Archive for March, 2008
Led Zeppelin, modern dance, and foam tubing
By Whitney, written on Mar. 31, 2008
Oh art. Oh (post?) modernism. In what other universe would you be able to catch a glimpse of modern dancers swaying to Led Zeppelin amidst thick webs of foam tubing?
According to the New York Times, a new work titled “Elextrolux” performed at Dance New Amsterdam in New York City combines the elements of design, dance and unexpectedly, rock‘n’roll to bring an intriguing twist to contemporary performance art.
Laura Peterson, this year’s artist in residence, is the mastermind behind many of the odd structural elements that can be found on the stage space of the theater, including covering the space in “wall-to-wall” white carpet, and “enclosing the space with white walls.”
As for the foam tubing, it turns out that the dancers are in charge of tying it to the stage during the performance as well as unraveling it and putting it away after the performance. Imagine this all to the music of Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” What a world.
Ten Reasons Why…
By Mark Schultz, written on Mar. 30, 2008
“The Kids Choice Awards” are better than the Oscars. I know that, as a 20-year-old college student, I’m not exactly the target audience for the “KCA” ’s, which aired last night at 9 o’clock. But I think most of the convoluted, ultra-pretentious award shows out there could learn something from a show based around slime. So here are, in no particular order, ten reasons why the “KCA” ’s are the best award show since the 6th Annual “Sliced Bread Awards” held annually in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
The YouTube Generation gets violent; “emos” shaking in their Chucks
By Matt Roney, written on Mar. 27, 2008
Remember when picking on emo kids wasn’t a big deal? You could goof around with the kid in the black hoodie who hung around with the acoustic guitar long after school had let out and, in the end, you both knew that the little jibes about Chris Carrabba’s seventh grade poetry were all in good fun.
Not so today. According to a Time report, “emo bashing” has become a genuine problem in Mexico. Gangs of “anti-emos” organized on blogs and, I can only assume, 4chan.org have taken to the streets, savagely beating any and all “emos” (yeah, I know, it’s not a noun in that sense) they find. Time’s got videos, and they’re pretty freaking brutal. There’s even been a march
in support of the victims, sponsored by a local LGBT organization who justify their involvement by claiming that the emo kids are being targeted for their effeminate dress.
Time’s article is worth reading mainly for the hilarity of such a stuffy publication trying to write about a teen subculture. Nevertheless, I’m a little unsettled by this whole thing. Seriously, 800 people wasting their time beating up on high school kids? Who’s got the problem here?
Nerds of the world…unite!
By Brandon Conradis, written on Mar. 25, 2008
In light of the GEO strike I thought it’d be amusing to take a look at another protest, one happening on a larger, albeit probably less important, scale.
Nerds the world over are rallying over at http://committed.to/stopdarthweinstein to protest The Weinstein Co.’s decision to edit an important subplot out of their upcoming comedy “Fanboys.” The film, which originally had a group of “Star Wars”-obsessed geeks planning to steal an advance copy of “The Phantom Menace” on behalf of their cancer-stricken friend, was edited so that the cancer subplot was removed. “Star Wars” fanboys are enraged, seeing the removal of this storyline as a slap in the face to their integrity. Here’s a sample from their open letter to Harvey Weinstein:
The Return of Futurama
By Mark Schultz, written on Mar. 23, 2008
Futurama, the Matt Groening-created sitcom that aired on FOX from 1999-2003 before cancellation, is returning tonight with four all-new episodes, which together comprise the previously-released straight-to-DVD movie “Bender’s Big Score”. The show airs on Comedy Central from 8-10 PM. After tonight, three more DVD movies will air in the form of 12 more episodes sometime in the future.
From what I’ve seen in Bender’s Big Score (a.k.a. the first four episodes), the show is just as raunchily funny as it was on FOX. Definitely a must-see for old “Futurama” fans who have waited over four years for new episodes, and also worth checking out if you’re new to the show. “Futurama” is, generally, a slightly edgier version of “The Simpsons” that manages a bit of the satirical punch of the show without much of the heart. But I welcome its return with open arms, especially considering, unlike the return of “Family Guy,” there is no significant drop-off in quality in the first four episodes.
SanDisk offers free music
By Matt Roney, written on Mar. 20, 2008
SanDisk has been trying to move beyond the data storage world for a couple of years now. With the Sansa line of digital media players they’ve set their sights on dismantling Apple’s iPod hegemony, but so far they haven’t made much of an impact. Now they’re trying to gather converts by giving customers what many of them already have: free, DRM-less music. The Sansa Sessions is a collection of songs by over 50 bands (Of Montreal!) that will be available to buyers of the new Sansa Fuze line of media players for a limited time. It comes on an extra flash memory card, which is pretty awesome anyway.
Honestly, music aside, these Fuze things look pretty sweet. Decent battery life, FM radio, expandable flash memory, and $130 for the one with the highest capacity — not bad. Maybe I’ll replace the CD Walkman I had to buy after my iPod quit working. By the way, does anyone need an extremely expensive paperweight?
Handheld hero
By Chris Gaerig, written on Mar. 20, 2008
Nintendo has recently announced the conversion of the smash hit “Guitar Hero” onto the handheld Nintendo DS. This release marks another step in the overwhelming technological pioneering of Nintendo and the widespread worship of the famed simulation.
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$.99 music - $.99 = $0.00 music
By Chris Gaerig, written on Mar. 20, 2008
Financial Times has an interesting article on Apple’s plans to reformat their iTunes sales model:
Apple is in discussions with the big music companies about a radical new business model that would give customers free access to its entire iTunes music library in exchange for paying a premium for its iPod and iPhone devices.
Nintendo is certified evil, wants a piece of phone business
By Chris Gaerig, written on Mar. 19, 2008
Game Informer reported that Nintendo has announced they will announce … something at July’s annual E3 conference. Nintendo spokesman Reggie Fils-Aime hinted that something big will be announced at E3. Not Kidding. And now, people are going all loony. Said the GI report:
Reggie was tight-lipped about any details surround the release, other than that both gamers and Nintendo’s newly expanded audience will be excited. Fan speculation about the title is half the fun. Guesses run the gambit from a new Zelda title all the way to the debut of Animal Crossing for the Wii. Even the prospect of resurrecting Kid Icarus has been brought to the table. In the end, only Time — and Reggie — will tell.
Whatever. They gave us “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” and they’ll be giving us “Mario Kart”. No one cares about your shadow games Nintendo. But this E3 announcement might be surrounding something significantly cooler than a new game.
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Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella dies at 54
By Brandon Conradis, written on Mar. 18, 2008
Anthony Minghella, the Oscar-winning director of such Hollywood favorites as “The English Patient” (1996) and “Cold Mountain” (2003), died today from a brain hemorrage, Internet Movie Database reported.
According to his spokesman, Minghella underwent an operation on his neck earlier this week “that seemed to have gone well. At 5 a.m. today he had a fatal hemorrage.” Minghella had just completed the pilot for his new show “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency,” which was set to premier soon in England.
“He was a sweet, warm, bright and funny man,” recalls actor Jude Law in an interview with the Associated Press, “who was interested in everything from football to opera, films, music, literature, people and most of all his family whom he adored and to whom I send my thoughts and love.”