A&E

ART at risk

By Kathleen Quilligan and Kathleen Quilligen · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 1:13 a.m.

Art seems to be the first thing cut from a budget, destroyed in a riot or banned for being misunderstood. It's a scene from a popular movie, but it could happen in any school across the country. "If I'm forced to choose between Mozart, reading and long division; I choose long division," said the principal in a line from the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus". Arts and its funding is a controversial and touchy issue -- now as much as in 1995 when "Mr. Holland's Opus" opened in theaters. It appears that due to legislation, the tide is turning in favor of arts education.

'Return of the King' leads Oscar race

By Alyson Brodsy and David Germain · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 1:02 a.m.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Middle-earth crowned its monarch. Now, Academy Awards voters seem ready to crown "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" as the first fantasy to win best picture.

Interior design major one of most selective

By Cassidy Flanagan · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 1:01 a.m.

In a time when home decorating shows seem to be taking over television, suddenly interior design majors at IU find themselves having to reiterate the meaning of interior design and what it actually means to be an interior designer.

Why are so many films overlooked?

By Adam Aasen · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 1 a.m.

In the last few days, nominations for both the Oscars and the Razzies were announced, but depending on your point of view, some people may not see much of a difference.

Around The Arts

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12:59 a.m.

The Bloomington Playwright's Project presents an evening of 30 ultra-short plays by the BPP Writers' Group and other local writers at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at the Bloomington Playwright's Project on 312. S. Washington St. Admission is $8 for the second annual Winter Ballot Box Blizzard, a fund-raising event showcasing the talent of Bloomington actors, directors and writers. Audience members will play an active role and vote for their favorites plays.

Children experience Asian culture at celebration

By Jessica Lobel · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 12:58 a.m.

Happy New Year. If you were born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992 or 2004, it's time to put your party hats on. Thursday marked the beginning of a New Year on the lunar calendar, the Year of the Monkey. According to tradition, the Lunar New Year celebration begins with the first full moon of the new year, and lasts for 15 days. Aside from Asian-Americans in the United States, the Asian New Year is celebrated in many countries, such as China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Tibet, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Professional costumers educate design students

By Mallory Zalkin · Tuesday, Jan. 27,2004 11:38 p.m.

Costumes are an important element helping define the aura of many successful performances. Each costume provides the audience with insight into the character's personality. Wardrobes might often provoke an audience to subconsciously create a predetermined opinion about the show through the fact that appearances are the first noticed aspect of most commodities. IU has costume design studios in the Theatre and Drama department and in the Musical Arts Center, where students can observe this intense process.

Afro Punk: the black experience

By Olivia Morales · Tuesday, Jan. 27,2004 11:37 p.m.

With its grainy images, "AfroPunk: The Rock n' Roll Nigger Experience," which debuted at Boxcar Books Friday, is a documentary in every sense of the word. The film centers around the black experience in the punk scene, placing emphasis on the people in the film and allowing the featured cast to testify to their lifestyle by following them through their everyday lives and observing their worlds. Director James Spooner set out to make a movie emphasizing the black experience in the punk world, and he has succeeded.

Ah, the afternoon siesta

By Julia Balnford and Julia Blanford · Monday, Jan. 26,2004 11:03 p.m.

Upon first glance, the city of Toledo, Spain conjures up images of medieval times and Spain's legendary character, Don Quixote. Turrets on the famous Alcázar palace and high brick walls designed to ward off intruders complete the historic landscape. Walking down the city's cobblestone streets feels like a trip back in time, destroyed only by the Fiats and Seats speeding down small alleyways and narrowly missing the numerous pedestrians wandering the city.

'Return of the King' grabs 4 Golden Globes

By Alyson Brodsy and David Germain · Monday, Jan. 26,2004 10:55 p.m.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and its mythical creatures are poised to go where no fantasy film has gone before -- the winner's circle at the Academy Awards. With a leading four Golden Globe trophies, the final chapter of Peter Jackson's adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy appears ready to steamroll its way to the best-picture Oscar. Nominations come out Tuesday. A box-office juggernaut heading toward $1 billion in ticket sales worldwide, "Return of the King" took the dramatic-picture prize at Sunday's Globes, along with the best-director award for Jackson and the song and musical score honors.

