“From this angle more than any other, I could imagine her flying.” — Bill T. Jones, choreographer and director
How does the sculpted body communicate?
This tour aims to inspire visitors to take a closer look at sculptures at the Met and think about — and feel — what they convey through gesture, facial expression, and pose.
Hear from Met experts, leading authorities, and rising stars, each with a unique viewpoint. This tour presents a new approach to interpreting the Met's collection and features over 60 video and audio interviews, musical responses, and dance performances.
View the complete tour online, and The Met Audio Guide.
“It's almost hard to believe that this figure will die; his physique is so strong, so muscular.” — Thayer Tolles, curator
MULTIPLE ANGLES OF INTERPRETATION
For each object, the tour unfolds through three main angles of interpretation: engage, explore, and learn.
ATTRACT: A brief audio introduction precedes the main segments to “hook” the listener and distinguish this tour from other Audio Guide content.
Auguste Rodin. The Burghers of Calais. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
ENGAGE
This segment is designed to help visitors make an immediate connection with the object and the body language it expresses by show how artists respond to the object.
“If you actually get into that shape, you feel the anxiety build in your body.”
—Sam Pinkleton, theater director
EXPLORE
This segment offers thought-provoking and surprising perspectives on the objects or the overall theme of body language. These comments or questions come from curators and outside experts (scientists, writers, artists, performers).
LEARN
This segment focuses on scholarship, such as what the artist intended to say with the gestures in the sculpture, rather than personal or subjective perspectives.
PROJECT
Produced for The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2014.
FORMAT AND PRESENTATION
Audio guide multimedia tour, website feature, YouTube and SoundCloud playlists.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Creative director: Paco Link
Producer: Staci Hou
Writer/editor: Nina Diamond
Production associate: Grace Tung
Social media and web: Taylor Newbie, Anne Dolmatch
Curators: Luke Syson, Griff Mann, Thayer Tolles
Education: Jackie Terrassa
Design: Emile Molin, Mort Lebigre
Content development and media production: Jason Reinier, Catherine Girardeau (Earprint Productions)
Cinematographer: Ben Wolf