Data-driven poster
Jesus Christ Superstar
Poster about the great rock opera.
Dedicated to my dad
Dedicated to my dad
Data-driven poster
Jesus Christ Superstar
Poster about the great rock opera.
Dedicated to my dad
Dedicated to my dad
One day in my childhood, my dad brought a VHS of the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar". I was completely smitten then and I remain smitten until now. Years later, I decided to express my admiration through a data-driven poster.
For those who are not familiar with the opera, it tells about the last week of the life of Jesus Christ, from entry into Jerusalem and to crucifixion.
For those who are not familiar with the opera, it tells about the last week of the life of Jesus Christ, from entry into Jerusalem and to crucifixion.
The Movie is still my favorite, but I considered that it would be more correct to use the original 1970 concept album for research.
Therefore, the poster does not contain two songs that were added after the release of the album in the Broadway show and screen adaptation: "Then We Are Decided" performed by Anna and Caiaphas and "Could We Start Again, Please?" perfomed by Mary and Peter.
The compositions "What’s The Buzz / Strange Thing Mystifying", "Simon Zealotes / Poor Jerusalem" and "Damned For All Time / Blood Money" I considered as separate tracks, because a poster unlike an album do not have limitations of number of tracks.
Therefore, the poster does not contain two songs that were added after the release of the album in the Broadway show and screen adaptation: "Then We Are Decided" performed by Anna and Caiaphas and "Could We Start Again, Please?" perfomed by Mary and Peter.
The compositions "What’s The Buzz / Strange Thing Mystifying", "Simon Zealotes / Poor Jerusalem" and "Damned For All Time / Blood Money" I considered as separate tracks, because a poster unlike an album do not have limitations of number of tracks.
The Movie is still my favorite, but I considered that it would be more correct to use the original 1970 concept album for research.
Therefore, the poster does not contain two songs that were added after the release of the album in the Broadway show and screen adaptation: "Then We Are Decided" performed by Anna and Caiaphas and "Could We Start Again, Please?" perfomed by Mary and Peter.
The compositions "What’s The Buzz / Strange Thing Mystifying", "Simon Zealotes / Poor Jerusalem" and "Damned For All Time / Blood Money" I considered as separate tracks, because a poster unlike an album do not have limitations of number of tracks.
Therefore, the poster does not contain two songs that were added after the release of the album in the Broadway show and screen adaptation: "Then We Are Decided" performed by Anna and Caiaphas and "Could We Start Again, Please?" perfomed by Mary and Peter.
The compositions "What’s The Buzz / Strange Thing Mystifying", "Simon Zealotes / Poor Jerusalem" and "Damned For All Time / Blood Money" I considered as separate tracks, because a poster unlike an album do not have limitations of number of tracks.
Concept album cast. Photo: jesuschristsuperstarzone.com
Concept album cast. Photo: jesuschristsuperstarzone.com
While watching the film adaptation, I had doubts who is the main character of this rock opera. It seemed to me that it is Judas, his character seems more complicated and tragic. Or is it Jesus? I summed up each character’s time, including the time he sang with the choir. And the data gave me an answer.
Ian Gillan as Jesus
With the help of a stopwatch and my patience, I measured the duration of each part of the character in all compositions of the album. Separately singled out musical and rhythmic pauses and parts of the choir. Each character (as well as music, rhythms, choir) has been assigned its own color.
In the musical compositions of the rock opera, melodic fragments are repeated. Sometimes literally as quotes: for example, Judas before his death ("Judas's Death") sings a fragment of Mary Magdalene's aria "I Don't Know How To Love Him". Sometimes as some kind of musical references: for example, Jesus refers to Jerusalem ("Poor Jerusalem") and Pilate talks about his dream in which he meets Jesus ("Pilate's Dream") on the same motive, and Apostle Peter denies Christ in "Peter's Denial" on the same motive, as Judas sarcastic question about Mary in "Strange Thing Mystifying".
I assigned each fragment its own color (in some cases it corresponds to the characters' colors). Above you can see how the compositions are related to each other by the similarity of musical fragments. For example, the instrumental "Overture" actually repeats "Trial Before Pilate", and at the end quotes "Blood Money".
As a result, each composition contains information about characters and music fragments performed.
The overall structure, like the rock opera itself, is divided into 2 acts. The order of compositions is similar to the sign of infinity.
The album was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice at 22 and 26 respectively (at 22 y.o., Carl!).
"Jesus Christ Superstar", originally written as a rock opera, was released as a conceptual album, it was not possible to convince the producers that a production with such a sensitive theme would be a success.
The album rocked in different countries and was widely known among the young people even in the Soviet Union (unofficially, of course). Thanks to this success, a year later in 1971, the rock opera was staged on Broadway. And in 1973, the screen adaptation was filmed.
"Jesus Christ Superstar", originally written as a rock opera, was released as a conceptual album, it was not possible to convince the producers that a production with such a sensitive theme would be a success.
The album rocked in different countries and was widely known among the young people even in the Soviet Union (unofficially, of course). Thanks to this success, a year later in 1971, the rock opera was staged on Broadway. And in 1973, the screen adaptation was filmed.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on the release of the original cast album Jesus Christ Superstar in New York, October 1970. (Photo by Bernard Gotfryd)
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on the release of the original cast album Jesus Christ Superstar in New York, October 1970. (Photo by Bernard Gotfryd)
The album was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice at 22 and 26 respectively (at 22 y.o., Carl!).
"Jesus Christ Superstar", originally written as a rock opera, was released as a conceptual album, it was not possible to convince the producers that a production with such a sensitive theme would be a success.
The album rocked in different countries and was widely known among the young people even in the Soviet Union (unofficially, of course). Thanks to this success, a year later in 1971, the rock opera was staged on Broadway. And in 1973, the screen adaptation was filmed.
"Jesus Christ Superstar", originally written as a rock opera, was released as a conceptual album, it was not possible to convince the producers that a production with such a sensitive theme would be a success.
The album rocked in different countries and was widely known among the young people even in the Soviet Union (unofficially, of course). Thanks to this success, a year later in 1971, the rock opera was staged on Broadway. And in 1973, the screen adaptation was filmed.
I dedicate this poster to my beloved dad,
who passed away on December 18, 2021
who passed away on December 18, 2021
I dedicate this poster to my beloved dad,
who passed away on December 18, 2021
who passed away on December 18, 2021
