Reviewing the Arts

Reviewing the arts is an important process and requires critical thought. Campbell Titchener’s reviewing the arts article describes five elements in writing successfully and I would recommend using his method. A strong opening, closing, identification, summary and opinion are all important elements in writing a solid review. Although personal opinion is important, I also it’s important to not get carried away. That makes the whole piece sound biased. Even with my opinion adding the other side always makes things more credible.
To truly review the arts one must experience the arts. A reviewer cannot form a view by hearing one track, tasting one dish, seeing half a performance, or seeing one work of art. As a reviewer it is important to immerse myself in the subject I am writing about. I cannot only review things I’m familiar with or only things I enjoy. That would be too easy as well as too one sided. Like Laura Kipinis in “(Male) Desire and (Female) Disgust: Reading Hustler” it is important to review things even I despise.
In her review of the pornographic magazine Kipinis states “any automatic assumptions about Hustler-variety porn aide and abetting the entrenchment of male power might be put into question by actually reading the magazine.” This coming from a feminist who had wanted to review the magazine several times before, always unable to out of disgust. Sometimes unfounded assumptions get in the way of understanding an art form. Every form of art is worth being reviewed. I have to go at a review with an open mind and try to understand.
Professional reviews are important to maintain and set apart from user-generated reviews on sites like Yelp. Professionals review everything. The space, the audience, the work, the timing, everything. User generated reviews are solely based on opinion and personal experience ignoring more of the elements. This type of review is good if you just want feedback on where to grab a bite to eat, but if you really want quality a professional review will be much more beneficial.
To review the arts it’s important to be able to set up for a mixed amount of knowledge beforehand. When I reviewed Dave Chappelles Block Party for example, I knew nothing about Dave except his name. If not for background readings on what was going on at the time of his departure from his successful show I would of thought that Block Party was simply a concert movie. Instead it was about uniting people together from all walks of life and to celebrate hip-hops underground artists. If you know something before reviewing it the overall work will be benefited by being able to compare it to previous works.
I’ve really learned a lot about reviewing the arts. I realize now that most reviewers don’t have a choice on where they go or what they review which is something I struggled with at the beginning. I’ve also realized that it’s good to read other notable reviewers work to learn other ways of writing and take something from each of them.
I’ve learned to take user generated reviews with a grain of salt. Some of those can easily be from the source being reviewed itself. Open mindedness and critical thinking are two elements to making a case in a review. Links, photos, and videos to other sites also make a review successful so the reader can look further into things themselves and explore a topic in greater length. I have a greater understanding and appreciation of reviews and will continue to write them.

Harrison Haiku

The Harrison Red Line stop is the entryway to Columbia College Chicago in the South Loop neighborhood. Like the neighborhood itself, the station is gritty and cold. Columbia is known for being an innovative art and media school and this station falls short of what the school is capable of. If the point is to provide public art for thousands of people it should be bold, graphic and able to grab the attention of riders. Instead small type in tiny ITC Franklin Gothic font blends into the light of the dimly lit archway. Columbia adopted the Harrison stop along with Jones College Prep to provide public art for the thousands of commuters that pass through the station everyday. Haikus, 17 syllable poems, show a glimpse of the work by Columbia poets.
The poetry itself feels like the beginning of an untold story. Like a fragment, the haikus offer only a glimpse or a thought of an idea. Unfinished with the promise of possibilities. None of them make sense without a larger context. Although the haikus are short, they don’t stand out enough to be read by passers by. I personally use the station twice a week and no matter how long I have had to wait for a train, reading these excerpts would be the last thing I would do.
The colors are what stand out the most at the Harrison station. Hues of green and orange from Columbia’s color palette speckle throughout from the mezzanine to the subway below. Bold leaves (of change?) stamp the walls prominently, but fail to impact riders and students alike. They leave the viewer, confused and annoyed at the meaningless stamps.
To be fair, the idea is there. Columbia needs to take responsibility and really represent the school in a way that creates positive attention and not an afterthought. Photographs, murals, and light exhibits are just a few ideas to make the station one we can all be proud of. How affective these haikus are is anyone’s guess. The intention is excellent, but the layout is easily missed. Most people would only see a blur of typeface while commuting, but few probably are able to stop and read what they actually say.

