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(01/22/09 12:00am)
Author: Jaime Wheeler I am surrounded by family and friends in the finance world and, somehow, painful discussions concerning the economy as a result. But their proximity only heightens my sense of ignorance. Shall I use my English major to solve the nation's economic problems? Shall I offer my analysis of Act One of The Tempest? But given the amount of times I've heard idiots liberally toss about precursors implying their understanding of today's problems, maybe it's time we all act. Here's how to apply the economy to your life.1. On academia: Did you happen to turn in that final paper a bit late during exam week? Well, it's not your fault. With the economy being what it is, as I'm sure you know, it was best for the library to shut down all printers. That conserved paper should be used for drafting new economic plans or starting fires in trashcans to stay warm.2. Though once you found a printer in, say, Bicentennial Hall, did you then need to drive it to Axinn, for instance? But what's this? A ticket! In this economy, can we really afford a 10-dollar ticket tacked onto our tuition? No. Do you not even have a car on campus? Woe the economy!3. With a vacation and time to yourself, did you go and see "Twilight?" Were you bothered by porcelain pouts and teen angst so suffocating it crippled all dialogue? Well, of course: scripting words from a book costs money and with today's economy, we can only afford the most crucial ones. Glares must suffice.4. Did you join the masses in going to the gym during the first week of J-term in hopes of shedding the holiday pounds, attempting to stay faithful to your new year's resolution, or in anticipation of normal J-term behavior? No matter what your reason: good for you. If we're headed towards another Depression, at least look the fit and famished part. My advice? Two to a treadmill both saves the environment and allows for greater influx and, with today's economy, we're all in this together.5. On that note, did you happen to attend the Bunker the other night, where you found yourself swapping sweet, sweet sweat and saliva with another (or perhaps more than one other - at the same time)? Thank you. Your commingling is the first step towards proper team building, an all but essential trait if we're to solve the riddle that is our economy.6. Speaking of wet love, are you perhaps a younger woman infatuated or involved with an older member of, say, the men's lacrosse team? Well, why shouldn't you be; you would otherwise only be hurting yourself. Given today's economy, it is understandable to want to secure one's future with a man who, upon making said team, simultaneously secures his own future with either Bear or the Brothers Lehman.7. But if you're not getting it, you should at least be able to read about it, right? Wrong. We watch as the sun of the Sex Sage filling our heads with erotically charged fantasies - sets and the, well, incandescent ginger light bulb of the Sex Guy flickers. But, given the state of the economy, sex would be wasteful of energy that could otherwise be used for developing new economic plans and thus should be deemed selfish.8. But did I intentionally rip this format off the New Yorkers "Shouts and Murmurs"? Absolutely. Am I deeply troubled on a moral level? Stop. An economy such as ours suspends all general notions of plagiarism as well as the College's own Honor Code.9. And finally ... well, on second thought, another point merely proves excessive and, with the economy being what it is, I think we should all learn to be content with a little less.
