(It's Only A) Pipe Dream
2023
ENSEMBLE
Horn Quartet |
DURATION
4 minutes |
(It’s Only A) Pipe Dream is philosophically inspired by side-scrolling platformer games. The hero is on an epic quest of some sort, with a clear goal in mind, but they first need to get to where they’re going.
Where are they going? Right.
For level after level, our hero can move in a single direction (sometimes with dire consequences, if they don’t move fast enough or turn around briefly) facing a seemingly endless barrage of enemies in their path. Only at the end of the level does the appearance of a sign post, a flag — or sometimes in Mario’s case, a bright green pipe — show that they have made some progress and let them to continue in a new direction.
How strange to be constantly moving in the direction of your goals, and yet make no progress. Indeed if you happen to be struck in the back by a Koopa Troopa or fall off a cliff, you are sent back to the beginning of the level. But why bother going right in the first place, when the only way out is up or down — the very direction you can’t seem to go in, until the game lets you? You have no choice but to continue.
The phrase “pipe dream” came about in the 19th century referring to opium-induced fantasies; but in this piece, I am reimagining the term as a synonym for the “American Dream.” Food security; stable housing; a quality education; job security; affordable health care. Attainable? Certainly. Within everyone’s grasp and easily accessible? Absolutely not. Especially for women, people of color, immigrants, disabled people, gender and sexual minorites, and all the intersections therein.
The only move you have is forward. But the only way out is out of reach.
Where are they going? Right.
For level after level, our hero can move in a single direction (sometimes with dire consequences, if they don’t move fast enough or turn around briefly) facing a seemingly endless barrage of enemies in their path. Only at the end of the level does the appearance of a sign post, a flag — or sometimes in Mario’s case, a bright green pipe — show that they have made some progress and let them to continue in a new direction.
How strange to be constantly moving in the direction of your goals, and yet make no progress. Indeed if you happen to be struck in the back by a Koopa Troopa or fall off a cliff, you are sent back to the beginning of the level. But why bother going right in the first place, when the only way out is up or down — the very direction you can’t seem to go in, until the game lets you? You have no choice but to continue.
The phrase “pipe dream” came about in the 19th century referring to opium-induced fantasies; but in this piece, I am reimagining the term as a synonym for the “American Dream.” Food security; stable housing; a quality education; job security; affordable health care. Attainable? Certainly. Within everyone’s grasp and easily accessible? Absolutely not. Especially for women, people of color, immigrants, disabled people, gender and sexual minorites, and all the intersections therein.
The only move you have is forward. But the only way out is out of reach.
(It's Only A) Pipe Dream was awarded 2nd Place by Quadre in their 2023 Composition Competition. Quadre premiered the piece on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at the South Bay Horn Day in Palo Alto, California.