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(04/02/07 4:00am)
Ever since Nas released the single, “Hip-Hop Is Dead,” there’s been a lot of hearsay that is attempting to validate this assertion. Several publications have pontificated the notion, but perhaps the most startling evidence is a recent video of Karl Rove dancing along to comedians rapping about “M.C. Rove” at a high-profile banquet in our nation’s capital.\nDespite this scary demonstration and other justifications, in reality, hip-hop is not only too young to die, but it is also far too influential, popular and important to just go away. Most recently, the unification of the West and East, through the pact between P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg, can only be a hopeful sign of what is to come. \nPlus, what’s going to replace it?\nAs a commercial force, hip-hop is significant in depicting a different lifestyle to a mass audience. It is difficult to deny the revolutionary impact of icons like Public Enemy, Notrious B.I.G and 2Pac. On a social scale, dancing to jams like Juvenile’s “Back that Thang Up” at parties is just as prevalent as playing beer pong and hooking up. Additionally, the ghetto vernacular in rap has brought new vocabulary words even in the suburbs, single-handedly turning “crunk” and “ballin’” into household names. \nWhat, that’s just my house? \nAs someone who lived in the dirty south of Alabama for 12 years, the first blatant distinction I noticed in Indiana is the lack of hip-hop culture influence in daily life. This is not to say that Indiana doesn’t have hip-hop fans – I saw the line to meet Method Man last semester. But in Alabama, even the populace that doesn’t like hip-hop is still impacted by it. Maybe it’s because southern rap is the dominant force in hip-hop at the moment, with its capital in Atlanta and artists like T.I., Outkast, and Rich Boy thriving. Or maybe it’s just that us southerners are crunker than y’all Hoosiers. On the other hand, with artists like Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Common all in Chicago, I can’t help but foresee a bigger Midwestern front on the rise.\nNas justifies his reasoning that his once beloved genre is dead by claiming, “basically America is dead. There is no political voice. Music is dead. Our way of thinking is dead, our commerce is dead. Everything in this society has been done. That’s where we are as a country.” So, really its not just hip-hop that is dead, it is an entire nation that is in a bit of a rut. While once golden boys like Jay-Z (shoulda’ stayed retired) and Nas himself provided with recent disappointments, artists like Lupe Fiasco and Clipse triumphed with stellar albums. The stalemate in our nation and in hip-hop doesn’t indicate death or defeat, but an upcoming change for the better. As Chris Rock said a couple of weeks ago on Saturday Night Live, in response to “Is America ready for a black president?” Why not? We just had a retarded one.” \nAnd if you still think that hip-hop is dead, get ready for the resurrection.
(03/29/07 4:00am)
What would it sound like if a bird made music? More specifically, what would it sound like if a bird made rock 'n' roll? Well, the answer is probably something close to Mr. Bird. Andrew Bird employs superhuman whistling, the violin, glockenspiel and a great vocal range, giving him a sound that mirrors his name. On his seventh album, Armchair Apocrypha, Bird finds himself sticking to his signature sound while also exploring a more electric approach. \nThe album's first 20 seconds set the tone, with a droning electric guitar riff and Wurlitzer electric piano. Throughout the album you hear this change to a more electric sound, the electric guitar becomes more essential, violins are layered, and electric pianos and keyboards are employed. The change is most apparent in "Simple X," a song that is led by a wistful keyboard riff and is his only song that utilizes a drum machine. The reason behind this change may be tour mate and friend Martin Dosh, who contributed to the album by playing on and engineering it.\nThe effect of this slight departure is the album sounds darker and more tragic than previous Bird albums. Instrumental tracks like "The Supine" and the album's closer, "Yawny and the Apocalypse," only add to this atmosphere. The album is not nearly as organic-sounding, something that Bird fans enjoy about his music. While the more organic approach may better fit Andrew Bird, there is no denying that Bird has done a convincing job going in this new direction and finds a way to fit the change into his sound without changing his identity.\nLyrically, the album is similar his previous work with a lot of wordplay about catastrophic and thought-provoking subjects. Whether it's a plane crash ("Fiery Crash"), the Iraq war ("Scythian Empires") or philosophy ("Dark Matter"), Bird always seems to be asking questions and inviting the listener to think. \nWhile not quite as good as his last effort, Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs, Armchair Apocrypha is still a very solid album. The album, while not lacking in dramatics, feels a little more subtle than his past few albums. "Dark Matter" is not only the centerpiece, it is the album's anthem and best song. Other notable tracks include the album's opener, "Fiery Crash," the remade version of Weather System's "I," "Imitosis," and the electronica Dosh track, "Simple X." There are, no doubt, a few forgettable tracks like "Heretics" and "Cataracts," which keep this album from being his best work. But even with its flaws, Armchair Apocrypha is a strong effort and nice departure from Bird's past efforts.