Field Work

In the midst of world-class entertainment, towering skyscrapers and a bustling metropolis Columbia College Chicago takes in the raw reality of the city and produces emerging new artists. CCC cannot be defined by any one building. Each building is a mecca in its own right. If someone wanted to get a glimpse of the school, the Hokin Gallery at 623 S. Wabash would be the place to go.
The Hokin Gallery is a meeting place of the minds. It is nestled inside a grey brick building packed with gallery spaces, workshops, offices, and classrooms. One step inside and you are bound to see a smattering of flyers of what shows are up and coming around town along with the cool-mostly hipster kids that attend.
The gallery space is open and well lit with track lighting showcasing student artwork. A café space in the corner keeps everyone caffeinated. The walls are usually full of talent-laden photographs, poetry, video clips, sculpture, etc. The last time I went the walls were bare setting up for the next show. There are tables and benches in the back where students can meet, study, eat, etc. A stage juts out of the front wall bringing in performances by comedians, singers, actors and more. The space itself is all about connecting and bringing artists together.
The Hokin Gallery is a true Columbia experience. Artists’ work abound as does the artist. Indie music hums through the speakers above while friends gather throughout. The walls are a canvas of what we create and empty walls ache for the possibilities. The central location makes the gallery a great place to see the diversity and talent that Columbia has to offer.

Company Of Thieves

Chaos week at Columbia College Chicago came just in time. With finals looming and students stretched thin, this end is near relief of school sponsored entertainment was better than expected. On Tuesday April 21st, Company of Thieves graced the Hokin Gallery at 623 S. Wabash.
With a newly released, stunning debut album entitled Ordinary Riches, this indie band had me at hello. Or maybe the song I came in the middle of. I arrived between classes (it was a lunch time show) to a room filled with smiling students and beautiful photography. People were sitting on the floor, railings, and benches as the band played an intimate show.
What caught my attention right away was the buttery voice of Genevieve Schatz, the singer of this Chicago based three-piece ensemble. She is a tiny figure with a booming voice that filled the space. She was amazing to watch as she sat in her barstool clapping her hands and waving her arms throughout the set as if any moment she would take off. She was animated and powerful. Accompanying her on guitar was Marc Walloch and Mike Ortiz on drum (a custom box drum with various drum noises hit with hands). There is a great camaraderie with the band and it was clear they worked as a cohesive unit to make a great record.
The acoustic set was fitting for the open gallery space. It is shared by the Plum Café and is a place I’ve been to many time before. Having the show here made it so accessible to students on their way to and from classes or people just walking by. It was inviting even though I don’t remember seeing any advertisements for this particular CCC event. The advertisements I did see were for the comedy events and the Crystal Castles show, which I also attended.
The show itself was fantastic. Company of Thieves let us into their lives as they shared anecdotes and song inspirations throughout. It felt as if we were apart of their day as they were apart ours. My favorite songs were still works in progress not on the album (which I bought at the end of the show), but “Pressure,” “Fire Song,” and “Oscar Wilde” were definite standouts judging by the audiences reaction and my own preferences as well. They were very humble and it truly was as if we were watching a group of our peers. At the end of the show there was a meet and greet where they were all thankful for the support and more than willing to sign posters and CDs.
I think Chaos week in its entirety gave a great insight to what Columbia College is all about. It was diverse, thought provoking, stripped down, student created/attended, raw and accessible which is something I think holds true to the values Columbia has. Company of Thieves whose ‘abstract emotion’ was all of these things and more really set the tone for the week and reminded me of why I love this school so much. Company of Thieves is playing at the Bottom Lounge May 22nd and I will definitely be there.

