The George Washington University
The Department of Theatre and Dance
and
The Elizabeth Somers
Leadership Programs

TRDA 195:
Paris: Modernism and The Arts,
Then and Now, Summer 2006

Course Overview: Early in the
20th century, Modernism was
celebrated in Gertrude Stein’s salon,
Picasso’s studio, Sylvia Beach’s
bookshop, Andre Kertesz’s
photographs, and the Ballets Russes
Theatre. Working in Paris,
Serge Diaghilev, artistic director of the Ballet Russes Theatre initiated artistic collaborations that brought together Vaslav Nijinsky and Igor Stravinsky to create one of the seminal works of 20th century Modernism, Le Sacre du Printemps. Pablo Picasso created sets and costumes for the Ballets Russes productions. Henri Matisse collaborated with Igor Stravinsky on the Ballet, Chant du Rossignol. The artistic community in Paris changed the course of fine art, literature, music, and dance. As Gertrude Stein said, “Paris was the place that suited us who were to create the twentieth century art and literature.” This course will offer a multi-disciplinary view of the aesthetic movements that changed the course of art and thought in Europe and elsewhere during the first half of the 20th century using the museums and sites of Paris as resources. An examination of current contemporary developments in dance physical dance theatre), music
(hip-hop and jazz), art (galleries and squats), and poetry readings will complement the
‘modern’ art found in museums and repertory
theatres. Students will become familiar with strategies for analyzing visual images and for understanding the ways in which meaning is both historically situated and conveyed through the combination of subject matter and form. The framework of the artistic past will guide students as they design a collaborative photographic and literary journal of their experience. Using digital photography students will explore and document the contemporary artistic scene, and collaborate in producing a photographic and literary journal. Students will be introduced to theatre, dance, music, and the fine arts traditions of ‘modern’ Paris and they will add their own voice to this historical perspective.

TRDA 195 Paris: Modernism and the Arts, now and then

June 1-14, 2006 PARIS June 1, Thursday Morning—arrival in Paris Afternoon—orientation; obtain transportation and museum passes Evening – group dinner at Pension, Luxembourg Gardens and discussion of the Paris Syllabus==modernism & Gertrude Stein free association writing Optional walk across Seine to Notre Dame Cathedral or boat ride on Seine

June 2, Friday
10;30-11:30 Modernism across the arts, with a focus on Ballet Russe: Nijinsky, Stravinsky, and Picasso; video excerpt of Joffrey Ballet’s recreation of Sacre du Printemps, lecture in Pension;. 1pm leave from Pension Centre National de la Danse (CND) Metro Hoche ligne 5 to Pantin
14h 30 : performance Ballet de Loraine;
15h30 : discussion with artistic director
16h00 : guided tour of architecture
16h45 : meeting with guest artist Rosemary Lee and visit the installation
17h30 : departure
16:15 arrival at Jacques Lecoq Theatre School;
6:30 student performance

June 3, Saturday
10-11—Photography, Ways of Seeing, Meghan Shea, lecture at Pension
2 pm Leave from Pension Metro to Museum of Fairground Arts installations, automatic performances and games are driven by Jacques Rémus software and hardware designs.
5pm Rendez-vous with Jacques Rémus Meca Musique Visit of the Musée d'Art Forain and Jacques Rémus' atelier Napoleon III Jacques Rémus' workshop is located in the eastern part of Paris, in two places, the "Frigos" building on the one hand and the ancient "Napoleon III" underground stables on the other hand. For NIME06, Remus’ key installations will be gathered in Napoléon III's place, (which is situated nearby the Museum of Fairground Arts). The following installations will be presented and demonstrated: Concertomatique n°2 (mechanical and pneumatic orchestra made up of elevenmusical king-sized machines), the Carillon Concertomatique n°3 (set of 40 separate tubular bells), the Musical Washing Machines Ensemble (32 pieces), and the Musical Camera.

