Alyssa Wejebe
All around the room, the message repeats: “Got Reality?” There is the occasional “Got Truth?” It captions various images, like a mind-tripping meld of a young boy with stubble and a bleeding forehead.
The Philosophy Department sponsored the second Philosopher’s Cabaret last night in the Great Hall with the overarching theme of reality and truth prevalent throughout the show.
Pierce College students got up on stage and did dances, songs, poetry readings, showed skits and videos.
Skits and videos mainly centered on debate or discussion of perspective on various topics. They included such stories as:
· “Reality is Blinding,” where blind characters misunderstand the real appearance of a man’s pet elephant, as they cannot feel all of it and understand the whole reality. (This one’s an oldie—it’s a popular Indian parable also reinterpreted by American poet John Godfrey Saxe.)
· A video from the Gay-Straight Alliance on campus meant to dispel stereotypes spread by the media and other outlets.
· “Mona Lisa,” where a critique of the famous painting leads to a debate over the standards of beauty, today and in the past.
· “What is Love,” where a class of young children ask their teacher, who then asks them what they think.
Pierce students sang and wrote original songs, such as “The Words” and “Alice” (inspired by Lewis Caroll’s Wonderland story and its own issues with reality and escape).
Other songs were reinterpretations of other artists’ work, such as “Overjoyed” by Stevie Wonder and “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones.
Some performances were requested encores from last year, such as the poem “Teatime with Sex” and the skit “British Intelligent Letter.”
For Kristine Jingozian, this was her second Cabaret performance.
She said her skit was about people’s perception of art.
Jingozian also described it as a metaphor between the world and the individual, how meaning is imposed by both upon each other.
“This time was a lot smoother,” said Jingozian. “I’m really proud of everyone.”
In between the set-up of each new act, Tom Joanides, Philosophy major, continually entertained the crowd with jokes.
Joanides hosted last semester’s Cabaret.
“I thought all the performers did a really great job,” he said.
His gags ranged from current events, video games, and to philosophical concepts of course.
Dr. Melanie McQuitty, Cabaret organizer and adjunct professor of Philosophy, said the event was “fantastic.”
She said that the one-unit, philosophy skills-based class Philosophy 185 (Directed Study) selected the theme of truth and reality.
Philosophy Club Co-President Ishpreet Sidhu said the club agreed on that theme.
“I thought it was really geared toward a philosophical cabaret,” said Sidhu.
He defined a cabaret as traditionally a performance art based in more of an artistic style.
But Sidhu said that today, the terms “cabaret” and “open mic” can be more synonymous.
“Their job was to explore that concept through some performance,” said McQuitty.
Sidhu thought last night’s Cabaret was a success.
“A range of performances from poetry to music, and the fact we had art in the back—it was cool,” said Sidhu.
Co-president of the Philosophy Club, George Diez, read his own poem at the Cabaret, “And You Ask Why I am Here.”
“Everyone seemed legitimately entertained, and we packed the room,” said Diez. “Definitely a success like last semester.”
This was Diez’s last Cabaret at Pierce College, as he will be transferring this fall.
“I’m definitely gonna miss it.”
Diez said he would like to try to set up a show similar to that at UC San Diego.
According to Sidhu, Roark Adeline would be the next president of the Philosophy Club.
Adeline performed last night, painting his face in lipstick, admiring it in a mirror before finally tossing it away as he recited a mix of skit and poetry that turned increasingly dark.
“I didn’t prepare anything,” said Sidhu. “Otherwise, I would’ve performed.”
All students were invited to watch the show and enjoy refreshments for free.
Near the exit, there was a mini-exhibit inspired by the acclaimed “Matrix” films, with a likeness of the Morpheus character on it, and Red and Blue Pills to pick out—in reality, red and blue candies to take and enjoy.
McQuitty said the Philosopher’s Cabaret is expected to play next semester.
More information can be found at http://www.piercecollege.edu/departments/philosophy/.