Topless

With an ‘anything goes’ policy at Columbia College Chicago, I was half expecting to see torsos and skin in some type of artsy medium at the current exhibit entitled Topless USA. This “critical encounter” event is currently being shown on the 2nd floor of the library at 624 S. Michigan Ave. The afterthought of a space should have been a dead giveaway that this had nothing to do with sexuality, but instead on Mountaintop removal.
Jeff Chapman Crane is the artist whose work is represented with one clay sculpture and a handful of paintings with a message of the destruction of mother earth. “The Agony of Gaia (Mother Earth),” the centerpiece of the show, cleverly depicts mother earth lying on her side forming a mountain. “I believe the earth is a living thing…I wanted to do a piece that conveyed the torment she must feel when she is abused this way,” reads a statement by the artist.
She is in a fetal position with natural elements of twigs, moss and sand covering her body. Her hands are covering her face and bulldozers and tractors are ravaging her legs and midsection. Streams of tears fall down her face as earth-moving machines ravage her midsection exposing her ribs smattered with blood. The sky is beautiful and blue at her head and storm ridden and gray the further down the body/mountain you go.
Proponents of mountaintop removal claim jobs and roadways, and land to build is why this is so necessary in the rural landscapes of Kentucky in particular, as well as other Appalachia residents. Without this their economy would be nonexistent and coal mining and steel would suffer.
Besides the Gaia piece there are several paintings of native people of the Appalachia. Some of the residents want to preserve the mountains and have future generations cherish what they have come to love while other residents only care about wealth and getting ahead regardless of destruction of natural resources. In one piece a man is shown confident and smug, wealthy and an obvious benefactor of the mountaintop clearing. Another shows a young girl taken in by the beautiful mountains around her. The show is clear to show both sides, but with a focus of anti-top removal.
It is clear that this Kentucky native is passionate about mountaintop removal and its affects on the land. Leaflets inform the viewer how terrible this practice really is. Mines blast the mountaintop off creating landslides, rubble and debris to pollute waterways and neighboring valleys of the site. Without the “Agony of the Gaia” piece this show would be worth missing and instead read up on. It highlights the issues of how the removal destroys the landscape we need to protect, and with Earth Day looming now is the perfect time to visit this insightful exhibit.

IPhone Revisited

“At the entrance stand the public waits in a long queue in order to witness the accomplishment of the magical operation par excellence:”(Barthes, Roland) the unveiling of the new IPhone. People will wait for days on end outside in any weather for the chance to own the latest phone resurrection. The earth stands still when its time for the period before the craze and we wait and wait like a heard of sheep often foregoing work and other responsibilities like childcare and school.

It is crack cocaine in the palm of your hand. It is outrageously addictive and readily available. For a small fortune, a dream gadget with endless life changing capabilities could be yours. You will join the masses of the IPhone cult.

The makers of the Apple IPhone are geniuses. They have consumers convinced that if your phone is merely a few months old it is time to get a new one. As soon as you have mastered all the applications on one, a newer version comes out that’s faster and smarter than the one before. What was wrong with the original? Nothing.

The phone itself is sexy and sleek. It’s shiny screen and playful colors beckon to be touched as they light up the room. It’s void of typical phone ‘keys’ and instead has a virtual touch screen. What you see and what you’re touching doesn’t exist. It’s what you perceive. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Flick the screen until you find what you’re looking for. If only we could flick away everything we weren’t happy with. When done with one, flick on to the next great thing. Keep on flicking to find games, music, pictures, everything. It’s not necessary to even leave your apartment if you have an IPhone. Everything will now come to you in the comfort of your home.

These “crackberries” on steroids are so important in our everyday lives that not having your phone with you is out of the question. It is reason enough, after traveling several dozen miles to turn around if you left it sitting on your counter. With gps applications readily available to download it’s amazing that we went so long without the IPhone telling us where to turn and where the nearest Starbucks is.

Face to face interaction is no longer necessary, and in fact is becoming the norm. Human interaction will become obsolete. Your shiny hand held personal assistant can do everything for you. The pocket genius can figure out your restaurant tip, find your friends gps location, entertain you, take photographs, transfer and wire money, play music, level furniture, simulate reality, gauge speed, countdown days, and inform you of the song and artist currently playing on the latest phone commercial.

