2022 was the year of introspection. When thinking about the post-pandemic world, we thought about what we wanted to bring and what we wanted to leave behind. For me, that introspection translated into art about art. From director’s plays to lectures about stories to movies about acting, here’s a sampler of art I’ve enjoyed this year.
1. “Everybody’s Here” (2020)
Inspired by Thorton Wilder’s meta-theater masterpiece “Our Town” (1938), “Everyone is Here” is a directorial masterpiece of theater.Director Dmitry Klimov bridged the gap between universal art and the individual memory He explored “Our Town” through his own celebrated relationship with theatre.
Originally “everyone is here” premiere It was performed at the Moscow Theater School of Modern Drama in October 2020, but the recording of the work is stayed long When the pandemic forced the theater world online.When a few friends, my mother and I went look We were the only ones in the auditorium when we taped at a movie theater in Wilmette, IL in March 2022. The clerk was glad we were here because the theater had received a call from a patron who was upset by the screening of a Russian theatrical production.
Courtesy of Yuri Bogomaz.
Krymov’s plays are not overtly political, but they are unmistakably Russian. The line has been particularly difficult for the Russian artist since Russia’s February escalation in Ukraine. to navigatePlunging into the depths of the relationship between theater and Krymov’s play, “Everyone is Here” is a powerful reminder of the unique and important artistic insight that the great Russian artist still conducts today. increase.
2. Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” (1893).
There is a version of this blurb praising Dovrak’s Ninth Symphony, ‘New World’, as it perfectly describes the ‘New World’ after the 2022 pandemic. The real reason you listen to the “New World” symphony is because it’s undeniably great.
It is imbued with all the drama and dexterity of the romantic composer and builds on many cultural backgrounds. Affect Lots of musically interesting stuff detailThere is also something for everyone.Even ordinary listeners will recognize going home motif of the second movement prominence in popular culture.For a particularly entertaining performance of the symphony, I recommend this recording of Gustavo Dudamel’s Pope performance of the final movement.
3. “Barry” (2018-)
Assassin-turned-actor Barry Berkman is the role that Bill Hader was cast in the stunning HBO comedy-drama Barry.Hader’s unique range of comedic facial expressions is due to the fact that he Proven Very effectively during his run on SNL, it brings Barry an unparalleled acting quality. No wonder the series has received widespread critical acclaim. The third season, which took place from April to June 2022, received 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
4. Remain In Light (2018)
“Remain in Light” by Angelic Kidjo from the Talking Heads album of the same name is a quintessentially perfect cover. An artist who incorporates his own voice while maintaining the dynamism of the original song. For Kidjo, that means mixing the shaky surrealism of her Talking Heads with her own beautifully bright style. The end result is exciting, new, and comfortably familiar. Other covers jamming this year include Cake’s. version “I Will Survive” and Nina Simone version “The Times They Are A-Changin'”
5. “Drive My Car” (2021)
Nominated for Best Picture and winner Winner of the 2022 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, Drive My Car is a harrowing exploration of art and loss. This Japanese film follows director Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima) as he puts on the play Uncle Vanya for a multilingual theater festival. While working at the festival, he is forced to reconcile with the death of his wife, Oto (Kirishima Reika). Due to Kahuku’s poor eyesight, he is assigned her driver (Masaki Okada) and his relationship with her leads them both to face the loss of her life. “Drive My Car” is well worth watching and does a great job of bringing to life the narrative depth of the Haruki Murakami short story on which the film is based.
Otokafuku (Kirishima Reika) talks to Kofuku Yusuke (Nishijima Hidetoshi).Courtesy of Janus Films
6. Fire and Ice (1920)
The world has long come to an end. In fact, the field of eschatology has evolved to understand and reconcile various theories about the apocalypse. Robert Frost’s contribution to the field, the short poem Fire and Ice, is a haunting and playful exploration of the world-ending power of the eponymous element. The poem is impressively dense in meaning without being overwhelming, and is a good starting point for anyone interested in reviving the lost art of memorizing poetry.
7. Shape of Stories (2004)
Kurt Vonnegut is a giant of American literature. apart from His best efforts led to a long and complicated life. Less well-known than his 14 novels and countless other works is the series of lectures he gave around the country during his lifetime.Vongut’s “Shape of Stories” concept was originally Features In his rejected master’s thesis—immortalized at the tail end of such lecture He presented at Case Western Reserve University in 2004.
Not a comedy, but just as mischievous, “Shape of Stories” reminds audiences not to take literature too seriously. Vonnegut explores the possibility of reducing literature to her simple two dimensions, but ultimately shows how the best literature transcends this approach. His characteristic lightheartedness and keen insight bring a smile to every watcher’s face.
8. Oklahoma (2022)
“Oh, take us home. Oh yeah, calm down with it. Oh yeah, we’ll choke on it. But we’ll take it back.” This is the chorus of the song by Russian rapper Oxxxymiron is an approximate translation of “Okra.” Like most of Oxxxymiron’s recent music, the song is energetic but not overwhelming. It features the style of innuendo and meaning-packed lyrics that he is known for. Along with this song, he released a video of his music recorded on the streets of St. Petersburg. called For an anti-war movement as broad as the anti-Vietnam War coalition in the 1960s soared Top the YouTube charts. “ОЙДА” is not only a modern example of strong protest music, but it’s also a really good song.
9. “Chimpanzee” (2019)
me first saw “Chimpanzee” at the International Puppetry Festival in Chicago shocked me. saw Come to Atlanta’s Puppet Arts Center, again. This stunning puppet show is based on the real life of several chimpanzees raised in human families as part of a study. When funds ran out, the apes were often moved to harsh test facilities. Chimpanzee’s masterful puppet show challenges the audience’s narrative expectations and invites viewers to ponder how non-verbal creatures make sense of the human world around them.
Courtesy of Richard Theremin.
10. “Infinite Wrench” (2016-)
Since its founding in 1988, Chicago’s Neofuturist Theater has presented a collection of 30 plays in 60 minutes for 50 weeks each year. The collection was originally called “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind,” but after his split with founder and playwright Greg Allen, the current iteration is called “The Infinite Wrench.” increase. The plays performed by the artists change weekly and span a wide range of themes and techniques. However, all plays are personal and authentic, as the group prioritizes an approach to theater that engages reality rather than telling abstract stories. The Neofuturist Theater’s enchanting mini-theatre keeps you coming back again and again and is a great weekend art experience in Chicago.
Shafiro’s articles are part of a year-long review series by A&E writers. Read the rest here.
Sam Shafiro (he/him) (25C) is a political science major from Oak Park, Illinois. He is involved in his Emory Barkley Forum for debate, deliberation and dialogue and his Emory SIRE undergraduate research program. In his spare time Sam enjoys bananas, celery and other fruits and vegetables.
