Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University World Languages and Cultures Theses Department of World Languages and Cultures 5-3-2017 Elliptical bodies. Avant-garde, and the physical shape of flamenco rhythms Julie Baggenstoss Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/mcl_theses Recommended Citation Baggenstoss, Julie, "Elliptical bodies. Avant-garde, and the physical shape of flamenco rhythms." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2017. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/mcl_theses/24 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of World Languages and Cultures at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in World Languages and Cultures Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. ELLIPTICAL BODIES. AVANT-GARDE, AND THE PHYSICAL SHAPE OF FLAMENCO RHYTHMS by Julie Galle Baggenstoss Under the Direction of Elena del Río Parra, Ph.D. ABSTRACT Cuban writer and arts critic Severo Sarduy theorized that essential baroque qualities are defined by the ellipse with one focus invisible so that the visible focus is exaggerated. An analysis of rhythmic and visual aesthetics of two Flamenco artists, Vicente Escudero and his contemporary Israel Galván, brings to light how these artists refine the double foci in works that often reach into other disciplines and avant-garde movements of expressionism, cubism, and aleatoric music. The results are baroque expressions that are in contrast to artistic norms that preceded these artists and depended on balance, order, and predictability associated with classicism. In the case of Escudero, a number of his practices, including the posture of a male dancer, use of contra-tiempo, and isolating bursts of footwork, have become standards of virtuosity among dancers today and shape the contemporary baroque identity of Flamenco.