It is a status symbol conforming you and the rest of the world. You can pay as you go or invest an arm and a leg to afford one. Even the President of the United States refuses to give up his life link to the outside world, something no other president has held on to. It is that vital to our existence can’t let go. And it’s good that we can’t let go. The government can track our precise location, playback incriminating threats, and add on charges to already exuberant phone bills that only a PHD can decipher.

Instead of talking on the phone or writing letters like generations of yore, now we can text. Not only can we text fragments and laughter LOL we can see pictures of whom we’re texting. We create symphonic orchestras to inform us of incoming calls and messages. We can create a ring tone that plays loud enough for everyone on the train to hear and we can yell back into the device just as loud. As if the person on the other end were missing a hearing aid battery, we can all attest to the conversation at hand.

Yes, the IPhones are the reigning cool and are here to stay. They are the necessary accessory for every hand and every wardrobe. If you want to fit in and be a productive member of society an IPhone will be your best friend.

sent from my IPhone

Hummer H1

The Hummer H1 is a symbol of pride and success. It is patriotic and has served troops since the early ‘80s. They have acted as “troop carriers, ambulances, weapons platforms, missile carriers, surface-to-air missile platforms and much more.” It is a vehicle that’s always there and can be depended upon in the worst terrain. Available to the general public in 1992, Hummer has had great success and offers a status symbol beyond anything else that is on the road.
Hummers get blacklisted on many fronts, usually from people who see the size and automatically assume the owner as compensating for something. In reality, the Hummer H1 isn’t as bad for the environment as leftist eco terrorists would like you to believe. In fact in a study by CNW Marketing found the hybrid of hybrids the Toyota Prius had a total combined energy costing $3.25 per mile averaging out at 100,000 miles. A Hummer on the other hand offers a considerable savings costing $1.95 on the road with an expected lifetime of 300,000 miles. The nickel battery that is required by hybrids has left so much destruction that there is no life for miles of the Canadian plant that manufactures them. It is time these environmentalists look within themselves before attacking an easy target. http://www.targetofopportunity.com/prius_hummer.htm
Hummer owners take pride in their vehicle and in their community. In 2003, the American Red Cross and the Hummer Club http://www.thehummerclubinc.com/About/Default.aspx?SN=8
united to create the Hope Club (Hummer Owners Prepared for Emergencies) which deploys Hummer Club members to drive “supplies and Red Cross personnel into disaster area where other vehicles might not reach.” They have been used in natural disasters, and in every imaginable terrain that other vehicles cannot traverse. Without the efforts of hummer enthusiasts there would be a countless number or lives not saved. http://www.thehummerclubinc.com/About/Default.aspx?SN=22
In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, Hummers have drawn an extraordinary amount of criticism. “Hummer was suddenly perceived as all that’s wrong with Americas dependence on foreign oil.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/business/31hummer.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Jim Lynch, the “world’s number one Hummer dealer” has saved countless tractor-trailers in snowstorms. I think he sums up the importance of having hummers around. He told the drivers he saved in one snow storm, “next time somebody tell you everybody should be driving a hybrid, you tell them about this (getting unstuck with the help of the hummer).”
With an astounding 1.5 ton cargo capacity the Hummer H1 is the ultimate family fun. It’s the perfect size for hauling a soccer team and for serious shopping in today’s urban jungle. At 7,154 pounds Hummer H1 is literally a tank. At a base price of $109,000 the H1 is an investment with a 15-year service life. The performance is unsurpassed, and Motor Trend put the H1 to the ultimate test. The capabilities included “scaling a 22-inch vertical wall, traversing a 40 degree side slope, climbing 60-degree grades, and fording 30 inches of water.” http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0201_2002_hummer_h1/index.html
This car can survive basically everything so you can sleep at night knowing your family will be safe .