Hip-hop rocks Buskirk

By -Jenny Kobiela · Monday, Jan. 26,2004 12:48 a.m.

The MidCest Entertainment's Hip-hop Showcase proved to be a success, with approximately 375 people attending the four-hour show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Saturday night. Despite some technical difficulties, the show continued with a big crowd and non-stop hip hop. The evening opened with a battle between eight local emcees. Groups of two competitors freestyle rapped about their opponent. After each set of performances, one rapper was chosen for the next round. At the end, MC Boogie, a performer with City Council, emerged victorious.

'Survivor' to challenge students

By -Jenny Kobiela · Sunday, Jan. 25,2004 11:22 p.m.

Do you have what it takes to be the last man standing? Tonight's Survivor Challenge will let you find out. About 50 members of fraternities, sororities, various student groups and randomly selected audience members will take part in the event. Based on the reality show "Survivor" the competition will begin at 8 p.m. in the Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union. Campus Crusade for Christ sponsors the event, but it is not exclusive to Christians, organizers said.

Theater hosts MC battle

By -Jenny Kobiela · Friday, Jan. 23,2004 1:08 a.m.

Local hip-hop acts will battle and perform at at the MidCest Winterfest Hip-Hop Showcase at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre. The show will exhibit talent from Bloomington and around Indiana.

Academy prepares for frenzy

By Alyson Brodsy and Anthony Breznican · Thursday, Jan. 22,2004 11:13 p.m.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - 5:38:30 a.m. -- That's the moment Hollywood hype turns hyperactive. It's the precise time Tuesday morning when the 76th annual Academy Award nominations will be announced to the world, creating a frenzy among all who make movies, make money from movies or make time to see movies.

A look at the punk scene

By Sarah Kanter · Thursday, Jan. 22,2004 11:12 p.m.

"AfroPunk," a documentary that investigates the two worlds of race, identity and the punk rocker, will be shown tonight at Boxcar Books, 310 A S. Washington. It interviews and explores the lives of four people who have committed themselves to the punk rock way of life. It embarks upon issues such as loneliness, exile, interracial dating and black power.

Local high schools perform tonight

By Jenica Schultz · Thursday, Jan. 22,2004 11:11 p.m.

Bloomington High School North and South will combine their dramatic talents this weekend to perform Jean Giradoux's classic play, "The Madwoman of Chaillot." The students will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25 at The John Waldron Arts Center at 122 S. Walnut St. In "The Madwoman of Chaillot," corporate evil invades majestic Paris as prospectors plot to tear up its legendary streets for oil and wealth.

Don't say that word

By Patrice Worthy and Patricia Worthy · Thursday, Jan. 22,2004 11:10 p.m.

One of my friends came up to me one day and said, you should write a column on metrosexuals. I thought to myself, "I am a fashion columnist, I think the Kinsey Institute should tackle that one." Obviously, I didn't know what a metrosexual was. Then he explained, you know the show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?" If one of those guys was straight that would be a metrosexual.

The simple pleasures: a hot cup of joe

By Jenica Schultz · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:33 p.m.

Bloomington's coffee fanatics have a variety of unique and colorful options when looking for a place to grab a hot cup of joe. Coffee houses range from hip and funky to modern and classic. Soma is just one of Bloomington's independently owned coffee houses, each of which offers its own specialized selection of drinks and treats as well as unique environments.

Indiana-born fashion guru remembered by community

By Cassidy Flanagan · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 12:35 a.m.

Eleanor Lambert, first lady and patron of the fashion industry, was known for her keen ability to turn any event into a fashionable affair.

Hoosiers, justice, change

By Chris Farrar · Tuesday, Jan. 20,2004 10:57 p.m.

The Gentleman From Indiana, written by Booth Tarkington, is a descriptive account of what Indiana was like one hundred years ago. Published by the Doubleday, Page & Company in 1899, Tarkington tells an autobiographical story about an editor named John Harkless, who turns a small town's dilapidated weekly paper into a political capital. Set in Central Indiana, in the heart of the lonesome flattands of Indiana, where the winters are bleak and the summers are hot and sticky, Tarkington's story provides readers with a historical tale full of Indiana culture.