3 Professors. 3 Geniuses. 3 Unforgettable Hours.
What made Michelangelo a Renaissance master and Hitchcock the “master of suspense”? And how is the work of Sinatra still affecting music today? This fascinating day will explore three artists whose genius reached far beyond the limits of their work. Join us for an eye-opening day of inspiration and education.
The Genius of Michelangelo, 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Tina Rivers Ryan, Columbia University
A leader of the High Renaissance of the early 16th century, Michelangelo Buonarroti was legendary even in his own time for his inventiveness as an artist. In this talk, we will trace the arc of Michelangelo's storied life, from his upbringing by the powerful Medici family, to his glory days as architect and artist to the popes, and his spiritual re-awakening late in life. Along the way, we will look closely at his paintings and sculptures, and through his works, we will come to better understand the man behind the legend—a passionate artist and competitive rival to the likes of Raphael and Bramante—whose outstanding achievements and temperament gave rise to the modern notion of the artistic "genius.”
What Makes Frank Sinatra Great?, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Anna Celenza, Georgetown University
The year 2015 marks the centennial of Sinatra's birth, and looking back, we can hear how Sinatra gave 20th-century America a voice. Through his music, stage shows, films, and abashedly public private life, he offered audiences a vision of the "American Dream" that contrasted greatly with the suburban ideal of the hardworking man. Sinatra was in tune with what audiences needed and desired. But this isn't what made him great. As this lecture demonstrates, Sinatra's name lives on because of his distinctive musical style. His phrasing and tone, the timbre of his voice—these are the qualities that set him apart. Using numerous musical examples, Anna Celenza traces the origins of the famous "Sinatra Sound" and reveals how, over the last half century, it has influenced a disparate array of musical styles and genres that make up the kaleidoscopic nature of today's American soundtrack. Sinatra is great because his music is still with us—his "voice" now joined with others seeking to find their own way.
The Genius of Alfred Hitchcock, 11:00 a.m.–noon
Marc Lapadula, Yale University
For many cinema scholars, film critics, and movie-lovers, Alfred Hitchcock is regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of his or any generation. Across his long career, Hitchcock fashioned a distinctive and recognizable directorial style. Pioneering the use of a camera made to move in a way that mimics a person's gaze, his films engage viewers in a form of voyeurism, coercing them into an uncomfortable complicity regarding the questionable moral actions of the characters depicted on screen. Hitchcock knew how to frame scenes and select unusual camera angles to provoke a heightened sense of anxiety, fear, or empathy. He was the innovator of groundbreaking, vertiginous editing techniques that were way ahead of their time. Through his clever cameo appearances in all his feature films, sardonic interviews, cryptic film trailers, and his popular television program Alfred Hitchcock Presents," Hitchcock became a cultural icon around the world.
For a limited time, register for $129. For more information and to register for the event, visit One Day University.