The Ikki Twins

The Ikki Twins

“Identical bisexual twins Rikki and Vikki put their modeling career on hold to let twelve straight guys and twelve lesbians have their double shot at love.” Yes the ‘Ikki’ twins are twice the fun and double the trouble. One doesn’t have to see twenty-one contestants falter to realize what these two are all about. Tall, blonde, and flirtatious these two feed off each other’s antics to get what they want which is hopefully not the same person. http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/a_double_shot_at_love/series.jhtml
The show is down to the final the best of the best. Rebekah, Scottie and Trevor have won the hearts of Rikki and Vikki and “everybody is falling in love with multiple people.” Doesn’t everyone wish they had this problem? To find their true love there are afternoon group dates that include dunne-buggy racing and a trip out on a party yacht. After that individual night dates ensue and one on one (or two) time gets everything out in the open. This particular episode is shot in Vegas and of course, is filled with lots of alcohol and debauchery.
The final three contestants include Rebekah a single mom who works as a bartender. She is ready to settle down and start a family and declares if they (the twins) aren’t in it for that they should send her home. Her individual date is fantastic and the twins both have feelings for her. She spends the night in Vikki’s room. Scottie, second in line for the individual dates, is a raucous frat boy type who is loud and the center of attention. He claims he is in the game for the competition and not love. His individual date is horrible because he is hung over and tired from hitting the bars the night before. The last contestant is Trevor who is a surfer/skater boy who is also in the lead (along with Rebekah) to win one of the twins heart. The order of who went first was determined by who could “suck and then blow” as many cards as possible. It is this kind of dirty, but innocent innuendos that make the show so addicting. The problem is he can barely tell them apart and he has equal feelings for both.
The show is geared for college-aged adults who might proclaim this show to be a “guilty pleasure.” Like most reality shows it seems very staged, but that can easily be overlooked because it is such a fun show to watch. Drunken antics, girl on girl action, and falling in love with multiple people are usually reserved for dorm party nights, but this show appeals to anyone with a fun side no matter how ridiculous the premise is. Jealously amongst the twins is a big issue as is telling the twins apart. If you are a conservative or not into free love or against hyper sexuality this probably isn’t the show for you. Morals fly out the window with every new scene. This show is more for someone light hearted, with a good sense of humor and able to handle twenty –something antics.

