Madame Butterfly

Madame Butterfly

            The acclaimed and simultaneously controversial masterpiece, “Madame Butterfly,” has continued to evade and captivate audiences the world over, due to its brutal subject matter and due to modern interpretations of the famed classic that have since followed. The opera was originally written in 1903 by composer Giacomo Puccini, who decided to work on production for an opera after watching a London performance about a Japanese woman’s tragic love story to an American sailor, and her eventual end. Although Puccini could not speak English, he was very touched by the performance that he immediately requested rights to the opera and began working on what was to become the opera the world knows today, as “Madame Butterfly” (Schwarm and Cantoni, 2018). “Madame Butterfly,” is a harsh story of first love, loss, betrayal, and exploitation. It is a cruel coming of age tale that has many critics asking if the story is in fact less of a theatrical masterpiece about lost love, and more an unsightly tale glorifying yellow fever and the degradation of women for the male gaze and their consequent sexual gratification (Miskimmon).

            Audiences who first viewed “Madame Butterfly,” were not at all emotionally moved for Butterfly’s character or sympathetic to her plight, as Puccini was. Rather, audience members behaved very crudely, laughing and ridiculing Butterfly during an apparent scene that hinted at her marital consummation with her Naval husband, Pinkerton. Instead of viewing this moment as a sad loss of innocence for Butterfly to an undeserving man who wanted nothing but to thwart his toxic masculinity on a poor orphaned teenage girl who believed her union was in fact sanctioned and valid, viewers took the scene to be nothing more than an erotic display between an “exotic feminine mystique,” and a commendably macho man (Miskimmon).

While watching this opera, I was surprised at the apparent lack of Asian representation within the actual work. Although there have been Madame Butterfly characters portrayed by members of the Asian community, there were several renditions in which the leading lady was not in fact Asian. I found this to be quite troubling and perhaps an added incentive for critics to dismiss “Madame Butterfly,” for nothing more than a toxic fetishization of Asian women and Asian culture. Although I can understand where such critics are coming from, as a young Asian woman, I look up to this production because there are so few opportunities in the performing arts for a specifically Asian woman or Asian man to be the leading principal. As a little girl with a passion for theatre and a deep love for music, “Madame Butterfly” and “Miss Saigon,” a consequent musical inspired by the opera, “Madame Butterfly,” inspired me. I was even more in awe when the renowned Filipina artist, Lea Salonga, took to the stage and performed as the lead role, Kim, in “Miss Saigon.” In my opinion, to silence these harsh criticisms about the validity of “Madame Butterfly” as a truly masterful piece, Asian representation must be given consideration during casting decisions. 

            The rendition I saw of this opera had incredible set design. The performance was held on a long stage with plenty of room for actors and set pieces to be used; however, there was only one main set piece, Butterfly’s home. This I would suspect would be because audience members are experiencing the events that take place through Butterfly’s perspective. We see how things unfold in her world, her life. Although this piece is not entirely limited to just Butterfly’s personal thoughts, much of what the audience sees are pivotal events happening directly to her. The audience knows Pinkerton is not serious about his union to Butterfly, but she remains unaware of this fact. This adds to the tension and emotional appeal of the work itself. The mise en scene was simplistic and visually exciting. Most of the opera was dark, dim, and mysterious. To make the scene more realistic, the house in which Butterfly lived had its own light fixtures inside, and it was constructed in such a way as to make the viewer believe it was in fact a real house with rooms and compartments. Additionally, the stage included props such as long, slender blades of grass lining the edge of the stage, almost as if to invite viewers into the world of “Madame Butterfly.” I believe the placement of the grass was essential to suspension of disbelief.

            “Madame Butterfly” made great use of technology. For instance, the lighting choices that were made. A seasoned and observant viewer would note how during dramatic scenes, bluer hued lights were used to play up the drama of the scene, while bright yellow lights were used to highlight happier events during the play, reflecting the feelings of the opera’s central characters. Definitive light choices allow the audience members to be a part of the scene and register the proper emotions at the right time. A less obvious role technology played a part in, would be the sliding doors used in Madame Butterfly’s home. This may seem trivial at first glance, but upon further observation, one may come to realize and appreciate just how important a detail like that can be in a production. Theatrical performances are a collection of small, deliberate artistic choices that can determine between the phenomenal and otherwise mediocre. Sliding doors add to the realism portrayed in the opera. The fact that the doors slide suggests that the house we are watching could really exist somewhere. It suggests that this may be more than wallpaper and wooden beams because audiences can fill in the rest of the arbitrary details such a house may possess.