(03/19/07 4:00am)
Everything I need to know about Hollywood can be acquired through one show: “Entourage.” \nThe HBO series depicts the fictional young actor Vinnie Chase, played by Adrian Grenier, and his, well, entourage. This consists of his best friend turned manager, Eric (Kevin Connoly); older brother/ struggling actor/ brother, Johnny, played by Matt Dillon’s brother, Kevin; and childhood friend turned driver, Jerry Ferrara. Let’s not forget his super agent, Ari Gold, played by Jeremy Piven. \nAlso known for its special guest appearances, the show has been graced by everyone from Bob Saget to Scarlett Johansson to DJ AM. \nIt’s more real than any reality TV show and provides more in-depth insight than Us Weekly. And with Mark Wahlberg as an executive producer, you cannot help but make parallels between the lives of young actors.\nScheduled to hit its fourth season in April, “Entourage” shows the dichotomy between Vinnie’s professional and personal life. It focuses on the rise of Vinnie as a star – and his inner conflict between choosing what is best for his career and what is best for his integrity. While his hilariously high-strung agent urges him to go for blockbuster hits, his manager helps him stand by his Queens, New York roots. Do you take the next step in your career by playing in the biggest superhero film since “Spiderman,” or pursue an indie flick that beautifully portrays your childhood home? \nUpon watching “Entourage,” you get a rare look into decision making in the movie business. It seems easy to decipher between an amazing or awful film script after seeing a film, but in reality the script itself is in the hands of the director. This is why so many times deciding to work with a specific director is more important than picking a script. Also, the attitude of the studio is crucial, as are the connections you hold between important people in Hollywood. \nCelebs are always trying to come off like us normal folk in profiles and interviews by dressing casually or eating Taco Bell. They want to be relatable enough, but still want to glow. For most celebrities, drug addictions and egos usually get in the way of this, and most people loose sympathy. But with the characters in “Entourage,” you feel like they are real. You probably know a charismatic heartthrob like Vinnie, a hopeless romantic like Eric, a washed up loveable loser like Johnny and that one guy that always gets picked on like Turtle. The sense of family derived from this crew often makes you forget they are behind a famous actor, and not your best guy friends. \nBeing a successful actor in Hollywood means juggling a positive press reputation, which is mediated through a publicist, choosing the right career moves, assisted by a manager and agent and maintaining sanity with your personal life. What “Entourage” uniquely shows is that success in Hollywood, or anywhere for that matter is best shared with the people in your life that really matter.
(03/07/07 5:00am)
Girl Talk is the most familiar music you've never heard of. This one-man electronic band, fronted by Pittsburgh's Greg Gillis, cohesively unifies hooks, riffs and choruses of everything from raunchy rap to rock 'n' roll to Richard Marx. In his third and most recent album, Night Ripper, he samples 167 artists. \nLegally, he and his record label, Illegal Art, have not encountered any problems. Perhaps all his potential lawsuit cases are too busy dancing to his albums.\nAs anyone who was at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater this past Saturday knows, his live performances are truly remarkable. A concert and dance party are formed into one. With his laptop as his instrument, Gillis' performances are a "collaborative effort" between him and the audience. Customarily, he begins to dance by himself, eventually getting the crowd to follow suit. He then brings audience members on stage and they begin doing their own moves alongside him. But at the Buskirk, it was only a matter of seconds before the entire stage was filled. Like his music, his fans constituted a random assortment all brought together. The 25-year-old Case Western graduate wasn't sure of the show's potential Saturday, but throughout his performance, he seemed surprisingly pleased with us Hoosiers.\nAfter many sweaty bodies were on stage and crowd-surfing, the theater security demanded that no audience member was to be on stage. \nBut this didn't stop the party. Gillis shifted to the right edge of the stage, still dancing and connecting to the audience members, whether by acquiring their clothing and accessories, crowd-surfing or posing for pictures. Following the shift, even if his microphone was lost somewhere along the way, he spoke to the reassure the audience. He also frequently asked the people in the crowd how they were doing, making sure everyone was having a good time.\nAfter the show, Gillis returned to his day job in Pittsburgh as a biomedical engineer. He arrived in Bloomington without much knowledge of our little bubble, but by the end of the night, it's as if he was one of us. \nI had the chance to interview Gillis over a medium cheese pizza at Greek's Pizzeria before the event began. We spoke of the nature of his performances, his exponentially growing popularity and Lloyd Banks, among other things.
(02/26/07 5:00am)
A Latin phrase states “De gustibus non est disputandum.” This translates to: “There’s no accounting for taste.” A more figurative example is expressed in the saying, “Another man’s meat is another man’s poison.”\nThis is a pretty minimal statement. It implies that everyone has his or her own tastes in everything and that these tastes can’t be forced. Therefore, one should not be judged based on their likes and dislikes. Taste buds simply cannot be compromised. \nWhen it comes to our ever-expanding American culture, however, it seems that we have lost touch with our taste buds. So many Americans repress what they actually like for what they think they should like. This issue is ultimately a case of what society defines as levels of normalcy, of low to high culture. In a world where we are what we love, many are contrived in presenting their image.\nOur personal preferences, our innermost taste buds are usually inherent in our genetic makeup or a byproduct of our influences. Of course, sometimes these two components counteract. \nLet’s take an example of Rudy Giuliani. He’s been pretty open in stating that his all-time favorite movie is “The Godfather,” and the former New York mayor has often quoted it, even impersonating the famous Don Corleone rasp. All irony aside, his favorite movie is a classic in modern cinema. It possesses all the key elements of a sophisticated and refined film.\nBut let’s say, hypothetically, that Rudy finds “The Godfather” a tad bit too long and has never stayed awake through the whole film. He might prefer “Analyze This” – which has Robert De Niro and the mob mentality – because it greater accommodates his short attention span.\nNow, “Analyze This” and its sequel, “Analyze That,” are no masterpieces. If Rudy says it’s his favorite movie, his peers and potential voters might not think he’s as sophisticated as he might seem. If he were caught with a special-edition box set called “Analyze This and That,” he could quickly retort by saying, “Oh, just a guilty pleasure of mine.” The term “guilty pleasure” is a paradox, because no one should feel guilty for something they truly love.\nThen there’s another equally dangerous case. Sometimes, you might be confronted with someone who has no qualms with revealing that “Analyze This” is his favorite film and that “The Godfather” is boring. Great, you can admit it! But then this poor guy is claiming that the first film is far more sophisticated and brilliant than the other.\nNow, while I do believe that there should be no account for an individual’s taste, I also believe there are a few limitations on levels of culture. It’s OK to love a low-culture movie and hate a high-culture film as long as you can acknowledge each’s level.\nIt’s kind of like enjoying Boone’s Farm out of the bottle more than Merlot in a glass. But just remember: If it tastes so right, it probably shouldn’t feel so wrong.
