In this last class of the session, we looked at Contemporary Choreographers, beginning with Mark Morris and Smuin, and looked at some of the upcoming groups in 2008/9. Most of the groups display the characteristics of the Post Modern era: multiplicity and diversity. They combine ethnic dance styles and music, and many of the theatrical elements, such as creative scenery and costumes and often video or digital images and lighting.
We then looked at the popular rhythm of hip-hop and the development of rap in the Black community which was later adopted by the white community.
We did a quick survey of the ways in which the homosexual choreographers either presented, or hid their sexual identities, depending upon the acceptability of homosexuals in the eras in which they lived. Charlie Chaplin satirized portrayals of masculinity, Ted Shawn taught masculine movements, Loie Fuller hid her body from view under veils, Bill T. Jones presented both his homosexuality and his masculinity searching for his identity as a Black, a male, and a homosexual. Joe Goode presented a program of effeminate gestures.
We then looked at decisions in the U.S. Supreme Court regarding nude dancing in clubs and saw that the question of whether nude dancing is expressive and therefore protected by the First Amendment was avoided by the Courts whose rulings were on the basis of the possibility of crime, prostitution, and the lowering of home values, rather than on the First Amendment issue, or the issue of morality.
Finally we looked at the many different movement programs existing today and at the emphasis on exercise and sports in our culture.
It was a wonderful experience for me this semester, and I thank you all for being there and being so interested.
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