ec2
 

Robin
Hubbard

About Robin Hubbard

Robin D. Hubbard possesses an interest in a diverse range of literary topics, ranging from Elizabethan and Jacobean theater to 19th century Realism, with a special knowledge of European and American historical and philosophical works from the 20th century. An admirer of William Shakespeare, Robin D. Hubbard counts the comedy Much Ado About Nothing and the tragedy, Hamlet, as her favorite masterpieces by the Bard. Robin D. Hubbard also invests her intellectual energies in surveying the emergence of a distinct American identity in the 19th century, including Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Transcendentalism and the debonair witticisms of Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain. Among fictional works from the European literary scene of this era, Robin D. Hubbard reveres Russian Realist and Naturalist novels, with a special admiration for Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Robin D. Hubbard’s particular literary expertise lies in 20th century American and European works, with particular attention to dramatic and novelistic forms. An admirer of Virginia Woolf, Robin D. Hubbard particularly enjoys the works of the Bloomsbury Group. Furthermore, Robin D. Hubbard’s enthusiasm for the avant-garde extends to the theatrical texts of Samuel Beckett. Another playwright with British roots, Harold Pinter holds special value to Robin D. Hubbard for his themes reflecting the politics of the 20th century, as expressed in his comedy of menace aesthetic. Robin D. Hubbard’s investigation into 20th century politics also attracts her to George Orwell’s dystopian masterwork 1984. In addition, Robin D. Hubbard values the works of American authors in the modernist period. Robin D. Hubbard enjoys the writings of the members of Gertrude Stein’s Lost Generation, especially the minimalist prose of Ernest Hemingway and the Jazz Age classic The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.


Robin Hubbard's Publications

  • Ballet
    September, 2011
    A Conversation with Robin Hubbard about Ballet

    You love to attend the ballet. Can you tell us about ballet?

    First, all forms of artistic expression move me, and I enjoy performance art of various kinds, as well.

    Ballet combines the visual and the aural in a special way: I am entranced watching the movements of the dancers as I listen to beautiful classical music, often written by beloved composers. The effect is mesmerizing and dazzling. Furthermore, unlike some art that may be profoundly moving but might be challenging or even displeasing to look at, ballet is always beautiful.
    Some consider ballet a rather tired, if not outdated art form. What is your response to that charge?

    I heartily disagree. While classical ballet does indeed adhere to very precise form and structure and is derived from dance movements which have their origins in the Renaissance, ballet speaks to the full range of our emotions and the drama of human existence, and is therefore, timeless. And as ballet has been taught and developed throughout many cultures since its European beginnings, it has taken on new life and been energized and renewed. Current ballet performances reflect this dynamism even as the highly methodical and formal structure of the movements remains in place. Exemplary and visionary choreographers-like other great artists-shape their medium and push it forward to maintain ballet’s fresh appeal and modern emotional impact on audiences.
    Today many companies are considered practitioners of contemporary rather than strictly classical ballet. George Balanchine, one of the most famous choreographers of modern times, revolutionized the ballet world in the 20th century, creating what we now call neoclassical ballet and pioneering the contemporary art form. Working with the innovative composer Stravinsky, Balanchine redefined ballet as something that, through movement, expressed the emotions of music rather than simply illustrated stories.

    Can you advise a novice on how to approach ballet?

    The excitement of sitting down in a grand or simple theatre with other patrons, listening to the orchestra tune their instruments and looking through the program notes, is infectious. Most people respond on a visceral level to the sheer beauty of the music and the loveliness of dancers, who appear when the curtain goes up. Sometimes I feel that it is best to go to the ballet with no preconceived notions or instructions at all. Simply let yourself enjoy the spectacle: movement that is lyrical and choreography that is almost architectural in complexity and design; color and costume; and frequently, an epic story. While ballet definitely focuses on the grace and loveliness of the feminine form, there is no shortage of masculine strength and athleticism.

    While ballet may not become your favorite form of art, I have no doubt that it will appeal to nearly anyone who loves beauty.