Mimi Marquez: 19
Roger Davis: 24-26
Mark Cohen: 24-26
Tom Collins: 32-35
Angel Dumott Schunard: 28-30
Maureen Johnson: 24-26
Joanne Jefferson: 26-29
Benjamin Coffins III (Benny): 26-27
Monday, October 20, 2014
Bohemia and the Village
Since we're talking about La Vie Boheme today, I figured this would be a good point to explain Bohemia and Bohemianism.
As a general term Bohemianism means to practice an unconventional lifestyle. Historically Bohemianism has been associated with the Romani people. Bohemianism as a concept tends to denote a nomadic lifestyle, "free love", radical political and social views, and a dedication to the arts with little concern or material wealth - something we see particularly with Mark and Roger.
Before its intense gentrification Greenwich Village was actually a hub for Bohemians. Beginning in the 1900's artists congregated in the Village to create work with a blatant disregard for the conventional or socially acceptable. We're going to be looking mostly at Bohemianism past the 1960's, however. I think one of the more important events for us to keep in mind thinking about Bohemianism, the Village, and RENT is the Stonewall Riots.
The Stonewall Riots took place in 1969, well before RENT. However it is viewed as the beginning of the LGTBQA movement within both the Village and New York. On June 28th police officers attempted to raid the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar run by the Mafia and one of the only bars in the city that allowed dancing. After stopping the dancing the police began to arrest patrons and mafia members. Tension between patrons and the police began to escalate when transgender patrons were forced to "verify" their gender identities to female officers in the club's bathroom. After a self identified butch lesbian was man handled by an officer in front of the crowd of patrons that had been forced to wait outside of the club, violence broke out and the police quickly lost control of the situation.
The riot lasted three days. During the riot the gay population of New York essentially retaliated against the blatant homophobia that run rampant in the city. Despite the length and intensity of the protest the event had very little news coverage.
Something that I think is extremely interesting to note, especially since we're talking about La Vie Boheme is that Pride parades actually commemorate the Stonewall Riots. The first took place in NYC, LA, Chicago in 1970. I guess to me the energy and color of La Vie Boheme feels reminiscent to Pride, especially since the cast is interrupted by the upset Restaurant Man several times within the song.
Of course since the Riots were the beginnings of the LGTBQA movement it also laid the foundation for the AIDS activism that took hold within the Villages in the 70's and 80's.
As a general term Bohemianism means to practice an unconventional lifestyle. Historically Bohemianism has been associated with the Romani people. Bohemianism as a concept tends to denote a nomadic lifestyle, "free love", radical political and social views, and a dedication to the arts with little concern or material wealth - something we see particularly with Mark and Roger.
Before its intense gentrification Greenwich Village was actually a hub for Bohemians. Beginning in the 1900's artists congregated in the Village to create work with a blatant disregard for the conventional or socially acceptable. We're going to be looking mostly at Bohemianism past the 1960's, however. I think one of the more important events for us to keep in mind thinking about Bohemianism, the Village, and RENT is the Stonewall Riots.
The Stonewall Riots took place in 1969, well before RENT. However it is viewed as the beginning of the LGTBQA movement within both the Village and New York. On June 28th police officers attempted to raid the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar run by the Mafia and one of the only bars in the city that allowed dancing. After stopping the dancing the police began to arrest patrons and mafia members. Tension between patrons and the police began to escalate when transgender patrons were forced to "verify" their gender identities to female officers in the club's bathroom. After a self identified butch lesbian was man handled by an officer in front of the crowd of patrons that had been forced to wait outside of the club, violence broke out and the police quickly lost control of the situation.
The riot lasted three days. During the riot the gay population of New York essentially retaliated against the blatant homophobia that run rampant in the city. Despite the length and intensity of the protest the event had very little news coverage.
Something that I think is extremely interesting to note, especially since we're talking about La Vie Boheme is that Pride parades actually commemorate the Stonewall Riots. The first took place in NYC, LA, Chicago in 1970. I guess to me the energy and color of La Vie Boheme feels reminiscent to Pride, especially since the cast is interrupted by the upset Restaurant Man several times within the song.
Of course since the Riots were the beginnings of the LGTBQA movement it also laid the foundation for the AIDS activism that took hold within the Villages in the 70's and 80's.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Interesting articles...
So Mariah found this super interesting Spoken Word video that is somewhat a continuation of our discussion on Monday:
http://www.upworthy.com/everything-wrong-with-the-world-in-25-minutes-sorry-if-this-offends-you?g=2&c=reccon1
Then I stumbled upon these images. I would love it if you all could take a look at them. They show that our message is still relevant, twenty years later:
http://news.distractify.com/mark-pygas/pictures-taken-in-past-10-years/?v=1
http://www.upworthy.com/everything-wrong-with-the-world-in-25-minutes-sorry-if-this-offends-you?g=2&c=reccon1
Then I stumbled upon these images. I would love it if you all could take a look at them. They show that our message is still relevant, twenty years later:
http://news.distractify.com/mark-pygas/pictures-taken-in-past-10-years/?v=1
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