State of the Arts has been taking you on location with the most creative people in New Jersey and beyond since 1981. The New York and Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award-winning series features documentary shorts about an extraordinary range of artists and visits New Jersey’s best performance spaces. State of the Arts is on the frontlines of the creative and cultural worlds of New Jersey.
State of the Arts is a cornerstone program of NJ PBS, with episodes co-produced by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Stockton University, in cooperation with PCK Media. The series also airs on WNET and ALL ARTS.
On this week's episode... New Jersey Heritage Fellowships are an honor given to artists who are keeping their cultural traditions alive and thriving. On this special episode of State of the Arts, we meet three winners, each using music and dance from around the world to bring their heritage to New Jersey: Deborah Mitchell, founder of the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble; Pepe Santana, an Andean musician and instrument maker; and Rachna Sarang, a master and choreographer of Kathak, a classical Indian dance form.
Disney’s 1997 animated film is a lighter, more comedic entry from the Disney Renaissance era that reimagines Greek mythology through a modern, pop-culture lens. Core Review Summary
: The soundtrack is unique for its gospel-inspired score, narrated by the Muses. While tracks like "Go the Distance" are fan favorites, some critics felt the gospel style didn't always mesh perfectly with the ancient Greek setting.
: The animation features a distinct "boxy" and angular art style inspired by Greek pottery, though critics at the time gave it mixed reviews compared to the more lush visuals of films like Aladdin or The Lion King .
: Unlike the heavier themes of The Hunchback of Notre Dame , Hercules is bright, cheerful, and filled with "Zero to Hero" montages and pop-culture gags.
: James Woods’ performance as the fast-talking, sleazy villain Hades is widely considered the film's highlight, often compared to Robin Williams' Genie for its energy and humor. The female lead, Megara , is also praised for being a more complex and cynical "Disney heroine" than her predecessors.
Disney’s 1997 animated film is a lighter, more comedic entry from the Disney Renaissance era that reimagines Greek mythology through a modern, pop-culture lens. Core Review Summary
: The soundtrack is unique for its gospel-inspired score, narrated by the Muses. While tracks like "Go the Distance" are fan favorites, some critics felt the gospel style didn't always mesh perfectly with the ancient Greek setting.
: The animation features a distinct "boxy" and angular art style inspired by Greek pottery, though critics at the time gave it mixed reviews compared to the more lush visuals of films like Aladdin or The Lion King .
: Unlike the heavier themes of The Hunchback of Notre Dame , Hercules is bright, cheerful, and filled with "Zero to Hero" montages and pop-culture gags.
: James Woods’ performance as the fast-talking, sleazy villain Hades is widely considered the film's highlight, often compared to Robin Williams' Genie for its energy and humor. The female lead, Megara , is also praised for being a more complex and cynical "Disney heroine" than her predecessors.
