Browse Exhibits (131 total)
Memorialization of Joanne Germanotta
In 1974, a woman by the name of Joanne Stefani Germanotta passed away at the age of 19 from the autoimmune disease called Lupus, which can “damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs)” (lupus.org). She was an artist, poet, and family woman taken too early from the incurable diagnosis. Almost 40 years later, her younger brother and sister in law, Joseph and Cynthia Germanotta opened the Italian family restaurant, Joanne’s Trattoria, in memory of her life.
Being one of Joseph Germanotta’s lifelong dream to become a restaurant owner, he was finally able to do so after retiring from his telecommunications job where “the money was at” (Germanotta, Joe). He and his wife raised two successful daughters, put them both through prestigious catholic schools, top colleges, all while living on the upper west side of Manhattan. However, his ability to open up the west side restaurant in the first place is fueled, aided, and supported through his first daughter, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta’s rapid and enormous success. She is best known around the world through her stage name, Lady Gaga. Stefani not only purchased the restaurant herself, but supported the memorialization itself through the devotion of her fans and outreach in the world. Joanne's legacy and heart will remain forever by the product of her memorialzation in the heart of the world's greatest city.
In this exhibit, I want to explore the use of Joanne's as a public memorial, and the transforming of Gaga's influence, fameness, and publicness as a tool to help Joanne's exist to be the well known trattoria it is today.
The Gates of Hell (Glenwood Power Plant)
The Glenwood Power Plant was built in the early 20th Century in order to electrify the New York Railroad. It was later abandoned in the 1960s. After many years of degradation due to this neglect, the site became a hotspot for graffiti writers to oractice and display their work undisturbed. It became known as the Gates of Hell. The Gates remained in this condition until 2012 when the property was purchased by a real estate development group. Through a timeline, this Omeka site will track the history and social memory of the Gates of Hell as it has affected the different groups connected to it.
Yankee Stadium
For many people, Yankee Stadium is nothing other than a baseball field. However for most baseball fans, especially Yankee fans, it is known as "The Cathedral of Baseball". For a place that has gone through as much history and tradition as Yankee Stadium, that statement doesn't seem far-fetched.
When you talk about the history of Yankee Stadium, it's inevitable to mention names like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Derek Jeter, etc. Without a doubt, these legendary players have trascended the game of baseball. Babe Ruth's called shot. Lou Gehrig's famous "Luckiest Man" speech. Joe DiMaggio's record 56-game hitting streak. Derek Jeter's diving catch, World Series home runs, and farewell speech in the final game in the Old Stadium. Championships. These are the things that these players are most known for and ironically they all happened in Yankee Stadium.
Yankee Stadium (old and new) is home to 27 World Championships, the most of any team in the history of sports. In this exhibit, we'll be diving into some of the specifics that made Yankee Stadium a New York landmark.
Evaluating the Life and Legacy of John Lennon
The name “John Lennon” is nearly universal within the domain of public memory. Whether the memory of him is as simple as knowing he was in The Beatles or as in-depth as participating in Beatlemania itself, John Lennon is likely a name that inspires some type of emotion within any person that reads or hears the name.
But the memory of John Lennon is actually a bit more complicated than the public memory might convey. Many memories surrounding John Lennon are memories of empowerment and peace, especially considering the anthems of his later works, including “Give Peace a Chance,” “Woman,” and, most notably, “Imagine.” The John Lennon that was communicated through these songs specifically, and through most of his musical work, was a peace activist.
But John’s life was not always one of peace. In fact, he was often a turbulent, sometimes violent person, specifically toward some of the most prominent women in his life. Much of this was hidden from the public eye, specifically the ups and downs of his first marriage. Because this information was kept hidden, the public was able to build a narrative of John Lennon in whichever way they wished. And because his music was the most easily accessible way to connect with John, that was the medium selected.
This project hopes to take an all-encompassing look at the life and legacy of John Lennon, with the specific foci on how his memory permeates several aspects of the neighborhood he called home up until his death in 1980 (Upper West Side, New York City, United States) and how the public memory of John Lennon is skewed favorably and often does not take into account the less-public memory of him which is much less favorable.
TanaCon: The Toxicity of the Internet
The chronicalization of YouTube sensation, Tana Mongeau's, attempt at creating inclusivity and enjoyment. However, it turned into chaos and suffering. Mongeau came out of the fire with barely any scratches or marks, while her event coordinator, Michael Weist, was ostrasized from society. The question remains: how much power does social media, in order for it to be used in creating a specifc narrative for the world to see?
Connecting the Dot's
I decided to examine the destruction and rebuilding of Dot's Restaurant in Wilmington, VT as my project of memorialization because it is a remarkable story about a seemingly unremarkable place. In so many ways Dot's is just like thousands of other diners scattered throughout the U.S. After Irene struck Wilmington however, Dot's became so much more than a diner. I am memorializing Dot's because of what it was but more importantly, I am memorializing what Dot's came to represent. It's true that Dot's acts as a symbol of hope for the people of Wilmington but I believe Dot's can serve this purpose even for people who've never even stepped inside. However, the rebuilding of Dot's also brings up the question: what's the cost of becoming a symbol of hope?
Liam King Exhibit
An collection of texts that provide insight into past and present representations of witchcraft, ghosts, and the occult
An International Episode: Women's Subjugation and Literary Mediums
This exhibition explores the gender implications of 19th century Europe and America, through a study of Henry James’ work. With An International Episode at the center of the exhibit’s discussion, the collection of artifacts surrounding it attest to James’ influence, both historically and in the modern world. Through contemporary reviews, artistic supplements, and various other literary works, the relationship of these items seeks to make new meaning out of the work of an author whose influence is undeniable.
By analyzing the relationship and interactions between author, illustrator, and writer, and by viewing the text at work in the world itself, it generates a cartain discussion: how does a work of literary fiction become didactic literature that serves to provide insight about the values of the world that both produced and consumed the text? The works in this exhibit amalgamate to form a comprehensive cultural artifact that seeks to examine how historical atmospheres shape the representation of women as traditionally marginalized figures in society and in literature, and how the reception of this literature changes over time.
