Problem
I. What was your initial response to the work?
i. What were some of your feelings while experiencing the piece?
ii. What personal memories or associations did the work evoke?
iii. What did you find pleasing? disturbing?
iv. Did anything surprise you and why?
II. Describe the subject of the piece in one sentence.
i. If there is a story, what is the plot? If there are no words, imagine that the work is being used to illustrate a story. Describe that story.
ii. How complicated is the subject?
iii. How easy is it to describe the subject?
iv. Have you ever thought about this subject before?
v. What part of this work is most crucial to understanding the subject?
III. Explain the possible content of the piece in one sentence. (What you think it means.)
i. If there is/was a story to this work, what is/would the message of the story be?
ii. Why do you think the artist felt the need to express this content/message?
iii. What kind of experience or emotions would you need to have in order to feel the need to create something like this piece?
iv. How easy or difficult is it to describe the content? why?
v. What is ONE crucial aspect of the work itself that explains the content/message?
vi. Letting your imagination run wild, what possibilities are there as to the meaning of this piece?
IV. What expectations did you have before you experienced the piece?
i. Were those expectations met or denied?
ii. What were your answers to the two questions (listed above) that you asked yourself?
iii. What questions or curiosities do you now have regarding the work and/or the artist?
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Revelations.