Classical vs. Modern - A Question of Communication

I used to hate most things “modern.” My parents raised me to appreciate all things classical: music, art, architecture, dance, poetry, etc. I looked on things such as rap, modern art, and modernist architecture with utmost disgust and wondered how anybody could like such a thing. I was perplexed and thought that perhaps a large chunk of the population just missed the point. Couldn’t they tell that classical music was better composed? Couldn’t they tell that classical art and architecture were “more artistic”?

It has taken me many years and many more conversations with all kinds of people who have different tastes than I have to help me expand my understanding of music, art, and architecture. I used to think that rappers weren’t as talented. And I thought that people whose art was modern just didn’t have the skills either. But today, I finally made a connection. I was listening to Twenty-One Pilots’ “Taxi Cabs,” which combines a variety of musical styles, including rap, into a unique composition that I think exemplifies the style of Twenty-One Pilots. It was in that moment of transition between rap and the rest of the song that I realized why people enjoy it. Twenty-One Pilots understands the character of music, and they choose to express it in their own way. In the same way that Picasso was able to paint realistically (and well), I think that Twenty-One Pilots would be able to perform music that I think is more “talented” or “skilled.” And just like Picasso, they choose to not express it in that way.

I personally enjoy classical music more than modern music, but I now know that it is because the way I communicate my feelings and thoughts matches more with “classical” styles. People who enjoy modern music relate to that music in a similar way that I connect with my music. Understanding music, art, and architecture in terms of how people communicate gives me appreciation for practically all forms and has helped me to be able to in turn relate to other people better.

I’ve noticed that people are extremely touchy when it comes to certain subjects: music and art (and religion, but that calls for a different discussion). Disregarding one type of music in my mind usually lends to me disregarding an entire group of people who identify with that music. So it really is foolish of me to completely throw away music and art that I may not understand. Perhaps others who I know will tell me their opinions about music and art that are pleasing to them, and that will be a venue for me to better comprehend who they are individually.

Today, I still identify my taste in music, art, and architecture closer to the “classical” side, but I no longer hate anything modern. Just like they are able to appreciate the classical and still choose to express themselves in a different way, I am able to understand the modern and express myself in my style.

Canterbury Cathedral - The Historical Building That Stole My Heart

Studies in architectural history have sparked my interest in architecture. My fascination with architectural history began when I was in seventh grade. For “art” I read a condensed book about world architectural history, which explained the most famous historical buildings in the world, such as the pyramids in Egypt, the Pantheon in Rome, and the cathedral at Pisa. Each building carried a story – one that opened a world of better understanding of history for me. Since I am an extremely visual learner, I have always found it difficult to grasp abstract concepts without drawing them out or seeing a picture. When I began to study architectural history, I gradually became aware that since architecture is built by people, then architecture also reflects the people and their societies, ideas, and values. Living in Houston, where the oldest buildings I have seen are perhaps one hundred years old, I found old buildings to be mysterious and in a way “other-worldly.” But I loved the details and beautiful craftsmanship I saw in pictures of those masterpieces, and I always hoped that I would be able to see in person historic buildings and be able to learn more about them.

In 2007 and 2013, I got the chance to take a pilgrimage to Canterbury with the children’s choir at my church. I was excited to be able to go overseas, but I was even more eager to see in person the historical buildings that defined England’s stories. To this day, Canterbury Cathedral is one of my favorite examples of historical architecture. When I visited in 2013, the cathedral was under the process of restoration. Scaffolding covered one entire side of the building, and experts in historical preservation were carefully attending the stones and detaching the huge panels of stained glass for cleaning. We later received a special tour on the scaffolding and in the adjoining stained glass workshop. What stands out most in my mind is seeing a young lady carefully cleaning one the panels of stained glass with a q-tip. To this day, I wonder how many hours it would take, at that pace, to clean the entire panel. And then I remembered how many panels were in the entire cathedral. I would not be surprised if she was still working on them today.

My heart still partially lives in Canterbury inside Canterbury Cathedral. Since my visits, my love for architectural history and historic preservation has greatly increased. Consequently, I have become involved in the historic preservation here at A&M, Preservation and Conservation Student Society (PACSS). Last semester we toured Calvert, Texas, and we documented the Parish Hall of Epiphany Episcopal Church. After some group designing, we gave the Rector at the church a proposal of interior redesign of the Parish Hall and a ramp addition that would respect the integrity of the historical aspects of the church. I thoroughly enjoyed this learning experience, as it increased my hope of someday being able to work with historic preservation in churches. 

A New Start

Each new semester instigates in me a deep anticipation. It is a combination of excitement and fear. I think back over the break and wonder where the time decided to fly. Perhaps it flew with Peter Pan to Neverland and never came back. Throughout the previous months, my peers have told me stories and advice about certain professors and classes - some that make me want to run - so I use discretion in figuring out which stories are valuable, and which are exaggerations. Wednesday was the first class of studio, and now I can have a fresh start. The anticipation is over.

Our first project began with us scanning pre-cut wood pieces and assembling them to make an assortment of animal models. Many of my classmates have a type of dinosaur, but I decided to build a praying mantis. It stands poised with one of its forelegs outstretched as if ready to punch anybody who comes too close. Its wings resemble the pattern of a monarch butterfly’s wings, yet it has a sternness that never shows in a monarch.

Before we punched out the wood pieces, we all scanned our templates in order to have the shapes of the wood pieces documented digitally. We will use a process that involves Photoshop and Illustrator to convert our scans into drawings in AutoCAD, so that later on, we can model our animals and make scaled up versions. These versions will require laser cutting at the Ranch, a place I have only been to once.

That introduces a minor problem that I have managed to avoid for an entire semester. Last year, I had to pass a quiz and be taken on a “tour” through the woodshop that is located in Building B. I used the woodshop a lot last year to make multiple models, but unfortunately, my certification expired after two semesters. Last semester started pretty suddenly, and I didn’t have the chance to make it down to the woodshop even once. Well, I might have avoided it intently because I knew it was a hassle. Anyways, that is on my list of things to do for this project: get re-certified to use the woodshop I already know how to use.

I am eagerly looking forward to this project, because it seems that we will be learning mostly about how to strengthen weak joints in our models. This project compared with previous studio projects is much like editing a paper that already exists. The main “design” is already there; we are just figuring out where the weak spots are.

My guess is that my praying mantis will have its weakest joints where the forearms extend out past its body. The body seems fairly stable right now, but time and a bigger scale will tell if my guess is correct. Please join me next week for an update of the activities we have been doing in studio. Or perhaps I might give you an example of life’s little conundrums in my world.