(02/20/07 5:00am)
I will always remember the first time I saw “Garden State.” I was visiting my family in Romania, and it just came out in the theaters there. This means it was recently released on DVD in the U.S. I was greatly impacted by this film, the music and overall story line. It’s the kind of movie that has an even blend of comedy, drama and romance that appealed to both male and female audiences of all kind. Still, little did I know the extent of impact this film would have. Now, nearly three years after its initial release, “Garden State” still has an effect on the film and music industry. \nIt’s hard to imagine that Zach Braff would have expected his directorial debut to be such a huge success. This was just a movie he started writing while he was homesick for New Jersey during his college years at Northwestern University. And the film itself was meant to be an experimental piece, not something that he now feels the pressure to live up to. But when your acting debut in a film is the role of the son of Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, you must know you are destined for greatness. The success of Braff’s TV show “Scrubs” has certainly increased, and he has since directed a few episodes as well. But “Scrubs” is in its last season and it surely constitutes a majority of his time.\nZach has not yet released his second film in which he directs or writes, though he is currently working on a few projects. The pressure is undoubtedly on. Acting-wise, he chose to portray a role in the small movie “The Last Kiss”, a brutally realistic film that was poorly received by the box office and critics. \nThen there’s the famous “Garden State” soundtrack. Throughout the film, I recognized many songs, including those by Simon and Garfunkel, Coldplay and Iron and Wine. Braff handpicked the tracks for the film, and they certainly augment the emotion of various scenes. Nowadays, uneducated critics and eager promoters attempt to capitalize that artists belong to a “Garden State” soundtrack genre.\nThere is no doubt that the group The Shins have been most affected by their appearance on the soundtrack. Their most recent album since 2004, “Wincing the Night Away,” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts. In a Wall Street Journal column, the band was compared to Nirvana, but there is just no comparison. Just because they both started out on Sub Pop Records and both are indie bands that achieved commercial success hardly means anything at all. \nFor both Braff and The Shins, success wasn’t nearly expected. But both entities have handled it marvelously. They aren’t worried about their street cred. They aren’t ashamed to have a little extra money in their pockets. Will they both be most remembered for “Garden State”? Probably. But that’s OK. They now have the freedom and funding to do what they want, and die-hard fans like myself will stay by their sides.
(02/13/07 2:24am)
According to the 2002 film "Adaptation," "You are what you love, not what loves you."\nThis statement was further verified by Jenny Lewis in her song, "You Are What You Love." I trust this belief for several reasons. Charlie Kaufman wrote the screenplay for "Adaptation" and "Being John Malkovich." Along with Michele Gondry, he won an Academy Award for best original screenplay for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." His writing style is innovative, clever and gripping. He's pretty much brilliant. \nJenny Lewis was a once child actress, starring in the movie "Troop Beverly Hills"(catch it on Hoosier Cinema this month!) and appearing in one of my favorite episodes of "Murder She Wrote." She managed to escape the child-star stereotype and is now an accredited singer and songwriter. She's kind of an indie goddess.\nJust because there is not anyone who I love doesn't mean I cannot focus on the things that I love. So this Valentine's Day, I will not feel bitter about being "alone." I will not feel alone, in fact, because I will be too absorbed with my passions. Luckily, on this day that could lead into a depressing display of desolation, I will be busy with what I love.\nMy first class of the day will consist of learning about art history, a subject I am highly interested in. I will feverishly write notes and dream of a time I can someday be an expert on art myself. \nLater on in the day, I will be at a booth in the Indiana Memorial Union, representing a new organization at IU, RAW. Not to be confused with the wrestling program, RAW stands for Revitalizing Animal Well-Being.\nThe group reflects my love for animal rights, and it is dedicated to trying to bring a more peaceful coexistence between humans, animals and nature. For those of you who might be turned off, trust me, its not anything like PETA. I will be imploring those in the Union to sign a unique petition to stop the brutal clubbing of baby seals in Canada. Instead of a rigid or militant petition, we will be sending love letters to those responsible for the clubbing, hoping to appeal to human compassion.\nThen I will go to my Romanian class and learn more about the culture and language of my motherland.\nFinally, the climax of my day -- my, how do you say, "hot date" -- will be VH1's "World Series of Pop Culture's" first preliminary test. The title is pretty self-explanatory, and why I will reign champion is also pretty obvious too. Several teams compete over what others find useless information, but what pop-culture enthusiasts know it is really just the backbone of today's world.\nIf you're a victim of feeling isolated from the world this Valentine's Day, don't look at who you love or who loves you. Because like Charlie and Jenny have said, "You are what you love."\nFor more info on RAW, check out its Web site.\nAnd if you think you can beat me at the World Series, I'll see you there.
