On Wednesday I went with a few other students from Professor McCoy’s English Honors Seminar to watch a production of  ”Love is My Sin” at the Duke Theater on 42nd Street. It was an interesting, if not riveting, performance based on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s sonnets. I especially enjoyed the sequence on the theme of “jealousy” during which the two lovers verbally assault each other with their heated recitations of the sonnets. It was extremely engaging to watch and I thought that overall it was a really creative way of interpreting Shakespeare’s poetry to appeal to a contemporary audience.

I thought that I would share this experience with everyone because it speaks to a lot of the perks you can get as a QC student if you know the right classes to choose… Of course, not all of you may be interested in watching plays or performances, but I do think that it is a great cultural experience and definitely a way for students to bond outside of the classroom. Also, there are times when you can get to see some really amazing stuff. For instance, last semester when I was in Professor McCoy’s Shakespeare I class, we watched a production of Hamlet at the Duke, which was phenomenal and definitely contributed to our discussions of the play in class.

So, if any of you are interested in watching these performances, taking a Shakespeare course at QC almost guarantees that you will be able to see a play at a pretty low cost. I know that for both the Hamlet and “Love is My Sin” production, the tickets were only $10.00, which is an awesome deal considering how expensive most plays are. Also, I know that my friends from the Art Department always have cool trips to museums and art exhibits if you are interested in any of those things. Finally, though I might be emphasizing the benefits of being a Macaulay Honors Student a bit too much (personal bias), but the first seminar on “New York City and the Arts” was fantastic because we were able to attend a wide range of cultural events from plays and the opera to dance performances. I think that next year one of the sections of the seminar will be taught by Professor Hong from the English Department, who is totally awesome, so prospective MHC students should expect great things.

Overall, I think courses that take students outside of the classroom offer exciting means for them to connect the often abstract and complex “textbook” issues they learn to their own lived experiences… So as a QC student I think that you should really take advantage of the wonderful opportunities the college offers for cultural enrichment and I would be happy to answer any questions or offer advice about courses. Just post a comment or email me. ^^