From sailors who were turned into pigs, nymphs that sprouted into trees, and a gaze that converted the beholder to stone, Greek mythology brims with shape-shifters. The powerful Gods usually changed their own forms at will – but for mortals, the mutations were often unwanted. Iseult Gillespie shares how one such unnerving transformation befell the spinner Arachne.
Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, animation by Mette Ilene Holmriis.
AntΓ΄nio Pereira de Souza, known as Mestre Toinho, is the oldest living Maracatu NaΓ§Γ£o Mestre. He is currently the oldest active maracatuzeiro, possesses the greatest living repertoire of toadas (songs) of Maracatu NaΓ§Γ£o, besides being one of the only ones to perform the same style of baque (type of Maracatu beat) used by Mestre Luiz de FranΓ§a, heir to the knowledge and batuques of LeΓ£o Coroado, with whom he had a long experience. He has participated in Maracatu since he was young, counting more than 50 years of performance in the Maracatus. He met Dona Santa, the renowned queen of Maracatu Elefante, who died in 1962.
He was part of the former Maracatu NaΓ§Γ£o Cambinda Estrela, also worked in Maracatu Indiano, Maracatu Estrela Brilhante, Centro Grande LeΓ£o Coroado, Elefante, Maracatu Encanto da Alegria, and currently, is part of the Maracatu NaΓ§Γ£o Baque Forte. Mestre Toinhoβs approach has a particular style, drawing on the course of his experience of batuque. The drummers who have, or have had, the chance to learn with Mestre Toinho, unanimously affirm that to play with him is to be in touch with what is most traditional in the culture of Baque Virado.
Mestre Jamesson Florentino:
Mestre Jamesson Florentino is teacher, craftsman and articulator of Maracatu NaΓ§Γ£o Baque Forte. A Maracatuzeiro from his youth, he acted as batuqueiro of Maracatu NaΓ§Γ£o de Luanda, Mestre Roberto, Maracatu CabeΓ§a de NΓͺgo, Mestre Maureliano Barravento, and Maracatu NaΓ§Γ£o Cambinda Estrela. He was Mestre of Maracatu LeΓ£o da Campina and performs activities as a craftsman in the making of drums and other Maracatu instruments and in the production of skins and accessories.
One of the founders of the Maracatu NaΓ§Γ£o Baque Forte, he develops works related to education, culture and professional formation within the young NaΓ§Γ£o group, founded in 2011, with the intention of maintaining what is more traditional through the knowledge acquired with the Maracatus of the past and in coexistence with the Mestre Toinho. The union of Mestre Toinhoβs vast experiences and knowledge with the active work of enriching the everyday community, imbued with the underlying meanings the practice of Maracatu as an activity of resistance by Mestre Jamesson, results in a rich meeting of both modern and timeless ways of making the Maracatu de Baque Virado.
Film by: John Grey
Translation: Juliana Pinheiro Landim & Holly Prest
Let’s dive into the fascinating story behind “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” one of the most famous japanese artworks in the world. This video reveals the surprising truth about Hokusai’s masterpiece and how it was created. We explore the deep symbolism within the image, from the powerful wave to the distant Mount Fuji, and uncover how this single woodblock print profoundly influenced Western artists like Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. Discover the incredible journey of a piece of Japanese popular art that ended up changing the course of art history across continents.
0:00 Intro
0:36 The Art of Woodblock Printing
2:14 36 Views of Mount Fuji
3:28 The Great Wave off Kanagawa
5:03 Katsushika Hokusai and His Work
6:16 The Edo Period and Foreign Influences
8:24 How the Great Wave Influenced Modern Art
11:28 Conclusion
CORRECTION:
10:22 should be “Beardsley” instead of “Breadsley” π
11:08 should be “revelation” instead of “relevation” (Thanks to @c.augustin for mentioning)