(01/15/09 12:00am)
Author: Kate Lupo Aren't women funny? Aren't we just hilarious? Do you know the names of any female comedians besides Ellen DeGeneres? No? Me neither. On the flip side, I'm sure if I asked my readers to name male stand-up comedians, they would probably be able to provide a solid list. I will argue that, at least in our current society, it is hard for a woman to be funny without seriously compromising her beauty, talent and intellect. Everyday, both Hollywood actresses and regular plain Janes have to deal with the sexism of laughter. Let's look at some pop culture examples of recently successful female comedic moments and analyze why they made both sexes laugh out loud. Reese Witherspoon's role as Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde" was hilarious because, at least in the beginning of the movie, she played the role of one of the most endearingly dumb and helplessly silly women that has ever graced the silver screen. How comical! Similarly, "Saturday Night Live" darling Tina Fey's career has recently sky-rocketed due to the popularity of her most amazing impression of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin who, though an admirable woman, is not the sharpest crayon in the box. Also, a lot of people think "Knocked Up" is a hilarious movie, especially when those shrill, bitchy women scream at the top of their lungs in every scene - now that's funny. When we are laughing at Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods or Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, we are laughing at the stereotype of the "dumb, ignorant woman" which should not be funny at all. Furthermore, most of us are probably guilty of laughing at portrayals of fat women, ugly women and women with disabilities. What female historical figure is the easiest to laugh at? That's easy: poor, blind Helen Keller! Why, then, is Ellen DeGeneres the only female comedian who has scraped the glass ceiling of the male-dominated world of comedy? What does she bring to the table that other women don't? She succeeds because she follows no stereotypes. In fact, because she is gay, Ellen has created her own brand of humor which allows her to both make fun of and embrace the "feminine" and "masculine" aspects of her personality. Ellen's television show is incredibly popular and on the air, she has interviewed some of America's most important and prominent faces. Both Barack Obama and John McCain made appearances on "Ellen" during their campaign for the presidency. Before interviewing Barack Obama, Ellen had the audience in hysterics as she and Barack grooved to "Crazy Right Now" by Beyonce. In her interview with John McCain, however, Ellen had the choice of keeping things lighthearted, but instead decided to tackle the elephant in the room. Ellen nailed McCain on the issue of gay rights and viewers watched as he writhed in his seat, saying that he and Ellen would only be able to "respectfully disagree" on the topic. In that moment, Ellen showed that she is passionate, intelligent and informed. These aspects of Ellen's personality, and particularly her intelligence, make her a successful comedienne. Our own Middlebury College is blessed to have a few truly hilarious women on campus. When I say a "truly hilarious" woman, I mean someone who can make both sexes laugh using her intelligence, wit and knowledge of current events. She does not have to act dumb or fall on her face to get a laugh. Although I won't mention names, I look up to the women of the Otter Nonsense Players who are among some of the funniest women I have ever had the pleasure of laughing at. They are every bit as funny as their male co-conspirators and equally contribute to the hilarity of their improv scenes. On that note, if you have never seen an Otter Nonsense show, then you are truly missing out on one of the best aspects of Middlebury College.So ladies: the next time you find yourself acting dumb to get a laugh out of your guy friend, stop yourself and instead, try a little irony, sarcasm or wit. If you need inspiration, try studying famous comedians of the past, plus you will truly impress your guy friends if you can quote a whole tract from Dave Chapelle's "Killing Them Softly." Instead of glazing over when your guy friends discuss Dane Cook, actively try to be a part of the conversation. Be informed and be confident in your ability to make a joke, and with time and practice, you will have us all rolling in the aisles.
(12/04/08 12:00am)
Author: Rachael Jennings "I want more people to talk about sexual assault," said Aki Ito '09.Last spring, following a movement inspired significantly by Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM) to change the College's twenty-year-old sexual assault policy, a group of students gathered in front of Old Chapel bearing signs that read: "Protect Rape Victims" and "Rape Free by ???" Everyone was wearing white, holding hands and supporting each other.Ito was part of that influential student movement to change Middlebury College's sexual assault policy, pushing for more preventative measures and more extensive support concerning sexual assault cases.Now, with the recent formation of the Sexual Assault Oversight Committee this Fall, students have decided to move their focus away from the policy aspects of sexual assault, which the committee will be handling, to work more on educational efforts on the student level.Ito and a group of ten to fifteen core students comprise Students Against Violence - a revamped group that works to end gender violence at Middlebury. (The organization's name and mission statement were changed this fall, as it was previously called Men Against Violence)."Our group realizes that rape is a larger cultural phenomenon that's based on unhealthy sexual norms, but we also think that it's possible to change our campus culture from this kind of grassroots activism," said Ito.How does Students Against Violence work to achieve their message?16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign that Middlebury College students are taking on. Originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991, this period of activism began on November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women and ends on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day - a symbol that such violence is a violation of human rights.Students can also be seen across campus wearing white ribbons. These ribbons are symbols of support for the cause to end sexual violence. Students Against