shots and explore the world from a unique perspective. In this article, we’ll go over the key features and appeal of AeroInstagram and how it has changed the way we experience and appreciate the beauty of our planet from above.
GTA San Andreas is a highly influential and iconic video game that offers players an immersive open-world experience in a fictional version of California. With its compelling storyline, extensive gameplay mechanics and huge world to explore, it continues to captivate players and consolidate its place as one of the greatest games of all time.
Top Follow has become a popular strategy for individuals and businesses looking to maximize their presence on social media platforms. While it’s important to remember that a large following doesn’t guarantee success, it can undoubtedly provide numerous benefits, including increased visibility, credibility, and monetization opportunities. By implementing a well-rounded strategy and consistently delivering high-quality content, you can harness the power of Top Follow and unlock your social media potential.
NETVGOLDV5 is a leap forward in the world of entertainment, revolutionizing the way we consume and engage with content. With its breakthrough features, unprecedented content library, seamless connectivity, and interactive experiences, this next-generation platform sets a new standard for entertainment excellence.
NETVGOLDV5 is a leap forward in the world of entertainment, revolutionizing the way we consume and engage with content. With its breakthrough features, unprecedented content library, seamless connectivity, and interactive experiences, this next-generation platform sets a new standard for entertainment excellence. As technology evolves, NETVGOLDV5 is at the forefront of delivering a truly immersive and personalized entertainment experience to viewers around the world.
RECTV, an esteemed television network hailing from Bolivia, stands as a beacon of diverse channels and captivating programming. With an extensive array of entertainment options at its disposal, this network effortlessly delivers a cornucopia of movies, series, sports, news, and beyond. With a firm grip on the hearts and minds of viewers in Bolivia, RECTV reigns supreme as the go-to destination for all their television cravings.
I really appreciate the kind of topics you post here. Thanks for sharing us a great information that is actually helpful. Good day!
I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to undertand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not tht good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he ejoyed it as well! kangtoto
I look forward to receiving new knowledge from you all the time.
Online Baccarat
like water for chocolate » Assignments
You there, this is really good post here. Thanks for taking the time to post such valuable information. Quality content is what always gets the visitors coming. monitor lizard for sale
call girls in Bangalore available for day and night booking in cheap rate.
We have sell some products of different custom boxes.it is very useful and very low price please visits this site thanks and please share this post with your friends. Poker88
Our data analyst course in Bangalore is designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge required to excel in the dynamic field of data analysis.
Baccarat Game
like water for chocolate » Assignments
Kıbrıs Gece Hayatı : Kıbrıs’ın Önde Gelen Gece Hayatı Danışmanı 2023
Korean Online Baccarat
like water for chocolate » Assignments
آهنآلات، محصولاتی هستند که از آهن و افزودنیهای دیگری مانند کربن، نیکل، کروم و غیره تشکیل شدهاند و به دلیل ویژگیهای خاص خود در صنایع مختلف کاربرد دارند. در زیر به برخی از کاربردهای آهنآلات اشاره میکنم:
ساخت و ساز: آهنآلات برای ساخت و ساز ساختمانها، پلها، خودروها و سایر زیرساختهای مورد نیاز در شهرسازی به کار میروند. سامانه آهن آلات خواص مکانیکی مثل مقاومت به تنش و کشش و قابلیت انعطاف از مهمترین ویژگیهای آهنآلات در این کاربرد میباشند.خودروسازی: آهنآلات به عنوان مواد ساختاری در خودروها مورد استفاده قرار میگیرند. این مواد به خاطر ویژگیهایی مانند مقاومت و سبکی به عنوان اجزای مهم در بدنه خودرو، موتورها و قطعات دیگر استفاده میشوند.
เว็บสล็อตค่ายใหม่ รวมเกมทุกเกม แตกง่าย เล่นเกมสล็อตได้ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ แจกโบนัสทุกวัน ถอนง่ายจ่ายเงินจริง เล่นได้ทุกวันไม่ต้องดาวน์โหลด สล็อตทดลอง
เกมแจกดี แตกทุกวันต้องเว็บนี้เท่านั้น แจกดีแจกไม่อั้น ได้เงินไว ถอนไว เงินเข้าไวที่สุด สล็อตแตกง่าย จ่ายเร็ว เกมสล็อตทดลองเล่นฟรี สล็อตมาใหม่เว็บตรง ทดลองเล่นสล็อต
เว็บตรงไม่มีเอเย่นต์ จ่ายตรงจากเว็บ สล็อตค่ายใหญ่ ทำเงินได้ไม่อั้น ปั่นสล็อตค่ายใหม่ ได้เงินเร็ว สล็อตเกมแตกง่าย ค่ายใหญ่ที่สุด รวมไว้ที่นี่ lavaslot
เว็บตรง ไม่มีขั้ต่ำ 1 บาท ก็แตกได้ สล็อตเกมแตกดี ทุกเกม เข้าแจ็คพอตใหญ่ เท่าไหร่ก็ถอนได้ เล่นได้ไม่จำกัด จ่ายเงินไวได้เงินง่าย เกมดีเกมดัง สล็อต
เล่นผ่านมือถือง่ายๆ เล่นได้ไม่มีสะดุด แจกเครดิตฟรี 100 เพื่อทดลองเล่นสล็อตทุกค่าย 1 บาทฝากได้ naga game slot
I am happy to find this post Very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I Always prefer to read The Quality and glad I found this thing in you post. Thanks คาสิโนสด
We have let you know the entire course of the Pikashow Application above and we are certain that at this point you will have downloaded
Online football betting websites nowadays have launched a lot. But there is no website where Comprehensive and the system is as good as UFABET, complete, whether online football betting, online slots, best price, direct website, not through agents. Solve the problem of cheating Rest assured that there is a fast service. Financial stability, deposit-withdrawal within 1 minute with automatic system
data analyst course fees in chennai .
Please share more like that. دليل المواقع السعودية
Please share more like that. دليل المواقع السعودية
You have a real ability for writing unique content. I like how you think and the way you represent your views in this article. I agree with your way of thinking. Thank you for sharing. دليل السعودية
I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. Pregnancy symptoms
You know your projects stand out of the herd. There is something special about them. It seems to me all of them are really brilliant! scioness sucking and licking clitoral stimulator
Check powerball results tonight
Download and instal the latest version of instapro download apk Online Free.
When it comes to getting your MBA assignments done, don’t leave it to luck! Get trustworthy and professional assistance from our team of experts. Our MBA Assignment help service is designed to help you excel in your MBA studies. With a deep understanding of Australian business education system and requirements, our services are tailored to assist students in Australia. We focus on real-world applications and contemporary business techniques to develop solutions for your assignments. Equipped with comprehensive research and the latest statistical tools, we guarantee quality work that meets your educational standards. So, let our Australian assignment help be your go-to solution for all your MBA assignment problems.
Best Proxies Buy
I found a great…
I enjoyed reading about the latest trends and advancements in the field of data science in this post.