Cinderella, Windows, and Taylor... Oh my!

I never really knew how much work gets put into a piece of art, a play, or a concert. I have always just figured it happened. When I was little my mother took me to a version of Cinderella at the Startime play theater. I loved it. The set was beautiful painted and the actors and actors were amazing. I thought they were the coolest people ever. Looking back on that know I am realizing how much effort the writer must out into a fairytale to make it magical and still have a meaning. Maybe it was not supposed to be magical but actually the opposite. I mean if it were just pretty, it would not mean anything. Maybe it is also meant to be seen from a psychological lense. That way the viewer gets a bigger idea out of the story or play. When you are a child you are charmed with her kindness to the animals and the fairytale love she gets to pursue. When you are a kid you wish your feet could slide into the glass slipper. That is what I always thought. But then, your lit teacher senior year has you read the story and analyze it using psychoanalysis. That magical idea of pumpkin carriges and prince charming is overridden with the idea thst Cinderella probably has a desire for a man in her life because she grew up without one. And that she hopes to be loved because she had such an abusive life. Its ironic really, how she had such a terrible childhood and is still nice to everyone.

            Last year when we read A Raisin in the Sun we paid so much attention to detail. I really think we talked about window symbolism for at least thirty minutes. At the time I though it was really weird to spend so much time talking about a window. Set design is so important to the entire meaning to the play, concert, or story. This weekend I went to the Taylor Swift concert. Most concerts I have been to have been just the artist on stage singing their top hits. Taylor changes that. She uses set design to make the song have a greater effect. During one song there were acrobats, another had fireworks, and the best thing was when she flew. During her song love story, a “Romeo and Juliet” type story, a nice caslte balcony starts moving through the arena. Everyone watches in anticipation as this balcony continues to make its way towards the stage. As it lands on the stage, Taylor pops out in a white dress and steps onto the balcony. Two girls on the stage watch her as she flys off into the crowd while singing love story. It was very effective. It makes you think more about what she is trying to say.

Sure, flying into the air does not actually change the meaning of the song, the set design can not overpower the words, and one tree or window won’t make or break the play, but each of these things dramatically changes the way you see it. Any form of art takes time and effort. I just always through plays came easily once they were already written.