Exploratorium and Fleet Street Spring Show

I went to the Exploratorium in San Francisco this last weekend, and explored the various ways that they combine portray science in an artistic way. There were several exhibits that were very appealing in their design and presentation.
One was a grand piano suspended from the ceiling by a few cables. Below it lay a series of red concentric circles that formed a bulls eye. Each ring had a different line of text that increased in perceived anxiety level as I moved towards the center. On the outside was typed “I’m not afraid”, and in the inner circles I remember seeing, “I just shouldn’t take that kind of a risk.” As I moved in towards the piano, I couldn’t help thinking about how large it was and how it was squarely above my head. A rush of thoughts wrap around the viewer; a single strike of fate and that piano could fall squarely on my head—it just isn’t wise to stand here. The piano was specifically hung in a portion of the building that had high ceilings and large windows so that one could see it hanging from the second floor. In addition, the piano wasn’t parallel to the ground—it had a slight tilt to the left, so that as I approached it, I could see the keys slowly disappear out of sight. The tilt made each step towards the center of the bullseye seem less sudden and made the gradual shifts in mentality that were typed underneath my feet more real.

I also saw a set of mannequins on the second floor that were wearing clothes designed in all sorts of media and technology. One was wrapped in newspapers, the others used recycled materials, semiconductor technology, solar panel material, and one even was a series of photographs that gathered together to frame a television set holding the same picture on it. The point of the exhibit was to create a “second skin”, or “clothing in digital and analog formats”. I don’t believe that any people would walk around wearing the outfits that were created, but they were truly beautiful. Looking at them, it was hard to believe that they were made out of newspaper and recycled material; when I crossed my eyes, they looked like flowing, natural fabric. The materials flattered the mannequins in a completely unpredictable manner. One gorgeous dress was made completely out of Snickers Bars wrappers. It presented an interpretation of objects that we would normally consider trash or ugly as having the potential to be synthesized into beauty.

The same evening, I attended Fleet Street’s Spring Show. Fleet Street is a talented, all male a capella group at Stanford. Their performances are a delightful alternation between hilarious skits and equally amusing songs. They often compose and arrange many of their own works. Classic favorites include “The Masochism Tango” and “Everyone Pees in the Shower”.

One of my favorite Fleet Street songs from this show was “Metrosexual”. This song takes an old style of singing: call and repeat, and updates it. “Metrosexual” is about a young man who loves Clay Aiken and appreciates pair of tight jeans and a good manicure—playing on clear examples of what ‘metrosexual’ would mean. The song is incredible not only because of the quality of the melody but also the lyrics. In the beginning, the last three words of the main singer are repeated word for word. However, on the second verse, one line ends along the lines of “jeans that fit just right” and the chorus backs up with “tight-ass jeans”. The violation of expectation continues through the rest of the song: when the main singer makes a comment about shaving, the backup singers follow with “Razor Burn”!. The audience usually succumbs to laughter when the backup singers retort back with these clever lines.
However, the whole performance wasn’t all silliness—Fleet Street also sang “Ruby” and a Dave Brubeck piece without a change in quality of performance. Fleet Street’s main charm is that it is able to poke fun at others and at itself through its skits and songs, but it also has the talent to back it up. They set up various expectations and proceed to break them without restraint, whether through humor or through serious singing. Even when they are making a joke, they will set up what you think the joke is and then break into the true punchline. Fleet Street put on an excellent show yesterday, as usual