“Madame Butterfly” holds an important place in the chronological history of opera because of its duality. It is for some, one-part fetishism and other part naivety, but for others, its controversy is what makes it so enduring. As with all other works of art, there are many ways to view this opera. Perhaps, it is a poor portrayal of lost love in today’s enlightened society and social changes, but when it was written, it was created almost explicitly to depict the hurt of being a woman in love. This opera has been such an inspiration for other artists that its story lives on in its popular adaptation, “Miss Saigon,” and in many other works. “Madame Butterfly” even became the namesake for a true to life story about a French diplomat unwittingly falling in love with, and being deceived by, a male Chinese spy. The controversy surrounding the plot and its relevancy today are what make this masterpiece so memorable.

If I were to create a video game based off this opera, I would make the game a simulation where the individual playing could react to events happening in the game that all originated from the opera. For example, in the game, the player would be Madame Butterfly and have the autonomy to make decisions based off dialogue exchanged by other characters. Each choice would then proceed with a different series of chain reactions for the player to explore. The wonderful part of this game would be that no one experience would be the same because the player is given the freedom to choose.

In conclusion, “Madame Butterfly” has solidified its place in opera and artistic history not only for its beautiful music, but for its controversial story line. It is an opera about love and heartbreak. Today the world still views this piece with skepticism and reservation, but in my opinion, there is more to “Madame Butterfly” than what meets the eye. It is a commentary on human emotion and our universal plights in love. Moreover, it describes so well the sting of first love, from the joys and delights of the honeymoon stage, to the despair of abandonment. Madame Butterfly is not a weak character, although I will admit that she does fit the stereotypical female character written by a male through his ideas about what being a woman was like. Despite all this, what makes this opera so appealing is how human all its characters are. From the selfish Naval officer, Pinkerton, the greedy marriage broker, Goro, and finally the young and inexperienced Butterfly, all of Puccini’s characters are shockingly relatable and if nothing else, human.

Works Cited

1.      Miskimmon, Annilese. “Sex, Betrayal, Suicide: Is Madama Butterfly too Sordid to Stage

Today?”. The Guardian. 2018. Guardian News. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/05/metoo-madama-butterfly-puccini-geisha-opera-women-exploitation. 12 September 2018.

2.      Schwarm, Betsy, and Cantoni, Linda. “Madama Butterfly.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.

2018. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Madama-

Butterfly.  12 September 2018.

Broadway Shows

From a young age, I have had a deep rooted appreciation for theatre and the musical arts, in part due to my grandmother and mom who both share my enthusiasm for performing. My grandmother was a very proficient ballroom dancer in her time. Other family members of mine have also had performing backgrounds at one point or another in their lives. Music has always been a big part of my life. Consequently, I have seen a considerable number of Broadway productions, both live and recorded. I have also participated in theatrical productions from the time I was six years old, until I graduated high school. Among my favorite Broadway shows would be "Guys and Dolls," "Mamma Mia," and "The Phantom of the Opera."

"Guys and Dolls" holds a special place in my heart and always will because it was the first musical I participated in when I was eleven years old. I can still remember the names of my fellow cast members and the impression they made on me with their talent, diction, and professionalism. Additionally, "Guys and Dolls", in my opinion is such a lovely romantic comedy, and highly entertaining. The plot follows two couples in New York, Adelaide and Nathan, and Sarah and Sky as they navigate their feelings for one another. Nathan, a broke gambler, hopes to change his luck around by betting avid gambler, Sky, that he cannot convince the virtuous, Sarah Brown on a date. What ensues is the bet of a lifetime.

The second show I chose, "Mamma Mia," is equally important to me because it reminds me of my grandmother, who absolutely loves this musical. I remember there was a time where the only movie she would watch was the film adaptation for "Mamma Mia." Whenever I watch the production or listen to the soundtrack, I reminded of my grandmother and I cannot help but smile. Besides the sentimental value this show possesses for me, I find it incredible that writers were able to come up with such an entertaining musical comedy all from Abba hits. The ability to take such beloved music and set it to a story centered on self-discovery and family, is so incredibly commendable.

