The truths behind NY’s misconceptions

There are many stereotyping regarding different aspects of New York. Today, I am here to find out if those NY stereotypes are TRUE or FALSE. Let’s begin:

1. It’s too crowded

It is correct to say that NYC is a crowded space as it is also named as one of the busiest city in the world! However, that is only because it is some of the most popular area, as well as a busy business and tourist district! Plus, it also only means that there are many more people to meet for memorable encounters and more exciting things to experience!

https://www.dreamstime.com/editorial-photography-busy-time-square-new-york-how-looks-like-image46123027

2.    New Yorkers are rude.

A lot of media depiction of New Yorkers are often impatient and rude. That is partially true as it is a bustling city and many people on the street are just hurrying to go somewhere! But mind you that these ‘rude’ people are not everyone in New York! There are also many friendly people and store owners who would love to help tourist and share their stores with people!

3.    New York is dangerous

NY is one of the safest places to travel in the United States, with it being one of the safest and lowest crime rates states in America. There is always danger in a different country, so we all much be cautious, regardless!

4.    New York is not Green Enough

It is true that NY is a city of concrete jungles with tall buildings. However, it also has many parks including its biggest park – Central Park in Manhattan, with 840 acres in size!

https://ny.curbed.com/2018/10/15/17977874/extell-central-park-tower-manhattan-sales-launch

As you can see, misconception may be accurate or partially true. However, there is just so much more behind all these stereotypical statements! So let us all not be blind-folded with all these statements without further understanding.

[Assessment W7] WHAT IF I work in New York? Possibilities of my alternate future.

https://www.mommynearest.com/edition/nyc/article/9-best-dance-studios-for-kids-in-new-york-city

New York is a city populated with different kind of arts, ranging from museum art, theatrical art to street art; as well as a city that is blessed with so many cultures from around the world. If I were to work in New York, I would love to contribute to this culturally rich artistic city with my specialties.

My working experiences include art management as I am currently the president of a dance community with more than 700 dancers in Melbourne; as well as a teacher of ballet and Chinese dance. If ever possible, I would love to share my expertise and bring along my Chinese culture to the people in New York!

There are numbers of dance intuitions of specialized cultural dance school; however, they are only targeted towards people of its own culture rather than other people such as New Yorkers. For example, Chinese dance schools comprise mostly Chinese people and no other people from different background.

Therefore, I believe the infusion of cultural dances into other broader genre such as contemporary would be a great way to initiate international cultural exchange in the dance scene of New York.

http://en.chncpa.org/NEWS/wzxw/201611/t20161129_163674.shtml

For institutions such as Broadway Dance Centre, I could potentially teach Chinese influenced contemporary or ballet classes that can introduce dancers to Chinese culture. Through infusing Chinese inspired movements into these dances could encourages an international cultural exchange by inviting people to learn about Chinese culture through dance.

Or I could even work as an art manager and design courses that welcome external Chinese dance teachers to these commercial dance institute to share Chinese dance culture to New Yorkers.

Regardless, I believe the idea of infusions Cultural influenced dance classes along with mainstream genre would allow people to be more open minded to different cultures!

The ‘Abnormal’ & Avant-Garde Food Culture in New York.

When traveling to other places, there are often many cultural differences or details that may confuse us or even SHOCK us. Today, I am here to talk about something  in New York that I think could confuse or shock me if/when I travel there, and to discuss how I may minimize these negative experiences.

https://www.restaurantsofmanchester.com/american.htm

FOOD CULTURE.

Firstly, I reckon the food portions in New York, or in America in general, would generally give me a heart attack. From what I have heard from everyone I know and traveling videos I have watched about America, their food portions are just abnormally huge!! With all these information I have gathered from my friends and traveling videos, the best way to prevent dealing with excessive portion sizes is to order a lot less than indicated, or to simply share the food. I think, this is a much wiser decision to share and order less instead of having a food coma that will gives me PTSD whenever I see a big portion of food again.

Next up, they are many varieties of food in New York that it offers, especially with intercultural cusines! At first when I learned about it I felt held back as I was not too sure about the constant mixture of having different food styles in one dish?! However, I might be able to eliminate my concern and confusion about these fusion food by doing more research and understand the stories behind all these creations.

