Night Journey Analysis
Martha Graham’s production of Night Journey is a unique and symbolic contemporary dance work. Graham bases many of her dance pieces on Greek myths and this is seen in her work Night Journey. Graham has manipulated elements of contemporary dance to communicate the emotion of the main character, Jocasta. Graham’s previous work focuses on depicting both the power and struggle of female idols in history. Graham has choreographed Night Journey to explore the perspective of Queen Jocasta, the main protagonist in the piece rather than the story of Oedipus. (Mueller, 2007) Graham has skilfully choreographed significant symbols and motifs to convey Jocasta’s emotions of grief, pain confusion and love through the manipulation of motifs and non-movement components.
Graham invites her audience throughout Night Journey to connect with the many emotions of the main character, Queen Jocasta through the effective use of motifs. One of the first motifs recognised in Graham’s choreography is when Jocasta sharply throws one her of legs outward in a series of developè like movements to the side twisting her upper body in one direction then another. This motif sequence is a symbolic representation of the confusion and pain she is feeling about the decisions she has to make. Throughout Graham’s piece, another motif is recognised where Jocasta tosses her head and arms backwards so that her head is parallel to the sky in a high release. Graham’s intention for the use of the high release in her choreography explicitly captures Jocasta’s desperation as she seeks guidance from the God’s. When the high release movement is performed after the first motif mentioned, it clearly indicates Jocasta’s vulnerability when making a decision as she desires the assistance from higher power. Jocasta executes many sharp and precise movements especially a motif of a contraction from her core afterward her arms quickly wrap around her waist. This movement is representative of Jocasta’s anxiety and stress
Graham invites her audience throughout Night Journey to connect with the many emotions of the main character, Queen Jocasta through the effective use of motifs. One of the first motifs recognised in Graham’s choreography is when Jocasta sharply throws one her of legs outward in a series of developè like movements to the side twisting her upper body in one direction then another. This motif sequence is a symbolic representation of the confusion and pain she is feeling about the decisions she has to make. Throughout Graham’s piece, another motif is recognised where Jocasta tosses her head and arms backwards so that her head is parallel to the sky in a high release. Graham’s intention for the use of the high release in her choreography explicitly captures Jocasta’s desperation as she seeks guidance from the God’s. When the high release movement is performed after the first motif mentioned, it clearly indicates Jocasta’s vulnerability when making a decision as she desires the assistance from higher power. Jocasta executes many sharp and precise movements especially a motif of a contraction from her core afterward her arms quickly wrap around her waist. This movement is representative of Jocasta’s anxiety and stress
References: Lucia Impelluso (2004). Nature and its symbols. Getty Publications. p. 43 Mueller, J. (2007). The Myth . Retrieved from Night Journey: http://politicalscience.osu.edu/faculty/jmueller/NIGHTJ.pdf