Lastly, I chose the eerie, dark, often times, frightening tale, "The Phantom of the Opera." As a child I remember seeing old black and white pictures from adaptations of "The Phantom of the Opera." They were horrifying and grotesque, but I was morbidly curious about the figure behind the mask, perhaps in a similar way to the musical's heroine, Christine Daae, was. Because of this curiosity, I decided to watch the film adaptation. Even today the film scares me, but it holds such immense artistic value. Three years ago, my mother and I saw the show live. It was such an enriching experience to see this masterpiece performed by such talented actors and actresses. I felt so inspired by their performance. These are only three of my personal favorite Broadway shows, but in time I hope to see a great deal more, and to perform again. 

Madame Butterfly Animation

I have always been attracted to the story of "Madame Butterfly," in part because of my love for performing arts, and also because she was the only Asian woman as a main character for a production that I had heard of. When I learned the musical "Miss Saigon," was based off the renowned opera, I was even more intrigued. Especially because the woman famed for playing Kim, the Madame Butterfly based character in "Miss Saigon," was a famous Filipina celebrity, Lea Salonga, whom I looked up to all my life. I have only seen parts of the opera aired late at night on PBS, but I never had the chance to see the opera, "Madame Butterfly," in its duration. This animation was very symbolic in nature and the transitions were phenomenal. I commend the artists who were able to take puppet dolls and create a short video which not only told a summarized version of the tale, but properly reflected the emotions and struggles the main character, Madame Butterfly, felt and endured. Puppet dolls were able to portray the delights of young love, and sexual awakening, and  ultimately the despair of abandonment.

The butterfly that landed on the woman's head symbolizes, love, beauty, sweetness, and innocence. Butterflies also symbolize freedom. After Madame Butterfly and her beau consummate their affair, the butterfly immediately takes flight, as if to foreshadow her lover's eventual departure; however, it also denotes the loss of virginity, which in many societies was frowned upon outside of wedlock. What is also interesting is how we do not hear the woman's voice until after she realizes she is pregnant with her lover's child. This signifies her joy at bearing his child and her excitement to be a new mother. The fish bowl metaphor for reproduction was also very interesting. Not only does a fish's shape slightly resemble male sperm, but the broken fish tank, represents when an expectant mother's water breaks, and labor begins. I thought this was very clever use of symbolism on the artists part. The cord that connected mother and child was not just an umbilical cord, rather it displayed the deep love and connection mothers have with their children. In Madame Butterfly's case, it also expresses that her child has become her reason to live and wait for her lover's return.

During most of the short film, Madame Butterfly dons her lover's sailor hat, until his ship returns and a gust of wind snatches the article away. This is yet another example of foreshadowing. When the hat flew away, it signified to the audience that not only do material possessions like record players and hats fade away, but often times, so does young love, as in the case of Madame Butterfly and the sailor. Upon his arrival, Butterfly expectantly puckers up for a long awaited kiss, but instead, the sailor tears his daughter from her mother and leaves her with nothing. As soon as the child was taken away, the scenery changed, almost to the point of breaking the fourth wall and abandoning all suspension of disbelief. With the child all hope and love is lost, too in Butterfly's life. Her reason to wear flowers in her hair and await her sailor are dashed. She no longer cares for her appearance because the only things that mattered to her are now lost forever. The love she so faithfully counted on has turned cold.

The suicide scene was very interesting. Madame Butterfly, now reduced to her mechanical form, throws away all she has. Her pretty face, her graying her, her ragged clothes. The audience is left with one hopeful scene, a metamorphosis. In letting go of earthly cares and succumbing to her true feelings and nature, Madame Butterfly lived again, in what we the audience hope, was love and happiness. By letting go of her fleeting, undeserving love, she earned her freedom.

The International Videoarts Festival

Today I missed an extremely rare opportunity to commune with local and international artists, as well as fellow art lovers at the International Vidoearts Festival. I entered the dark auditorium and as I looked onto the screen, I saw what appeared to be, the digital etchings of a face. I watched in awe as the shape of the face began to warp and distort itself. Through the face I could see shadow figures emerging from the tangle of lines that comprised the image. A darker shadow image appeared in the upper right corner of the screen, taunting the ever somber and attentive face. The outlines of people seemed to recall a defining moment. Trauma even. Trauma that the darker figure exploited. I could see hurt in the physical expressions the face illustrated. Immediately I was in awe of this new and innovative way of story telling.