(02/06/07 12:21am)
It is extraordinary that an industry like Hollywood, frequently known for its superficiality, is acknowledging an almost forgotten brand of beauty. Women who are proud of their thick sizes are the shining stars of this year's Golden Globe Awards and Academy Award nominations.\nExhibit A: America "The Beautiful" Ferrera in the ABC TV show "Ugly Betty." She plays Betty Suarez, the chubby and charismatic assistant to the editor of an influential fashion magazine. Think "The Devil Wears Prada" with a Latina twist. But unlike Anne Hathaway's character, Betty doesn't need a high fashion makeover to be appreciated. And during her warm acceptance speech for best actress in a TV musical or comedy, Ferrera spoke of the importance of accepting one's own body. Subsequently, every woman in the crowd was teary-eyed.\nExhibit B: Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls." She recently won a Golden Globe for best supporting actress in addition to taking home the Screen Actors Guild honors for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role. Now she's in the running for an Oscar in the best-supporting-actress category. Her co-star Beyoncé is shaking in her boots. Too bad, B! \nAnd on a side note, Jennifer's success after her rejection from "American Idol" kind of makes me question Simon Cowell's judgment even more. Sure, it's easy to dismiss an off-key wannabe. But to eliminate Jennifer Hudson and say Bob Dylan's music "bores" him "to tears"? Seriously? \nExhibit C: Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine." If she wins the Oscar over Hudson, she will tie with Tatum O'Neal for being the youngest person to ever win an Academy Award. At 10 years old, Breslin plays 7-year-old Olive Hoover who is destined to win a beauty pageant she doesn't quite seem to fit in. Her character in the film just wouldn't be the same without that little round belly, which is best shown during her pageant performance (or should I say striptease?) of the late Rick James' "Superfreak."\nIn the meantime, pencil-thin models are being banned on the runway.\nYes, it's true. The first ban of skinny models was during Madrid's fashion week in 2006, when the Italian government and fashion chiefs formed an alliance to only hire models who can prove they are healthy. Then, following the death of Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston to anorexia, Brazil said it will no longer hire underweight and underage models.\nWhile it is a remarkable measure to monitor the health of models to prevent illness, it should also be noted that many women are naturally thin. If agencies are turning away models simply because they are thin, it is equally discriminatory as disallowing pleasantly plump women from the catwalk.\nThe real goal here should be to not produce a backlash of all thin people and only praise those who are of a sizeable figure, but to encourage every woman to be proud of her own natural weight and shape.
(01/29/07 11:18pm)
Growing up, I have always tried to live the American Dream.\nFor me, this dream consisted of roaming the halls with the likes of Zack Morris and Kellie Kapowski and Brenda Walsh and Dylan McKay. I longed and hoped that when I finally came around to the best years of my life, there would be a show like "Saved by the Bell" or "Beverly Hills, 90210" I could relate to.\nSure enough, by my sophomore year in high school, "The O.C." aired, and I was hooked. Adam Brody's character, Seth Cohen, with his quick wits and pop-culture references, knocked any previous TV heartthrob out of the park for me. His parents, the Cohens became the most attractive married couple on TV, the ones you'd most likely want to be adopted by. Rachel Bilson's and Mischa Barton's characters set desirable yet impossible fashion standards for the hallways. The music played on the show, which became well-known on its soundtrack ("The O.C. Mix"), frequently featured groups I adore, such as Beulah and The Super Furry Animals.\nAnd unlike other programs billed as "teenage soap operas," "The O.C." presented cultural relevance. It didn't just feature its teen stars; it focused heavily on its central family, the Cohens.\nIt is commonly misconceived the show is just about young socialites going to the beach and indulging in mindless conversation. That's really what "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" was all about. Personally, I'd much rather live in the "fake" O.C.\nWhile few viewers could relate to beautiful and rich kids in Orange County, Calif., the show had an element of universality about growing up. As each season passed, just like in high school, life seemed to get more and more complicated. For the show, this meant more melodrama. But "The O.C." started losing its edge for many viewers, and ratings plummeted. Other shows, like "Lost," Grey's Anatomy" and whatever reality show was "in" at the time, became everyone's new favorite programs. \nWhen Mischa Barton's character, Marissa, Orange County's drama queen, died in the third season's finale, it seemed the show was destined to die shortly afterward. The fourth season proved itself to not be a post-Marissa flop, and was quite like its first season. But ratings still were on the decline. And now, after four seasons, the show has been canceled. Feb. 22 will mark the last episode. \nAlthough my generation is accustomed to quick changes in our lives, I also feel we are more nostalgic than we appear. We often look back at our childhood favorites such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nickelodeon and Disney soundtracks. '80- and '90s-themed parties even seem to be the newest trend among every scene, from the sorority to house-party circuits.\nSurely when we're old and bitter 20-somethings we'll reminisce over the sadly short-lived, yet highly significant, phenomenon that was "The O.C"