Violence is also taking on a Polaroid Project, in which they photograph students and faculty members holding a big white ribbon in support. Another task is the Clothesline Project, in which Students Against Violence - working together with a few organizations from the town of Middlebury - will hold workshops that students can attend to decorate t-shirts with their own messages against sexual violence. They will then display the t-shirts around the town and the College campus.What really inspired Ito was FAM's sexual violence speak-out, held last spring."I never really thought about sexual assault, about rape, as being a problem so close to me," admitted Ito. "It never even occurred to me that students were being raped on my own college campus - in my dorm, at parties that I had been to."Ito is not the only one who has been unaware of the frequency of sexual assault and rape - most survivors of sexual assault do not actually report their experiences to the authorities, as the experience itself can come with much shame, self-blame and humiliation.The US Department of Justice estimates that less than 5 percent of victims of rape attempts notify the authorities.On Middlebury College's campus last year, there were 3 cases of on-campus forcible sex offenses reported to Public Safety. "I know that a lot more students haven't been able to come forward," stressed Ito. "What's been really incredible, and really sad, was that the more I speak to people about the work we're doing, about sexual assault, I've realized that so many people have silenced their experiences."The efforts of organizations such as FAM and Students Against Violence work tirelessly to spread awareness about the immediate attention that is needed concerning sexual assault, harassment and rape."Sexual assault is a topic that comes with so much pain, but it's only when we can have honest, open discussions about when sex goes wrong that we can prevent more rapes from happening," said Ito."I want a place where students can intervene on each other's behalf when they know their friends may be too drunk to make good judgments," she added. "I want a place where checking for consent is normal, habitual, even exciting and sexy. And when students do get sexually assaulted, I want to make sure that they'll have all the resources in front of them to heal and to seek justice, and for their friends to be educated about sexual assault so that they won't go through the experience alone."Ito believes that change for the better is possible, and her hope for a safer and more supportive atmosphere on campus is well-founded. The demonstration in front of Old Chapel last year serves as a reminder: held hands and united voices manifest the positive influence activism can have.That event, along with the abundance of white ribbons and decorated t-shirts, shows the progress of this movement forward."This is an issue that's important to all of us because everyone can benefit from a safer campus," said Ito, "from a school where it's normal to clearly communicate what you want and don't want, and have those wishes respected."
(11/13/08 12:00am)
Author: Kevin Moss Last week's election was a victory for democracy and for the reputation of the United States in the world. Americans united in unprecedented numbers and elected a brilliant, charismatic, biracial man from humble beginnings to be our next President. Like many, I was more excited about this election than any other I have voted in. But for some of us, the results of the elections did not come as an overwhelming repudiation of prejudice and bigotry. In three states (FL, AZ, CA) a majority of voters decided to deny the right to marry to same-sex couples. Arkansas voted to deny unmarried couples - which necessarily include same-sex couples - the right to adopt. Prejudice is alive and well in the US, in spite of what the majority of the pundits may write.The passage of Proposition 8 in California is particularly depressing. Two weeks ago a columnist in the Campus made a flippant comment about the ballot measure and didn't even seem to have a strong opinion about it. Eliminating rights for citizens? What's the big deal? People in Vermont may not be aware that $74 million - more than was used in any other campaign except for President - was spent in the battle over Proposition 8. The stakes were high because in May the California Supreme Court had found that "retaining the designation of marriage exclusively for opposite-sex couples and providing only a separate and distinct designation for same-sex couples may well have the effect of perpetuating a more general premise - now emphatically rejected by this state - that gay individuals and same-sex couples are in some respects 'second-class citizens' who may, under the law, be treated differently from, and less favorably than, heterosexual individuals or opposite-sex couples." That "second-class citizenship" is now what Californians (funded mostly by Mormons and various other religious groups) have amended the California constitution to establish.52 percent of California voters actually said yes to a ballot measure with a description that began with the words "Eliminates the right…" Across the country, and especially in California, where 18,000 couples had already married since June, people are angry. There have been daily demonstrations across the state. Melissa Etheridge has suggested she may not pay taxes to a state that now officially considers her less than heterosexual citizens. There are movements to boycott Mormon-owned businesses and the entire state of Utah. In Vermont I suspect we will redouble our efforts to upgrade from Civil Unions - which were OK as a compromise back in 2000 when marriage was unfeasible - to full marriage, like our neighbors to the north and south.Of course there is a silver cloud behind this dark lining. President-elect Obama was the first candidate to mention "gay and straight" in his acceptance speech, and he said he will do everything he can to give us equal rights before the law. Unlike McCain and Palin, Obama and Biden were both on record against Proposition 8, but they also said they believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I understand it would have been political suicide for them to support marriage for same sex couples, but I wish we lived in a country that was really fair and free of prejudice, a country where candidates could support marriage and still be elected. Then I would be able to celebrate unreservedly along with my friends and colleagues.