Before moving to Tampa, I knew little to nothing about multimedia art and digital code. Even now my knowledge is extremely limited, but I can appreciate these mediums for their innovations. From technology a new avenue of expression was born. During my time at the University of Tampa, I quickly learned of artist Santiago Echeverry and his prominence in the local and international artistic community. I had heard his name multiple times and I wanted to put a face, a story to the name. I wanted to know more. His project, Cabaret, was so poignant in its depiction of its subjects. The images were as objective and honest as if they had been photographs. Through this project he has refined the art of story telling while simultaneously opening a dialogue between his audience and his work. His art demands for us to truly reflect on the piece and what it means to the artist who created it, as well as to us, society. We are asked to look not with the eyes of a student or a critique, but with curiosity, emotion, and reflection.

Art and Technology has challenged me to view the world differently. To ask myself how art reflects the world I live in, but also how it has the power to shape it, too. Before this I never realized how interrelated art and technology were, or that several inventions came about because of art. Whether we realize it or not, art permeates our every day lives in surprising fun ways. As the saying goes, "Life imitates art."

Merging Two Images into One: Rocking Horsefly

Artist Statement
After being tasked to merge two unrelated objects into one fun, creative image, the whimsical world of "Alice in Wonderland" came to mind, and I decided for my project, that I would recreate a character from the beloved children's tale. Since I was a child, I have always loved Lewis Caroll's classic story about a young girl and the adventures she embarks on through her imagination. Because of my fondness for "Alice and Wonderland," I chose to a rocking horsefly as the subject of my project. The drawing itself is a monochromatic representation of a cheerful rocking horsefly. The illustration depicts a small pony with insect like wings and legs, a top of a carved wooden rocker. I hope those of you who see this piece can reminisce on your beloved childhood memories as I did during the creative process.

Raul Cuero and Creativity

Raul Cuero's interview on creativity was not just engaging, but it rung with many irrefutable truths. He encouraged people to put down their phones, turn off their televisions, and simply talk to one another. Cuero commented on the increasingly anti-social, conversationally challenged society we live in today, noting that the main contributor to this was in fact the advent of technology. Before technology, creativity was everywhere. People found ways to occupy their time in more reflective, constructive ways. Furthermore, he encouraged individuals to enjoy life for what it is, a series of conflict, a multi-step process. In accepting that good things do in fact take time, our satisfaction with our lives is sure to increase as will our tolerance of others. Lastly, he advised people that when faced with the prejudice views of others, the best thing to do is ignore their criticisms and attacks, but rather to take it on the chin with maturity and optimism. This interview was especially relevant because Cuero not only reflected on the affects of technology on society, but he also compared the world of today with his own growing up in Columbia. 

Prejudice, preconceived notions that are acquired without any factual evidence or basis. Cuero shared his personal experiences with prejudice as a young man. As a child he was surrounded by people of the same background and culture, but when he moved on in his studies, he encountered something he never had before, racial prejudice. Cuero described in his interview how ostracized he felt by his peers. He strived to prove his intellectual capabilities, but people still judged him solely by his background, instead of by his character. Outside the basketball court Cuero felt cast aside in relation to the other students at his university, as if he as a person, held no value.

This interview was intriguing, inspiring, and heartfelt. I feel like many people not only relate to some of the feelings Cuero describes, but that there is value in the lessons he chose to impart. In his interview, Cuero told viewers to develop a "universal mindset," when confronted with challenges. My understanding of the universal mindset is that whenever I am faced with uncertainty, I must look at the situation outside myself for perspective. In doing so, I realize that problems are everywhere. There is a global community of people experiencing the same hardships and emotions I am. Although I cannot see them, they are all there with me navigating these issues. Secondly, Cuero advised that whenever we feel ostracized, or whenever we come across prejudice in our lives, we should not focus on this negativity, rather we should choose pacifism and turn the other cheek. I can apply this in my life by choosing to ignore the harsh criticisms of others, and by continuing to improve myself for my personal growth. 

Lastly, I can apply the words Cuero shared in his interview by choosing to be more engaged with my surroundings and my family. Today is a world of distractions, whether it is the latest film to come out, the spiciest piece of gossip circulating the tabloids, a deadline we must meet, a meeting to attend, or a bill to pay, there are a plethora of things to take our attention; however, we do not realize how distractions can negatively impact our creativity. There is a solution to this problem. By choosing to cast aside the allure of my cell phone and instead spending time with family and engaging in meaningful conversation, or by simply meditating outside on my own without external interference, I can tap into the inner creative spirit that resides in all human beings. Small changes like these can make a world of a difference as we learn to quiet our minds and take better care of our bodies and minds, while simultaneously setting the stage for artistic and creative thinking.