(01/23/07 1:21am)
After a tumultuous 2006, hard partier and sometimes actress Lindsay Lohan finally checked into rehab.\nIn a most ironic turn of events, it was Brandon Davis, the same guy who once called her a "fire crotch," who so fixedly urged her to check herself into the Wonderland Center in West Hollywood. This was just after he spent some time at the center himself. Ah, celebrities -- they're so fickle. One minute they're calling each other fire crotches, the next they're recommending rehab centers to one another. \nWhile most news sources are discussing whether Lohan will overcome her addiction or if she will ultimately relapse, the outcome of her treatment is irrelevant. No matter which path she takes, her post-rehab days will, well, kind of suck. \nLet's say she'll stay sober. Sure, her overall health will benefit and she will no longer be the butt of so many jokes. But on the downside, the life of a sober Lohan will undoubtedly be profoundly dull. Even if she stays away from the illicit substances she is attempting to be rehabilitated from (booze, coke and/or pills), she will likely move on to other products (meth, heroin and/or paint).\nIf she spirals back to her old ways, she'll turn into another Tara Reid. That is, she'll only be remembered for her outrageous intoxicated behavior, not her career by any means. \nThe real significance of Lohan's attempt at rehab lies in her actual decision to put herself through the process. Her recent coverage is the best publicity the actress has received since her "Mean Girls" days. For once, the American public is sympathetic toward her and seems hopeful for a comeback. Like when Britney Spears tried her futile comeback, the public will be eager to see Lohan without the former significant other who was bringing her down. For Lohan, her ex is a water bottle filled with vodka. \nIt's hard to imagine a world without rehab. It is perhaps the easiest and most efficient tool for celebrities who need to vindicate their image. Historically, rehab made a great save for famous entertainers who were witnessing a backlash from the drug exploration years with the creation of the Betty Ford Clinic in 1982. Its alumni range from actors Elizabeth Taylor and Chevy Chase to musicians Bobby Brown and Jerry Lewis. \nAfter the widespread appeal of rehab, promotion of drug resistance exploded in America. If we were living in the '80s, Lindsay would be guest-starring on "Diff'rent Strokes" alongside Nancy Regan; if it were the '90s she'd be out telling elementary-school kids in inner city New York to "just say no."\nBut we are living in a new era, one in which Lindsay will embark upon a post-rehab comeback tour. She'll hit up the talk shows, go on "Saturday Night Live" to make fun of her old self, and find some charity sponsor. \nBut I say, "Once a fire crotch, always a fire crotch"
(01/16/07 1:25am)
It's fun. It burns carbs. And whether you're alone in your room with that special someone or some random dude at a party, you love it. Yes, dancing (get your head out of the gutter!) is one of the greatest social and cultural customs of any generation.\nBut what dance defines our postmodern society?\nDuring an episode of "Veronica Mars," the TV series that focuses on a teen detective, the protagonist was on a mission to find the rapist of her roommate. During a sorority party she faked being drunk and grinded on some females. While keeping her cover, she told the viewers that "the '70s had the hustle; the '80s, the moonwalk. We have the faux lesbian dance."\nI giggled but then quickly thought to myself, surely our generation won't be remembered for such a tacky thing.\nIn addition to the faux lesbian dance, there are a handful of other shameful steps I hope my grandchildren will not ask me about.\nI would like the awful concoction that is "Dance Dance Revolution" to be wiped out. For those of you who are not familiar with "DDR," it is an interactive video game in which one mechanically taps his or her feet to given arrows to some of the most disgraceful music of all time. It's pretty much a meager attempt to dance for those that lack rhythm. And it's coming to a mall near you. Be afraid. Be very afraid.\nMaybe we'll be remembered for the much cooler hip-hop-inspired dancing that influenced films such as "Save the Last Dance" and "You Got Served." During my junior-high years, anyone who was anyone held a "booty-dancing" birthday party. Sadly, real hip-hop dancing is too complex for the masses to grasp. Just look at that little girl in the Missy Elliot videos, or anyone who can do the Harlem Shake.\nIn its amateur form, booty dancing is shameless dry humping.\nFaux lesbian dances aren't looking so bad after all.\nBut more recently, several song titles have coincided with more easily duplicated hip-hop moves. Dem Franchize Boyz' "Lean Wit It Rock Wit It" and UNK's "Walk It Out" have even allowed those lacking rhythm to appear cool. \nPerhaps cheesy line dances will define our generation. The chicken dance, electric slide, Macarena and cha-cha slide will forever haunt high-school dances, skate centers and bar mitzvahs. What will hopefully make up for them is Da Entourage's 2002 hit "Bunny Hop." \nWhile there are a handful of excellent current dances, the amount of embarrassing moves is still astonishing. Modern dances don't even require that much depth or complexity -- just something fun, simple and aesthetically appealing. \nWith that in mind, I am urging everyone, wallflowers and dancing queens alike, to get on the dance floor and shake your tail feather, drop it like it's hot, ride the train -- whatever. Just get your backs of the wall, 'cause Stefania said so.
