We have researched successfully for four days. I now know what arrondissements are, how to pronounce “Théâtre” (among other French words mostly relating to people and venues), and that the French culture, vibrant and consuming as it was for the Lost Generation, has consumed myself as well. It baffles me the wealth of information I’ve learned in such a short period of time, and we have nine weeks left! This project really is all I hoped that it would be, and I’m so glad I have the opportunity to contribute my efforts toward our goal.
This summer, I think that the ballet and dance performances will interest me along with the opera performances. Often, when we are looking up information about performances, I find myself reading all about these dancers like Loie Fuller (which I tell myself will somehow contribute to our research in some form later on in order to make myself feel better about falling down the rabbit hole).
The readings that we have done have set the stage for further understanding the social web between the composers we are studying. The ballet-russes, the composers, the placement of buildings, the salons, the musical life of Montparnasse, and the groups like Concert Straram are all connected through society, class, genre, or other relations. It really comes together to create the grand portrait of Parisian life in the 1920’s.
I’m very excited to learn more about the performances and practices of the time period and delve deeper into the struggle between commerce and the arts as class became irrelevant and music integrated itself into the very core of the city. It seems like I’ve learned a lot about France, and I hope that continues. This whirlwind of information can continue sweeping me away as long as it wants; being engrossed in it is half of the fun.