(11/13/08 12:00am)
Author: Andrea Glaessner How does a world-renowned contemporary Chinese artist find himself jet-setting across the world to deliver a lecture in the hills of rural Vermont? Chinese would say ?? (yuan fen, fate). Americans would argue globalization. But for Xu Bing the answer was quite simple, as he demurely replied, "Colin invited me." In fact, it was a combination of all three - Robert P. Youngman Curator of Asian Art Colin Mackenzie, a sprinkle of globalization and a touch of fate - that brought the award-winning MacArthur fellow to Middlebury last Thursday. In a lecture entitled, "Image and Meaning: the Art of Xu Bing," Xu discussed his prolific body of work that exploits the gamut of traditional and nontraditional media. From his signature Square Word Calligraphy ink paintings to "performance art" featuring tattooed pigs copulating over a floor strewn with books, Xu's work dabbles in the absurd, forcing viewers to toss out tired concepts and reinvent a new framework for looking at art. The lecture also afforded the Museum of Art community an opportunity to learn more about Xu's "new English calligraphy" paintings currently on view in the Robert Reiff Gallery of Asian Art as well as the two artist proof monkeys from the "Monkeys Grasp for the Moon" installation originally commissioned for a space in the Sackler gallery in Washington D.C. Xu's work arrived in Middlebury largely by happenstance. In conferring with the anonymous collector responsible for the current exhibition of Chinese painting and bronzes on loan, Mackenzie discovered that the collector also owned the two monkey sculptures that were a prototype for the original work commissioned by the Sackler. The original installation, comprised of 21 laminated wood pieces, is a chain of monkeys formed out of word shapes, each around 2 feet long. Each link in the chain is the word for "monkey" in a different language, ranging from Arabic to German, and the words resemble monkeys themselves, stretched at beginning and end to form long tails and arms with which they link together. The collector graciously offered to loan his two artist proof monkeys, at which point, said Mackenzie, "I thought, well why don't we try and borrow a couple of other works from him and invite him here for a talk. So that's how it came about."Dressed unassumingly in gray and white and donning a pair of iconic John Lennon spectacles, Xu arrived for lunch at the Center for the Arts looking surprisingly fresh-faced after a 14-hour flight from Beijing just one day prior. C'est la vie for the contemporary artist of the modern era. With work featured in public and permanent collections that span the globe from MOMA to The British Museum to the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan, Xu is a regular fixture in the international contemporary art scene."I regard him as one of the most interesting contemporary Chinese artists and I think he's really a major figure in contemporary international art," said Mackenzie, "One shouldn't simply typecast him as a Chinese artist. He's really very important in the history of late 20th century art." With a dominant position in the contemporary art arena and an appointment as Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing, Xu straddles the increasingly blurred boundary between East and West, occupying a space between the contemporary art hotbeds of New York and Shanghai. Traveling between the two realms produced ideas that translate directly into Xu's recent work. Intrigued by the use of universal symbols in airplane safety brochures, Xu determined to create a language based on everyday symbols with a capacity for universal recognition. An installation piece still in progress, "??" (di shu)or "Book from the Ground" approaches the conundrum of communication and perception in the context of globalism through the exploration of language and cultural symbols. First exhibited at MOMA in 2007, the installation consists of two computers facing each other, separated by a wall of frosted glass imprinted with a dialogue written in Xu's language of icons. "??" (tian shu) or "Book from the Sky," is the artist's most iconic masterpiece - a work that put Xu on the map and oriented the direction of his work to the present day. In an interview conducted in Chinese and translated by the writer, Xu referenced the piece heavily in his discussion of central themes and concepts in his art. "In my work, the most important thing I am trying to achieve is to break down concepts of language, culture, and knowledge. I seek to occupy the space between the boundaries of these concepts and synthesize