(12/01/06 9:51pm)
The holiday season's in full force, and the general masses are growing all too eager for holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but what is yours truly most excited about, besides blasting Teenage Fanclub's "December"? \nThe answer is Festivus.\nFestivus originated in 1966 from former Reader Digest writer Dan O'Keefe. Thirty-one years later, O'Keefe's son Daniel, a writer for Seinfeld, incorporated this holiday into "The Strike." In this episode, Frank Constanza (Jerry Stiller) recalls how he became overwhelmingly frustrated with the absurdity of Christmas consumerism, so he created an alternative holiday. \n"A Festivus for the rest of us" is to be celebrated December 23 and has three major components: a bare eight-foot aluminum pole, the "feats of strength" and the "airing of grievances." I'm not sure how many people felt so inspired to produce their own Festivus, but I do know that a small faction of kids in Auburn, Ala. will celebrate it for the third time. It's an excellent reason to throw a party!\nAt Auburn's Festivus, the host of the festivities handpicks an adversary for the feats component. This past year, the host defeated my best guy friend, and I was too horrified to watch the spectacle. \nHowever, the airing is by far the most popular component of the celebration. For several minutes, each individual is granted time to unleash any anger from the past year and commence a grudge-free new year. During this time, only he or she holding the pole is granted permission to speak. Often, the individual being grieved upon will attempt a retort, but that person is automatically silenced by others. \nLast year, the grievances toward me were fairly short. This was not because there was nothing to grieve about, but because my group of friends who celebrate Festivus were, at the time, a new addition to my social circle. Most of the Stefania criticisms focused on my vegetarianism and mumbling -- the obvious stuff. This time around, I have a feeling my name will be mentioned more, and that I, too, will feel more inclined to indulge in a couple of rage blackouts. \nBecause I do mumble and I am a far better writer than I am a public speaker, I will write my Top Five global grievances of 2006.\nParis, Britney, Lindsay -- Stop going commando and flashing your goods. Nobody wants to see them. \nEveryone who is suing Borat -- Get over it.\nMischa Barton -- I will never forgive you for being so willing to kill off Marissa so you could get more money. \nPanic! at the Disco -- I really wish you'd go away.\nMel Gibson, Michael Richards -- Dudes, WTF?\nWhile I do love Festivus, I also love Christmas with my family, and the dichotomy of these contradictory holidays brought a refreshing fulfillment to my year. So this holiday season, if you're feeling a bit tired of the monotony that follows it, try Festivus -- gather your closest friends 'round the bare aluminum pole and tell them how much they disappointed you.
(11/10/06 4:10pm)
Upon telling people that I'm of Romanian descent, I often get reactions of bewilderment. I imagine a screen in the person's head projecting a scrambled map of the world or pictures of Nicolae Ceausescu (communist), Nadia Comaneci (gymnast) and Dracula (vampire). The truth is, there's so much more to my motherland. \nRomania, located in Eastern Europe, is a quite beautiful country. With four distinct seasons, one can go skiing in the Carpathian Mountains in the winter, visit the beautiful Oltenian countryside in the spring, swim in the Black Sea in the summer and go shopping in Bucharest in the fall.\nRomanians are influential, too. Constantin Brancusi, known for combining modernism and Romanian traditionalism, was a pioneer in modern abstract sculpture. Tristan Tzara founded the Dada artistic movement. He also coined the term "Dada," which means "Yes, yes" in Romanian. Pablo Casals claimed the Romanian composer George Enescu was "the most amazing musician since Mozart." Eugene Ionesco, known for plays such as "The Rhinoceros" and "The Bald Soprano," is often known as the father of absurdist theatre. And Henri Coanda invented the first jet aircraft in 1910.\nRomania has also had an impact on America. All of those beautiful mountain scenes in "Cold Mountain" were actually filmed in the Carpathian Mountains. Born in Bucharest, the Romanian capital and my hometown, Maia Morgenstern played Mary, Jesus' mother, in "The Passion of The Christ." Gheorghe Muresan, the 7-foot-7-inch Romanian basketball player, played for the NBA's Washington Bullets and New Jersey Nets. He also starred in "My Giant" alongside Billy Crystal (not that anyone went to see it).\nIt is often overlooked that Romanian is a Romance language. Because I moved to the United States at the meager age of 5, I never truly grasped my first language. Much to my delight, IU is one of the few universities in the United States that offers Romanian language courses. For the first time in my life, I am in a classroom where my teacher can pronounce my full name (it's Shh-TEF-an-EE-uh Mahr-GEE-too) and I can properly learn my mother tongue. Unlike any other U.S. university, IU offers three years of Romanian language courses. In addition to Christina Zarifopol-Illias, the Romanian language professor, there are two others teachers who specialize in Romania -- history professor Maria Bucur and political science professor Aurelian Craiutu -- and comprise the Romanian studies program. \nAlthough Romania is a small country far from Indiana, it's still had its impact on the world. And with a scheduled entrance into the European Union in 2007, I have only hope for my motherland's future. \nWhile I am proud of my Romanian roots, I am also very aware of my American upbringing, both of which have shaped who I am and helped me to understand other cultures. While I don't expect anyone to have a sudden interest in Romania after reading this column, I do hope maybe someone will take a newfound interest in his or her own ancestry. Perhaps the first step in embracing diversity is exploring one's own identity.
