TeenCultural Networking

Almost two weeks ago I went with my teenage sons to a museum exhibition for them to appreciate the Anish Kapoor art at the MUAC, this is part of their cultural background, and also a homework for a class. The thing was that one of my kids was really interested in doing this job, the other one, not so much, but he came with us.

The one that has his homework, insisted 2 or 3 times to visit the museum so we decided and went a Sunday morning to the exposition. I feel really glad that both of them not just liked the experience, but also became involved in it, just by watching the first 2 artworks they both were throwing "OOOOOHHHH's" and reading about the names, asking to the volunteers for the meaning, and doing this exercise for each piece.

It was an interesting experience, museums now are quite different as they used to be, and there are a lot of features that explain you about the art and become an interactive experience. At the end of this exposition, we realize there were 2 more exhibits, and of course we all wanted to continue the visit.

And because we were already there, and that the first experience was quite good, we thought that the other exhibitions were also good. One of them was called "Los Carpinteros" (The Carpenters) and was about the art that could be produced by this craftsmen. The third exposition was a sound exhibit, and you were introduced into a closed room, with the lights off, so you could pay attention only to the sounds and have the feeling of them. The visit was quite interesting.

After that we went out and walked through this space that is an art place from the UNAM and at the room on the side of this museum, called Sala Nezahualcóyotl, there where a lot of people, elder people in their majority, but we approached and realized that it was going to be held a concert by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería (Symphonic Orchestra) in one of their season concerts, this event will start 4o minutes later.

In front of the fact that the 3 of us haven't being at a symphonic orchestra concert, we thought that it will be interesting to stay and also listen to this concert. There where more than 50 musicians up in stage, of course master performers. This opportunity to live a concert with 2 teenagers was also an interesting experience, in fact, because their point of view is quite different from mine. They perceive this experience with their own approach to their past living and knowledge.

For example, I was quite impressed, that the first music, was identified by both of them as the soundtrack from Indiana Jones, but not the familiar one, else wise was the one used in the scenes about the spiders inside a cave. I didn't identify anything, even though I presented to them some years ago this movie trilogy.

We commented about how the musicians sharpened their instruments, how the orchestra director coordinates all the performance, how each musical instrument has their special place at this performance. We also commented about the "movements" and that in between them we shouldn't clap. 

My own reflection has to do with:

1.- Appreciate cultural expressions, is better when you can share them with more people and talk about different perspectives.

2.- Is more interesting if you prepare a little bit in advance for the experience. My kid that has the homework was better known about the artist against me that I didn't had the complete context.

3.- If you haven't prepared previously, you may do it latter, and get to know better about the performer. In my case I wanted to learn more when the concerts are held, so I can previously arrange my weekends to listen with a better organization.

And you... Can you tell us about your own experience?