or mix the boundaries. Language is the most fundamental concept or element of conception, and the work I do between the concepts is the most prolific," said Xu.Also an installation piece, "Book from the Sky," is in many ways the counterpart to the more recent "Book from the Ground," yet the two works diverge in their respective impact on the viewer. The recent "Book from the Ground" is expressly interactive and exudes a sense of playfulness in its critique on new forms of communication in the 21st century. In contrast, "Book from the Sky," is a sobering rendition of 4,000 mock Chinese characters painstakingly carved into woodblocks and reprinted on billowing paper that hangs from the ceiling. The work presents dramatically different interpretations depending on the viewer's cultural background and knowledge, yet the theme of universal understanding is still extant. Because the characters are essentially void of meaning or attribution, viewers of every education level and across cultures approach the work equally dumbfounded, finding themselves uniformly incapable of rendering meaning behind the symbols. "Chinese people understand the idea of playing with characters and this really stirs them up," said Xu, "People who don't understand Chinese still understand the work, but it's a different aspect. For example, they'll look at the work and think the characters are real. And the installation is really beautiful; it puts Chinese culture in a very important position, a respectful and important position, as if the viewer is standing in a temple. But the whole work is absurd. It appears as if it is something the viewer should take seriously, since it was painstakingly constructed, and this makes the absurdity more prominent. The more seriously I work on the installation, the more absurd the work becomes, making the art more powerful."Mackenzie, who helped install "Book from the Sky" for its debut in a group exhibition of contemporary Chinese artists at the Asia Society in 1998, discussed the powerful experience of viewing the work in-person. "There's a deliberate ambiguity about "Book from the Sky" that reflects his sense of confusion. It's a rather distressing feeling, whereas [in] the other [works], there's a delight there, not quite the same feeling of stress…Once [the installation] is hung within a room and it fills the room, it's not just that you're looking at strange, irritating graphs that you can't read, but when you go into that room you're surrounded by it, you're enveloped by it, and then you feel really disquieted by it," said Mackenzie. Following the debut of "Book from the Sky," Xu transitioned to what Mackenzie refers to as the "Chinglish" projects. Four typecasts of these works are currently on view at the Museum. Reinventing the depiction of English words as Chinese characters, the works are legible to English-speaking viewers, though at first glance such viewers are typically oblivious to their ability to comprehend the characters. Xu described his own Square Word Calligraphy as "a computer virus" or "an unusable word bank." Describing people as "lazy thinkers," Xu articulated how viewers rely on pre-existing concepts to think about art. "My work always offers the view that cultural concepts are limiting and pose obstacles to thinking, just like the ob
stacles presented in my new English calligraphy," said Xu, "The new English calligraphy presents English knowledge and concepts and Chinese knowledge and concepts. Just like a textbook, it offers knowledge about characteristics of the English and Chinese languages. But within our own previous spheres of knowledge this type of calligraphy does not exist, neither does an explanation of this calligraphy. In confronting these types of characters in my work, neither one of the concepts is functional," said Xu. Most viewers, particularly after repeated interaction with the Square Word Calligraphy paintings, wonder about the significance of the content Xu chose to translate into his new English. For example, "Song of Myself: Square Wood Calligraphy" is a direct translation of a Walt Whitman poem while another, "Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art Square Word Calligraphy, 2001" is of a poem written by Mao Zedong. The title refers to the 1942 talks given by Mao concerning the impact of literature and art in class struggles. When asked about the meaning during the interview, Xu casually replied, "Of course it has meaning, these are just things I like, things from Chinese and western culture that I particularly like."During the question and answer session following the lecture, a member of the audience