(10/27/06 12:40am)
Whether you idolize or ignore celebrities, it's hard to deny their impact on society. They determine everything from fashion trends to charity donations. Celebrities are held on a huge pedestal, and they are constantly being emulated. Females go through countless hours and dollars trying to look like the next "it" girl, but it's hard to have lips like Angelina Jolie's and hips like Shakira's. \nThis leads me to believe that modern women have serious self-esteem issues. \nSo instead of running on that treadmill or blogging your blues away, I would like to propose visiting www.myheritage.com. Just submit your snapshot and find out which celebrity you most resemble. Ladies, I strongly urge you to submit a good one because there's nothing more discouraging than a possible match-up with Courtney Love's mug shot.\nThis Web site can truly give that special kick in anyone's self-esteem. Once I got my results, I recognized that Kirsten Dunst and I look very much alike, especially since we both clearly possess a perfect bone structure. I realized that if she played Marie Antoinette, there's no reason I couldn't have.\nSo rather than waste my talent, I've decided to quit school and pursue an acting career. I'm running out of winter sweaters anyway, and it'll be much warmer in Los Angeles. If I do enough catwalks on Rodeo, I'm bound to immediately be discovered by an agent. My days will consist of schmoozing with my fellow young Hollywood actors: wild parties on the beach, romantic dates with Adam Brody and shopping with Rachel Bilson. Then my Gucci shoes will get destroyed in the sand, and I'll find my Adam cheating on me...with my new BFF Rachel! After I proceed to kick her ass at my newest movie premiere, I will be featured on the new "Celebrity Justice" for my violent acts. Due to being heartbroken and reaching my credit card limit, I'll go into a deep depression that leads to booze and pills. Then I'll truly hit rock bottom and enter the world of "Celebreality." I'll be cast on the newest VH1 reality show. Although the network will reject my idea for "Flavor of Stefania," they'll land me a spot on a program in which I'll be on a banana boat for 16 months with Scary Spice, Dustin Diamond and some skinny ho from America's Next Top Model ...\n... Then I woke up from my celebrity nightmare.\nWhile celebrities are important to our culture, www.myheritage.com proves they aren't that different from us normal folks. Celebrities might look better in the spotlight, but they're nothing without the airbrush, botox and curvature. So instead of trying to look like a famous nobody, you should just try being yourself. \nAs much as I'd love starring in a Sofia Coppola film or being with one of my famous crushes, I'd rather watch a Coppola movie and admire my crushes from afar. I've seen many a "E! True Hollywood Story," and they're just not pretty. I would probably pull a Bjork on the paparazzi anyway.
(10/13/06 3:44pm)
For the past few years, there have been countless rumors regarding Three 6 Mafia's alleged Satanic affiliation. None of these speculations, however, have been fully validated. Out of my love for the group, and overall curiosity on the subject, I decided to do some investigation.\nFirst, there's the introduction to their 2005 hit, "Stay Fly." Many claim they hear "You are God/ You are King Lucifer." Others say it's just the ruffled sampling in Willie Hutch's "Tell Me Why Has Our Love Turned Cold" in the background.\nBut then there's the group's numerals, 666 -- the mark of evil. Three 6 Mafia have explained that the name change corresponds to their expansion from three to six members, but while they are notorious for their shifting lineup, the claim is still suspicious. Perhaps the most infamous departure is Gangsta Boo's, who parted ways with the group after converting to Christianity. \nBut wait! According to Allhiphop.com, the members of Three 6 Mafia are Christians, too. During their 2005 Academy Award acceptance speech for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," Juicy J thanked Jesus. But so what? DJ Paul thanked almost everyone, including George Clooney. \nSomething tells me Nancy Drew would be wary. \nThere's no denying that the Memphis, Tenn., rap act started out with a "horrorcore" image -- that is, heavy rap incorporating horror themes. Just listen to the lyrics from their jam "Sleep." Later on in their career, however, the group gained mainstream success when their content became more about getting crunk and less about getting demonic. \nBut what is Satanism anyway? Satanism celebrates Satan, who, according to the Official Church of Satan Web site, "represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification." The site has a list of music affiliates, but there is no mention of Three 6 Mafia. That would have been too easy.\nAfter the Dixie Chicks proclaimed their disgust for President Bush, they lost a lot of conservative country fans. If Three 6 declared their love for Lucifer, it's likely that they'd become outcasts in commercial hip-hop, a genre with many religious followers and fans. But maybe Mafia can gain the support of Goth kids. Let's face it though: Nobody wants some "Chapelle's Show" quoting, Hot Topic collar poppin' wannabe saying, "It's hard out there for a Satanist." The last thing the group needs is to stumble in their rise to super-stardom -- especially with an upcoming reality TV show. And if this is the case, I'll respect Three 6 Mafia's privacy.\nAfter weeks of researching, I've found little concrete information on Three 6 Mafia's devil-worshipping, or lack there of. It appears there's no definite answer to this mystery. Maybe Three 6 Mafia want it that way to show that this issue is irrelevant to their integrity as musicians. Personally, I don't care if they are Satanists, Scientologists or Southern Baptists as long as their music is still off the chain. But if Juicy J and the gang expect me to believe they are not somehow connected to Satan, I would like to quote former Mafia member La Chat in saying, "Boy, please. Whatever"
