Ithaca College

Timothy A. Johnson, Associate Professor of Music Theory and Chair of Graduate Studies in Music, gave a presentation last week at the Third International Conference on Music & Minimalism in Leuven, Belgium.

His presentation, "The Flesh and the Lash: Uncovering the Ballet Scene in John Adams's Nixon in China," explores act 2, scene 2, of this opera that depicts the 1972 visit of Richard Nixon to China. His presentation discussed the way this scene of the opera projects issues of the treatment and mistreatment of women, sexual roles and stereotypes, and human rights in general. This was Professor Johnson's third consecutive presentation at this international conference, following his appearances in Bangor, Wales (2007), and Kansas City, Missouri (2009).

His previous work in this scholarly area again was cited frequently by other presenters during this conference, where his work is widely recognized as foundational.