asked about the significance of the Mao Zedong poem piece in particular. Xu explained how the work reflects the conflicting legacy of Mao Zedong on aspects of Chinese culture, particularly language. According to Xu, "Mao Zedong started to change the way people think through changing our language. When I was first starting to study and go to school, the transformation of the language was in the middle of occurring." The national campaign to transform Chinese characters from traditional to simplified had a lasting impact on Xu Bing. Additionally, Xu discussed how a recurring childhood experience of being locked in a room full of books before Xu could read was "confusing," attributing to the often disquieting nature of his language-centric works. At the same time, Xu's art, particularly his later works, confer a sense of playfulness on the viewer. According to Xu, this playfulness is a tool to engage the viewer, drawing them deeper into the work. "My hope is that my works appear friendly and welcoming, and are easy to get into," said Xu, "Then the important part is that once the viewer is inside, they discover the work's many different aspects, especially the deeper meaning. I hope my works cause people's thinking patterns to change and has an influence on those thought processes in some way."Hence, Xu's work avoids the use of cultural symbols that carry too much meaning. "Cultural symbols that carry too much importance are not good to use. The inherent meaning of these types of symbols is too strong. For example, death, tomb, feminism, are so strong, including sex, these types of subjects are so strong that it's like being hit by a bullet," said Xu.While Xu's work strives for universal understanding, there is a thread of distinct "Chinese-ness" woven into each individual piece, the most obvious example being the influence of ?? (shu fa, Chinese calligraphy). Xu's deep interest in Chinese characters began while he was living in the countryside during the Cultural Revolution (1980-1987). Xu was "sent down" along with millions of other intellectuals and urban youth to perform manual labor in remote villages under Mao's famously orchestrated "thought reform" campaign. Xu explained the impact of this experience on his work."I lived in a small mountain village outside Beijing. Because this village was so remote, these incredibly ancient cultural folk traditions had been preserved. For example, after someone died, old people would take out these strange characters and copy them on a white cloth that they then hung in the wind. These strange characters were meant to allow the living and dead to communicate. At that time, these experiences and folk customs had a lot of influence on me. Then later, I rediscovered some of these traditions in books I was studying. But I directly came in contact with these customs in while living in the countryside," said Xu.Beijing today is a world away from the city it was during the Mao era. Xu himself described the city as "incredibly fascinating," despite his rather tumultuous experiences in the Northern capital under Mao's oppressive thought reform campaign. Today, Xu serves as Vice President of CAFA - perhaps the most prestigious art institution in China. Though the administrative nature of his new position keeps him busy, Xu is thrilled with the work going on. "[Working at CAFA] gives me a lot of new inspiration and ideas." As Xu continues to expand his prolific body of work, constantly adding new projects to the mix, his fans wait in eager anticipation of the conceptual artist's next tour de force.(The interview was conducted in Chinese by Andrea Glaessner before being translated into English.)
(10/30/08 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] To the Editor:It occurred to me that Mr. Clayton ("The Cranky Socialist," Oct. 23) was confused on who he would want to support when it comes to the election this year. As such a strong socialist, I assumed he would know that his vote should be for Brian Moore and Stewart Alexander: the nominees for the Socialist Party in the United States. Alas, my assumptions that he would be a more informed socialist were in vain. Perhaps he became confused by all the ridiculous conservatives who label Barack Obama with the title of "socialist." These people can be very convincing with the labels they give him, many of them being the same misinformed people who believe Obama to be un-American or a Muslim (apparently it is bad, in the first place, to practice Islam). Of course there is flack from both sides: I hold liberals who cast McCain as a "fascist" in the same esteem as the conservatives who call