Dave Chappelle's Block Party

Dave Chappelle says, “You hear so many voices jockeying for position in your mind that you want to make sure that you hear your own voice.” This is something I completely agree with. In his 2005 film Block Party he responds to his critics by doing something he wants to do for a change. After taking an unexpected hiatus from his insanely successful comedy show everyone thought Dave had gone insane. He turned down fifty million dollars because he didn’t believe in the show he created anymore. His ideas were no longer supported and the show got away from its original roots. Television executives and even his writing partner never saw his departure coming which shows how much Chappelle had been pushed past his breaking point.
On September 12, 2004 Dave Chappelle brought people together in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn New York. The neighborhood itself is a far cry from affluence and wealth with crumbling buildings and shattered windows. The neighborhood is also said to be the birthplace of hip-hop as well of the former stomping grounds of legendary hip-hop icon Biggie Smalls. The block party idea is a throwback to historical get togethers that brought neighbors together to celebrate. Dave’s historical block party celebrated music and embraced diversity.
Shot on a grainy 16 mm camera, director Michael Gondry truly captures the feel of the neighborhood and of the block party itself. The viewer feels apart of the performance as we see clips from artists with personal anecdotes and Dave’s' humor throughout. We witness Erykah Badu pulling off her wig, a performance of Kanye West belting out “Jesus Walks” backed up by John Legend, as well as an extraordinary performance by the newly reunited Fugees singing “Killing Me Softly.” No where else is such raw video and emotion able to show these artists all together performing for the sake of performing. The entire event is inspiring and it’s easy to feel like we’re right there with them. http://www.fancast.com/movies/Dave-Chappelles-Block-Party/56350/61815692/Dave-Chappelles-Block-Party/videos
One of the great aspects of the block party is watching those in attendance. People knew something big was going to happen, but no one knew where or the exact details until a bus whisked them away to the secret location of the infamous Brooklyn neighborhood. Tickets could not be purchased, only won or given away in a Willy Wonka style “golden ticket” fashion. Dave invited people from his small town Dayton Ohio neighborhood and beyond. Older white shopkeepers and retired folks were personally invited on his distant adventure. People who had never heard hip-hop were given the opportunity for a new adventure. In the film Dave laments “Rain rain on my parade…5,000 black people chilling in the rain-19 white people peppered into the crowd-everybody’s welcome-try to find a Mexican…” Although the crowd wasn’t hugely diverse, it was the ones who were apart of the crowd that we knew their story and made the film even more of a slap in the face to Dave’s critics.
The block party itself had performances from socio conscious artists who are about more than making a profit and are in the business because they desire to make a difference. Comprised of Dave’s personal favorites, artists included Kanye West, The Fugees (reunited), Jill Scott, the Roots, Mos Def, John Legend, Erykah Badu, Common, and Dead Prez. These are all artists who have challenged political and social issues pushing them away from mainstream radio play.
Michael Eric Dyson, a leading critic of race and popular culture says, “Instead of attacks on hip-hop culture, we need sharp, just, well-informed evaluations of its artistic statements and ethical imagination.” This is a great statement and one that Dave Chappelle showcases in Block Party. Every song has a message of empowerment and a fight against injustices. Dead Prez, a group I was unfamiliar with before had a great chorus of “Turn off the radio.” That statement hints at a deeper message of not making music for the mass media or the radio friendly scene. Instead of easy money which all of these artists could do because of their incredible talent, they take a different approach and sing about what’s important to them. It’s unethical that these artists don’t have a voice, yet artists that sing about drugs and sex and money are all over the place. The importance that hip-hop music has on our society needs to be explored and valued.
There is a vast amount of reviews for this film online, and one review in particular by Kevin Carr of 7(m) pictures states “Rather than being an edgy-yet-relevant slice of life piece, it is more reminiscent of the rockumentaries from the 1970s and 1980s which showed artists taking themselves much too seriously.” I completely disagree with this lament and it seems almost as if the reviewer has not even seen the film. The whole idea of the block party is about uniting people and artists performing what they want to perform. They sing on one another’s songs, interact and joke back and forth with Dave (Mos Def in particular) and their egos are non-existent. Block Party is about letting go of stigmatized generalizations and more about uniting as one to celebrate hip-hop.
A review I did agree with was written by film critic Mark Pfeiffer on Reel Times a movie going journal. He states “the activity before the event and offstage are as important as the performance itself…the fun for Chappelle is being able to bring people together to have a good time.” Dave himself proclaimed early on in the film that the making of Block Party has been the highlight of his career. The thing he is most proud of. That speaks volumes given the amount of talent and regard he has in the comedy industry. Throughout the film Dave jokes back and forth between takes lightening up the heavy mood of the performances.
Overall this is an excellent film that can’t be missed. If you’re a die-hard hip-hop fan or even a Chappelle fan this film is a testament to what hip-hop music is capable of achieving.

Living Out Loud

Living Out Loud
Under the lofty shadows of success and the picture perfect façade of the Manhattan skyline failed relationships and new beginnings bring unlikely characters together in the most unlikely places. 1998s Living Out Loud, directed by Richard LaGravenese, is about love. Unrequited, lost and new.
The film emphasizes character development as it follows the main character in and out of relationships. Judith Nelson, played by Holly Hunter is a nurse that knows how to help everyone but herself. She is the wife of a well-respected doctor, Robert Nelson (Martin Donovan,) who has left her for a younger woman. Bob completely denies everything and has blamed their demise on her desire to have kids and his lack thereof. He leaves her the penthouse apartment and she struggles to pick up the pieces of her life and relationships.
A love of jazz brings Judith away from her comforts to the rough meatpacking district of New York. It’s here that Liz (Queen Latifah) performs sultry songs and Judith receives an unexpected kiss from a chance stranger. The man was expecting his ex wife, but found a commonality with Judith. The film blurs the line of reality and fiction after this point and at times makes it difficult to know what really happened and what Judith is imagining. After this chance encounter Judith notices Pat (Danny Devito) who is her elevator man. Pat has a list of problems including the recent loss of his daughter and a gambling addiction that has him borrowing money from Judith in order to pay his debt.
Judith hopes to bring back the excitement of her stranger connection and heads back for the jazz club. After several martinis she realizes she has been stood up. In her drunken state she heckles a karaoke performer bringing her the chance to meet Liz. Their shared relationship qualms bring the two together in friendship and eventually Liz, Pat, and Judith all “live out loud” and try to move on from their past.
The story is hard to follow mostly because Judith is always imagining events in her mind. At one point she is at a lesbian bar and in total ecstasy from apparently letting go of everything. The crowd dances alongside her and she is the leader powerful and strong. This section of the film is a poor choice and does not go along with the rest of the film. It is random and confusing.
The relationship between Pat and Judith is another frustrating part of the movie. She has no interest in him more than a friend and he insinuates possibilities that aren’t possible for her. His pushing for more is tedious and he can never be a real friend without wanting more. His gambling habit defines him and we never find out why he owes money or how much.
Overall this film is a good effort, but the characters are difficult to define making them unbelievable. Everything is so fantasy like it makes it unrelatable for the audience. Holly Hunter is a great actress, but even her talent couldn’t save this film.