[Assessment W4] Keith Haring: Scribbling on the line between High Art and Low Art

Keith Haring is one of the most globally know street art artist, and he is from New York. Even you have never heard of his name, you are still very likely to recognize his work as you probably have come across his work at some point in your life. Well-known for his bold lines, sharp colors and relatable subject matters, his work can be and often is a conversation starter.

https://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/on_the_wall/have-you-seen-all-5-of-keith-harings-murals-in-nyc-55370

Keith Haring’s Crack is Wack Mural is probably the most accessible and viewed mural in NYC, as its located at a handball court that a main bridge at Harlem crosses by.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/keith-haring-crack-is-wack-mural_b_5651871

Crack is Wrack is inspired by his old assistant Benny, who was Haring’s young, gifted studio assistant in the mid-1980s who became addicted to cocaine. Haring and the rest of his studio were close with him, and they tried everything to help him eliminate his addiction. This was, according to Haring, an incredibly distressing experience for everyone involved.

This mural was made to express his frustration towards Benny’s situation as well as the general drug addiction that was apparent in NYC. Like many works of graffiti, Haring’s work is reflective of the artist’s state of mind as well as the current problems in society.

This work would not be something that regular tourist would intentionally visit as it is located in a non-tourist area. However, it is a very visible work and an eye-catching mural that is hard to miss especially driving pass it.

Keith Haring work is the thin line that lies between high art and the so-called ‘low art’ that people brand street art. Even though his mural is painting on without permission, authorities who place protections on the work and attempts to make it permanent — blurring the line of fine art and street art, thus challenging the idea of high art.

About me 💃✌️

Hey you, first of all, thank you for support my page and I am here to tell you a little bit more about myself!

I am Crystal. My birth name is Iao Ho, and I’m a small Chinese girl from Macau. I am currently studying Arts – majoring in Art history – which plays a very important role as I travel because I just LOVE love seeing art from different culture.


Like many other people, I, too, love to travel; to different parts of the world, and to experience different culture. Travelling is fun. But hidden beneath the fun, are the other purposes of travel most people are unaware of.

“We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed.”

It is very eyeopening and humbling to learn how things are executed, presented, and processed in so many different ways across cultures. Traveling is an endless learning experience in our lives that provide us joy and allow ourselves to be open to different experiences and challenges.

This is a picture taken at the teamLab Planets exhibiton when i traveled to Tokyo, Japan.

For my blogs, I have focused my country of specialisation to be New York, aka the concrete jungle. Throughout my blogs, I have focused my perspective to be on the art New York, as NY isone of the most artistically concentrated cities with so many different kinds art available for people to marvel at. Whenever I think of where I want to go next, my heart jumps to one place, as Alicia Keys famously sang, Oh New York

[Assessment W3] DRAMA! DRAMA! DRAMA!

https://pixels.com/featured/bright-lights-of-broadway-daniel-hagerman.html

When you get asked, “What is something that represents NY,” a lot of things would pop up in your head, and Broadway shines the light for me. When you think about Broadway, you instantly associate with its musical and its iconic marquee lights that are decorated in front of theaters.

Broadway is a street located in Manhattan, New York that holds the world-famous Broadway musicals. What a lot of people don’t know, is that it originally started as theatres playing operas and Shakespeare plays in the 18th century. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that people began to do musicals. Ever since, its popularity has skyrocketed, people around the world started coming in to watch its shows.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/81299/whats-difference-between-broadway-and-broadway-show

A little fun fact about Broadway is its nickname of “The Great White Way”, because it was one of the first streets in NY to be lit with electrical lights.

Broadway has become such an international phenomenon that a lot of its shows are being toured and recreated around the world, attracting all kinds of audience to admire the artistry of it.

Broadway is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New York. However, it was not produced merely because of tourism, but because of the densely populated talent that NY contains.

What people see Broadway as – is the fabulousness and grandeur of its plays. But what they don’t see is what goes behind the scenes. All the actors and actresses that need to put on hours and hours of rehearsals with months of preparation for one show. The amount of hard work and effort production crew and its actors and actresses need to put it throughout preparation to put on a show for its audience. Perhaps more than talent, Broadway demands dedication.