Obama a "socialist." He mentioned Proposition 8 which would take away the right to marry from same-sex couples in California. Knowing the history of the ballot, it is only superficially a conservative measure because of its wording. Actually, conservatives from California were angry about the wording of the measure because they were afraid the notion of "removing a right" from a group of people would appeal to the voter's conscience and cause it to fail. There was quite a GOP movement to change the wording to the more successful "define marriage as a union between one man and one woman." Apparently, it was their goal to not include the conscience in voting on this ballot, and in my opinion, you might have to be void of one in order to vote "yes" on it. Denying same-sex couples the right to marry is a sore that plagues a country that calls itself the "free" world. To backtrack the progress that California is fostering would be inhumane. Therefore, please support love and support "no" on Proposition 8. And if you're truly a socialist... Brian Moore is your man, not Barack Obama.Sincerely, Ryan Tauriainen '08Waialua, HI.To the Editor:Last weekend, the Middlebury varsity men and women's crew team competed at one of the world's most renowned regattas in the world, the Head of the Charles in Boston. Competing against clubs from all over the nation, both squads defeated rivals such as Tufts University. Imagine my surprise to open up The Campus and see nothing, not even a blurb, about our achievements. It is disappointing and insulting to see the lack of recognition that these successful Middlebury teams receive.Sincerely,Elise Cohen '11
(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: Tess Russell To generations of kids reared on classic comedies like "Animal House," "Revenge of the Nerds" and, more recently, "Old School" and "Van Wilder," leaving the nest holds admittedly false promises of decadence. Indeed, the cultural mainstream seems to portray the university years, which may number anywhere from four to seven - John "Bluto" Blutarsky and Mr. Wilder were certainly not concerned with the timely awarding of their B.A. degrees - as an extended technicolor montage produced by Joe Francis and starring limitless reserves of boisterous, preternaturally attractive, unapologetically promiscuous coeds.Here at Middlebury, though, the proverbial shine is off more than Ross Dining Hall's far-from-local apples. Just ask the recently arrived Class of 2012 - we are willing to bet that, after those first few sexy nights at the Bunker, they wised up and realized, like the rest of us, that the hottest parties on campus actually take place in our beds. (No, not one night stands - we are referring to those rare occasions when we have time to"throw down" a quick nap between classes.)Make no mistake: we understand how privileged we are to pursue such challenging coursework under the guidance of a superb faculty like Middlebury's, and we appreciate the wealth of enriching extracurricular and service-oriented opportunities available through the College. Still, every once in a while, it is nice to enjoy a decidedly unintellectual three-day school week capped off with a Homecoming celebration, if only so we can temporarily make believe that we exist in that mythical Shangri-La evoked by National Lampoon, where collegiate life consists of constant booze, constant sex, and zero work (instead of just constant booze, occasional sex, and occasional work).FALL BREAKOn our precious few days of vacation, Middlebury students took trips everywhere from New York to ... Wait, did anyone not go to New York? All kidding aside, we were grateful to have a chance to lose ourselves in the increasingly beautiful fall foliage and uncharacteristically warm weather, which too often go unnoticed during our daily scrambling, and to take advantage of other luxuries unique to the outside world. Yes, you may have arrived back on campus completely unprepared for your midterms later in the week, but come on - those 12 hours of TiVo recordings were not going to watch themselves.HOMECOMINGChoose your poison - between a lively bar scene, great parties off campus, the Tent Formal and DKE House, the College community really stepped it up this week and offered something for everyone. First prize in our book goes, hands down, to Saturday's massive tailgate, which allowed us to: mingle with alums, indulge our penchant for daytime revelry guilt-free, satisfiy our every craving with huge spreads of food and drink, and believe, if only for a minute, that we go to a "real" college. Just do not ask us what happened in any of the games.