Daily Recap

Every morning (now even on weekends) I have something to look forward to on my long commute to work. As I stand sandwiched in a sardine tin (Red Line train) I realize I am not alone in this. Everything I need to know for the day is in black and white copy in a neatly pressed magazine paper. Yes, the Chicago RedEye http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/ is my saving grace and guilty pleasure.
Because of my personal informant, world news, local news, suduko, music listings, horoscopes, celebrity gossip, CTA complaints, restaurant reviews and freebies are mine all before 8am. I have a heads up on every current event without watching the news (although it’s usually in addition to BBC and E! News).
The RedEye does not discriminate. Unlike other elitist competitors, this freebie appeals to the masses of women and men in their twenties and thirties. It beckons from a shiny red box conveniently located outside of every train station. If you manage to miss one of the hundreds of boxes littered throughout the city you are sure to meet a paper wielder wanting to put the news in your hands when leaving and entering the station.
I couldn’t have produced a better paper if I had written it myself. It appeals to people in my income bracket (it’s free), it has daily food and beverage deals, it has games, love advice (gay and straight), fashion advice for men and women and is somewhat left leaning (ok maybe very leftist with all the Bush idioms) in political focus.
The producers of this paper know their market. The articles are short and sweet and get right to the point. No one has the time or the attention span to read pages and pages of nonsense. We want to get straight to the point with short blurbs that introduce the audience to the news of the world. It doesn’t go into thorough detail about world news, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a morning recap of what’s happening now.
The ads in the RedEye know me well too. Ads with beer specials and game nights abound making my weekly calendar a breeze to plan. If I want to know when Brody Jenner is coming to Enclave there it is in bold captions easy to find. If I need to know when tryouts are for Coyote Ugly the RedEye will tell me where to be.
In terms of the Chicago Red Eye, I think ‘Big Media’ knows me well enough. The paper offers a range of stories, advice and ideas and it’s up to me the audience to decide what to take and what to leave. By making the paper so accessible my peers are apt to be in the know just as much as I am. The news should be free and this is paper I can relate to.

