May 2021 – JMAC- The Blog Experience

David Byrne has created a inviting and innovative piece of theater with the collaboration of the legendary director Spike Lee. They have produced the joyful and human experience that is the film “American Utopia”, which talks about the changes and current state of American society, through the medium of a concert featuring songs from Byrne’s album of the same name. As well as classic hits from his acclaimed band Talking Heads.

Born in 1952, and an immigrant from Scotland, David Bryne had a unique passion for music. Although he was, in his own words “immensely shy”, he could be let free and be himself on stage with his band Talking Heads. After a catalog of acclaimed albums, one of the best concert films ever made- “Stop Making Sense”- huge praise and following from people all over the globe, the band broke up in 1991. However, it wasn’t quite over for Byrne. He started a solo career and would occasionally pop up on songs by various artists.

With his most recent album American Utopia, Byrne wanted to create a theatrical stage show to go along with it. Being a creative powerhouse, he wanted it to be like a show that no one’s done before.

Similar to the opening of “Stop Making Sense”, – which is the Talking heads concert film from 1984 – Bryne has the stage stripped of any instruments, wires and other set production. He’s instead surrounded by long chain curtains lining the edges of the stage. Over the course of the performance, he sings and plays with other musicians who carry there instruments like a marching band. Along with spectacular lighting effects, this makes the show have an utterly unique appearance.

The show starts with Bryne contemplating how the mind of a child develops and as we grow, we lose certain neural connections in our brains. That idea is a simple jumping off point to explore and discuss certain topics of the world now: such as identity, human nature, immigration, unity and many more.

After seeing a performance of the show on Broadway, legendary film maker Spike Lee was eager to collaborate with Bryne to make a film out of the stage show. Spike Lee was able to capture the magic of the staging, and emphasize every performers music talent and the way they dance and choreographed the show. He uses an abundant amounts of cinematic camera angles and techniques to view the close up, emotive and important moments, to then let you embrace the full stage with its colorful lighting and dancing. Spike lee also emphasizes the messages and symbols of Black Lives Matter. While also filming and editing, Spike Lee also asked some of the mothers who had lost their family members to racist polices acts for discrimination and violence to be involved to remember their loved ones. Bryne’s and Spikes politics and viewpoints meld to create a balance of what is told and what is seen on stage.

This show is captivating, honest, insightful and truly spectacular. I would highly recommend this to everyone to experience something that creates so much joy and is so accurate of a live show atmosphere.

Back to School

Following the Christmas Holidays students across Scotland had been struck down by yet another Lockdown forcing student and teachers back into their homes and delaying schools once again. However, recently the schools opened, and student and teachers alike returned to their classes and here at St Aidan’s we sat down with a couple Sixth-year students to hear their thoughts and opinions on their return.

The first thing we questioned was the students’ opinions on returning and how they were feeling as they returned to normal classes, Daniel Burns said,

“It’s good to be back and see people but it’s weird to see so many people in the same space.”

And to most it would seem like a sudden shock seeing so many people gathered in the once space especially after spending so long at home with the only interaction with other people being through a computer screen. Another student, Robyn Cavinue, had stated,

“it’s scary, but obviously the teachers are doing whatever they can to make it not as scary.”

And it’s true, teachers have been trying their hardest to assist students through the process as they return and help them feel more comfortable. However, some students are a bit more excited to be back as one Mia Fallon claimed,

“It’s definitely a weird experience but it’s good to be back and life’s starting to feel more normal now.”

However, returning to school is only one step in returning to normality, as we also asked about any changes the students may have expected as they returned. Opinions varied as some students expected harsher rules as said by Mia.

“I expected it to be a lot more social distanced and stricter rules which has been followed.”

Ella McKendrick claimed,

“The school is a lot more tense; I think a lot more people are more anxious, and I think I expected it to be quite strict, but I think it was quite unexpected how much other people have changed as well.”

Lockdown and Covid have hit hard, and many people have been caught in the fallout finding ways to keep safe and it has changed everything, except for some students who had admitted they didn’t really expect many changes, Emily Duffy claimed, “I thought it would be more strict” while Daniel hoped “just that we’d be able to get rid of social distancing when in the school and would be able to sit with my friends.” Unfortunately, as much as we can hope it’ll be a long while until we can truly return to normal interaction with our friends.

Finally, we asked about the students thought on their upcoming exams, although official exams have been cancelled by the SQA and the Government schools are still required to hold assessments to test students’ skills so as to make a prediction on their final grade, which for these 6^th year students will be their final grade before they leave for the next chapter in their life.

“I’m quite nervous about them and I think everyone is, I think as well there’s been a lot of change about them, and there’s a lot of question surrounding them.” Said Ella.

Although exams have already begun for some it is still very difficult for many, for these sixth-year students it’ll only be their second time performing exams following their cancellation the previous year. Robyn explained,

“I think it’s more stressful now than it would’ve been in the first place.”

Overall, returning to school has been a difficult process with many students voicing their own opinions and worries as they try to return to normal while dealing with their exams which’ll decided their future and I can do is wish them luck and hope they can make it through.

Month: May 2021

Enlightening Performance, Must see film “American Utopia”

Back to School Thoughts- by Evan Burke