June 4, Sunday 10am lecture on Haussmann, architect of ‘modern’ Paris Afternoon: Louvre

June 5, Monday 9;30 Leave from Pension; lecture in Montmartre Afternoon Visit to Garnier Opera Installations IRCAM Nine interactive installations selected for the NIME 06 artistic program Optional Evening—reading at Shakespeare & Co

June 6, Tuesday All day trip to Giverny, Claude Monet’s home; train to Vernon and possibly bicycle from train to Giverny

June 9, Friday Morning—Pompidou/ Brancusi studio Lunch ==along Rue de Rosiers Late
Afternoon
Photographic stroll through Isle de Cite,
Place des Vosges visit & Bastille neighborhood









June 10, Saturday Movement theatre workshop with actor Emily Wilson; trained in the Lecoq Theatre tradition and GW graduate: Evening, Performance by Emily Wilson

June 7, Wednesday 10am—Writing criticism discussion, pension 1:30 meet at Musee d,Orsay Sorbonne faculty lecture Courbet & Manet's Déjeuner sur l'herbe, masterpiece of the 1863 Salon des Refusésalso chance for individuals to view classical photography exhibit at Orsay.












June 8, Thursday 1:15 Sorbonne faculty lecture and site visit
to Museum of Modern Art

June 11, Sunday 10 AM leave from Pension = Orangerie & Cindy Sherman at Jeu de Paume Highlighting course theme. Now vs Then 4pm Dance Performance: Carolyn Carlson & Electronic Shadow/ Finland Discussion with artist following event

June 12, Monday
10AM—General Discussion at Pension==framing the now and then. Has Modernism ended? Reading to support this discussion. Modernism by Steve Mathhews

11/30AM Picasso Museum, Picasso was one of the seminal figures of Modernism: As we explore the museum which is chronologically organized so too will we explore modernism’s journey (pre=modernism through impressionism to cubism and beyond) through the work of one artist.

June 13, Tuesday
Morning—Students create photographic itinerary
Afternoon == student presentations of working research topics
Evening: Final meal in Paris, a picnic under the Eiffel Tower

Paris: Modernism, then and now

The George Washington University
The Department of Theatre and Dance
and
The Elizabeth Somers Women’s Leadership Programs
TRDA 195: Paris: Modernism and The Arts, Then and Now, Summer 2006


Course Overview:
Early in the 20th century, Modernism was celebrated in Gertrude Stein’s salon, Picasso’s studio, Sylvia Beach’s bookshop, Andre Kertesz’s photographs, and the Ballets Russes Theatre. Working in Paris, Serge Diaghilev, artistic director of the Ballet Russes Theatre initiated artistic collaborations that brought together Vaslav Nijinsky and Igor Stravinsky to create one of the seminal works of 20th century Modernism, Le Sacre du Printemps. Pablo Picasso created sets and costumes for the Ballets Russes productions. Henri Matisse collaborated with Igor Stravinsky on the Ballet, Chant du Rossignol. The artistic community in Paris changed the course of fine art, literature, music, and dance. As Gertrude Stein said, “Paris was the place that suited us who were to create the twentieth century art and literature.” This course will offer a multi-disciplinary view of the aesthetic movements that changed the course of art and thought in Europe and elsewhere during the first half of the 20th century using the museums and sites of Paris as resources. An examination of current contemporary developments in dance (physical dance theatre), music (hip-hop and jazz), art (galleries and squats), and poetry readings will complement the ‘modern’ art found in museums and repertory theatres. Students will become familiar with strategies for analyzing visual images and for understanding the ways in which meaning is both historically situated and conveyed through the combination of subject matter and form. The framework of the artistic past will guide students as they design a collaborative photographic and literary journal of their experience. Using digital photography students will explore and document the contemporary artistic scene, and collaborate in producing a photographic and literary journal. Students will be introduced to theatre, dance, music, and the fine arts traditions of ‘modern’ Paris and they will add their own voice to this historical perspective.