Cell Phone

It is crack cocaine in the palm of your hand. It is outrageously addictive and readily available. If you do not own one you are no one. These handheld soul suckers are commonly referred to as cell phones.
Black, red, green and blue these handheld devices come in any shape, size and color imaginable. The allure is to have one better than your neighbor. Technology fools the consumer to buy the latest and greatest. If your phone is only a few months old it is time to get a new one: one that can restart your heart if you happen to pass out from over stimulation. It is water in a dry desert and food in a famine. It is your life. Leaving it at home is reason enough to turn back around no matter how far you’ve traveled.
“At the entrance stand the public waits in a long queue in order to witness the accomplishment of the magical operation par excellence:”(Barthes, Roland) the unveiling of the new Iphone. The god of all mobile phones. People will wait in line for the unveiling, often foregoing work and other responsibilities like childcare and school.
Face to face interaction is no longer necessary, and in fact is becoming the norm. Your shiny hand held personal assistant can do everything for you. The pocket genius can figure out your restaurant tip, find your friends gps location, entertain you, take photographs, transfer and wire money, play music, level furniture, simulate reality, gauge speed, countdown days, and inform you of the song and artist currently playing on the latest phone commercial.
It is a status symbol conforming you and the rest of the world. You can pay as you go or invest an arm and a leg to afford one. Even the President of the United States refuses to give up his life link to the outside world, something no other president has held on to. It is that vital to our existence that we can’t let go. And it’s good that we can’t let go. The government can track our precise location, playback incriminating threats, and add on charges to already exuberant phone bills that only a PHD can decipher.
Instead of talking on the phone or writing letters like our forefathers now we can text. Not only can we text fragments and laughter LOL we can see pictures of whom we’re texting. We create symphonic orchestras to inform us of incoming calls and messages. We can create a ring tone that plays loud enough for everyone on the train to hear and we can yell back into the device just as loud. As if the person on the other end were missing a hearing aid battery.
As we can see cell phones are the reigning cool. People young and old can be seen with the device permanently in their hand as if surgically attached. It is our very lifeblood.

Kerri
Sent from my Iphone

If Artists Ran The Media

Imagine watching a horror film and not being able to look away when an unsuspecting victim is about to fall prey to a ruthless killer. You would see images most would prefer not to imagine. In the collective showcase If Artists Ran The Media, it is clear that turning a blind eye on reality is not an option with this group. Sculpture, photography, sketches, paintings and illustrations portray how mass media news manipulates reality and what we get are prefabricated lies. The show should be a reminder to all that news is only what the government wants us to know and is not news at all.
The show suggests that news vehicles all have their own agenda. Million dollar companies and government run agencies are the ones putting the news out there so what we see is only what they want us to see. In one piece the artist loops a video and audio feed showing former President George W. Bush calling on troops to win the war on terrorism and fight for their country. Words and video are recorded over an image of marching soldiers getting killed while words of greed and lies spew from Bushs’ mouth. This piece is a great example of what the core of the show is all about: media manipulation.
Several artists focused on advertising outlets prevalent in mainstream culture. Artist Spencer Ockwells’ watercolors uncover how oblivious we are as a society. A pack of Camel cigarettes mark the Surgeon Generals warning “Contains Carbon Monoxide.” The pack is glossy and appealing and legal even though it contains poisonous chemicals. It actually reads “Camel Cancer-Big, Fat, and Delicious” mocking how incredulous it is that people buy these. His other piece shows mega brand Nike with a workforce of Nike clad robots and a hitleresque dictator reminiscent of a slave workforce. He is cracking the whip for faster production. These pieces are just examples of what lies behind brand recognition and status quo. It is the consumer’s responsibility to know what is really in a product and what goes into making it.
One last example of a work from the show is “Shit on a Wire” depicting that literal image. As a population we don’t think twice about media pollution and it goes across telephone wires and becomes part of our everyday lives. It is this piece and others that highlight how blind we are to atrocities of life.
The underlying message of this show is to not believe what is said or heard on news outlets. It is up to the consumer to uncover the truths behind products and where and how they are created. It is a must see for those tired of media and government corruption. What is being forced upon us consists of lies and biased opinions. We can no longer be numb and brainwashed by companies with dishonest agendas. The show If Artists Ran the Media is running though February 20th in the C33 Gallery at Columbia College Chicago.

Revolutionary Road

Two dreamers are forced to face the reality of their complacent lives. This movie is about the possibility of there being more to life. Unhappy in their picture pefect american dream, it is not their dream. Husband and wife team of Frank and April Wheeler are uninspired with the routine of raising two young children and the monotony of suburbia. April pushes for what was once Franks dream of returning to Paris to live the life they were meant to live. She begs him to drop everything including selling the house to pay for this fairytale and leave the job where he has just been promoted. To leave this life, no one but they can understand. This is a story of the painful desire to not settle on the life dealt and the hope for something greater.