(09/29/06 3:15am)
In 1690, philosopher John Locke wrote that there is some degree of madness in almost everyone. In 1981, Stephen King wrote that everyone is "mentally ill."\nThese men were not suggesting that everybody belongs in a psych ward, just that nobody is perfect. We all have our faults, twitches and insecurities. Sometimes we are aware of these conditions but do not realize the magnitude in which they affect us. Even more often, we are unaware of these conditions altogether. \nAlthough college is meant to be the time of our lives, it can also be a constant struggle. It is important for a human being to have some type of emotional outlet. An artist can sketch a drawing and hang it on the wall, an athlete can jog and achieve the "runner's high," or a musician can compose a song and have a hit video on "TRL."\nCrazy sells, too. Remember Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love"? What about KC & JoJo's "Crazy," the song that thousands of teenagers lost their virginities to on prom night? Britney Spears had a song called "(You Drive Me) Crazy." It later turned into a movie about how Melissa Joan Hart drove Adrian Grenier crazy. Or was it the other way around? \nThe point is, if you don't have an outlet, your problems could bottle up until they explode. And a "TRL" hit isn't always worth it.\nLuckily for IU students, there is Counseling and Psychological Services. Located on the fourth floor of the Health Center, CAPS has programs on everything from alcohol abuse to test anxiety. Its staff consists of psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers, and its services are available to all IU students. Any student taking three or more on-campus credit hours and who paid a health fee is entitled to two free counseling sessions per semester. \nAccording to CAPS director Nancy J. Stockton, 6 percent to 7 percent of IU students attend counseling, while more than 50 percent are part of an outreach program. College students, like everyone else, are prone to anxiety and depression.\nBut don't think you can't be helped. Stockton concluded that the success of therapy is often determined by the individual's "readiness for change" and that it is common that a student can be suffering from a serious problem without even knowing it. Perhaps this is why the CAPS program conducts four screenings based on anxiety disorder, alcohol awareness, body image and eating disorders, and depression. The results are frequently surprising. With improvements in modern medicine, Stockton says more young people who suffer from serious mental diseases are now able to attend college. So if you're ever feeling overwhelmingly anxious, glum or have an addiction issue, CAPS could be the answer. To reach the CAPS program, you can visit the Web site at www.healthcenter.indiana.edu/caps or call its offices at 855-5711.\nAfter all, if therapy can help Tony Soprano, maybe it can help you, too.
(09/15/06 4:27am)
I love YouTube. I love YouTube the same way I loved Napster when I first stumbled upon it as a pre-teen. Now, as a teen in my prime, instead of downloading music, I can watch all kinds of videos. I don't even have to wait for them to download. \nWith YouTube, I can instantly watch live clips from my favorite artists, catch memorable moments from the talk shows I fall asleep to and find full episodes of classic childhood television programs. \nI have seen so many wonderful things on YouTube. I even love the amateur videos. Upon searching for indie band Of Montreal's live cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," I found a true hit. It was a group of adolescent girls, dressed in retro attire, dancing to Of Montreal's "Disconnect the Dots." While another girl was sitting on the couch, flapping her right foot in the air, the family pit bull appeared, slightly bewildered. It was all too familiar to me.\nAs a newly arrived freshman, I often feel like I am appearing in my own version of "The Simple Life." But instead of leaving L.A., I left A.L. (Alabama) and all of the comforts of home. And while Paris and Nicole left their mansions for small-town living, I left my house in suburbia for dorm living. \nParis and Nicole no longer had limousines, stylists or credit cards. I no longer have my own car, bathroom or home-cooked dinner. The most traumatizing dorm-life shock for a pop culture junkie like myself, however, is the loss of my digital cable box. \nNow with only 40 TV channels in my room, I use YouTube to remember my cable days. I can watch clips from "The Simple Life," and I actually relate to Paris and Nicole. When I'm feeling homesick, I click to a 55-second clip of my friend Russ dancing at our friend Kelsi's birthday bash. Suddenly, I'm not so far away from home. \nSince its conception in 2005, YouTube has turned into a phenomenon. Formed by three former PayPal employees, it has recently been ranked the tenth most popular Web site on the Internet. Its popularity has been growing faster than MySpace. Who ever thought video clips might beat default pics? \nMost recently, YouTube has created job opportunities. After the WB canceled the TV series Nobody's Watching, the show garnered 500,000 hits on YouTube. The show became so popular, in fact, that NBC decided to revive Nobody's Watching. In another example, 20-year-old Brooke Brodack, known for parodying pop hits on YouTube, was offered a production job from Carson Daly based on her performances. Maybe I should start posting some of my material. \nAs YouTube becomes more and more popular, I fear it might meet the same fate as Napster. It has already faced several copyright infringement problems, and things can only get worse. I only hope that I will always bask in its freeness and never have to pay for my beloved clips. \nFor now, however, I'll enjoy YouTube while I still can.