(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: Adam Clayton I picked up my California absentee ballot the other day, and as a second time voter re-enforced a habit I hope to extend for the rest of my life, turning my gaze immediately towards the back of the ballot. This gives me the greatest hope at socializing the world I live in, and while I ponder for a few seconds on whether to vote conservatively and pick a democratic president, the state funding initiatives are where I take the most pleasure. I read and re-read the short description on developing a high speed rail network through southern California, even though I live in northern California, rubbing my eyes at the enormous numbers popping off the page. Nearly two billion dollars for something I will never see or use? Why not, I always liked travelling on trains in England, and I feel sorry for Americans who have only ever seen them on television. Should I force my neighbors to pay another two billion dollars to reform the criminal system? Sure, after all, according to television and Hollywood ninety percent of Englishmen in America are criminal masterminds, and they probably don't have dual citizenship like me, so I might as well represent the unrepresented. Big infrastructure and massive social welfare projects arouse my hidden political fantasies, and this is a good way to anonymously support them, while cost-saving initiatives are boring and backward.Interestingly enough, two of the most important measures being considered across the country are on my ballot, but unfortunately do not involve massive government expenditure. The first one concerns farm animals, and requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely. Given this only costs a few million of state expenditure, I wasn't too excited, but it was saddening. In fact, it was SHOCKING. Is it that hard to put animals in cages large enough so they can stretch out and turn around? What if they got itchy, or wanted to look in another direction at the endless cages and pens that make up their known universe? Unfortunately, this will be a heated measure, because as soon as pigs realize that pregnancy gives them rights to lie down and stand up, young promiscuous pigs will surely start running around looking for anything to impregnate it, possibly even different animals, and conservatives have been trying for decades to suppress this liberal immoral practice. On second thought, if they can't even turn around, there's not much risk of them running around hopped up on hope and hormones. Perhaps if we cooped up teenage girls in small cages conservatives would be a little happier.A second massively important ballot measure is number eight, which eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry. It's rare to see conservative ballot propositions these days, because they usually fail to qualify. It doesn't help when you insist on including God created all life on a proposal to make abortion illegal. I would most certainly support this issue if the state financed elaborate honeymoons and lavish wedding ceremonies for gay couples, but instead I'll just have to support it luke-warmly. If this holds, I can solve all those awkward bar conversations around where I live in San Francisco by simply saying I'm married, and not sacrifice the free drinks I had been enjoying. Now is the time of year when you can decide how the hundreds of tax dollars you contributed through cigarettes or the state lottery are spent and, even if you draw different conclusions to me, work together to make government bigger and better. So remember when you cast your ballot this November that voting for Obama is only one way to make this country better, and don't forget to turn the page.
(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: James O'Brien When I started to write this article, I wrote the sentence, "Who are you?" I didn't think I wanted to write an article that began like that, though, mostly because if I was flipping through a newspaper and started reading such an article, I would immediately stop. So I decided to write an article about Facebook, instead… kind of.I've been reading a couple books about Zen lately, and, although they are for the most part incredibly insightful, the authors have an annoying habit of writing some variation of "Who are you?" at least once every four pages. While I've enjoyed the authors' insights, these questions have made me uncomfortable. I keep feeling as though I need to have some sort of Zen-ish answer to the "question of me." I thought about all kinds of odd ways to research myself, but I decided that the best thing to do would be to log onto Facebook. I looked at the "info" section of my profile, in an attempt to flash back to who I thought I was at a time when I wasn't thinking too hard about that particular question. It didn't take me long to realize that a Facebook profile is not a good place to determine who you are. It is, however, a good place for you to understand the difference between who you think you are and the identity that you portray to the world. My profile was a combination of true things about me (I like to listen to The Weepies), and things that aren't true but apparently I felt the need to say. For example, my favorite books list includes Tender is the Night - which I did read but neither liked nor understood - apparently because I wanted to prove that I had read it. Perhaps I was afraid that fellow members of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Fans Facebook group might inexplicably browse my profile and consider me unworthy if The Great Gatsby was the only Fitzgerald book among my favorites. I seemed to be trying to portray myself as a literary snob, which - along with my love for all things about sex and death - might be the same reason I'm majoring in English. You can learn a lot from your Facebook profile, especially from those words you once wrote which don't even seem to apply to you anymore.It seems silly to suggest that Facebook could help to explain who a human being is. But, oddly enough, it's actually not any sillier than examining your thoughts or actions. Think about all the words you say everyday that aren't quite true, or those seemingly uncharacteristic thoughts that pop up and make you think, "That's not me." Well, those thoughts and words are you. And they are not you at all. What I mean is, they define how you function in the world. They define the "you" that you can describe with words. But that is such a simple understanding of "you." To me, the word "you" or the word "I" refers to all the experiences that you have had in the world. Sometimes this includes the words that you say, or thoughts that you think. But these things are not you. Even your personality is not "you." Your personality's just a carefully crafted collection of reactions based on conversations, movie quotations, and previous experiences in social acceptance. Watch what you say closely and you'll see that this is true. Your brain seems to be creating a "you" right in front of your eyes. And it's all just sort of a movie scene. We spend a lot of time with ourselves-around 24 hours a day in fact-but we can probably learn more about ourselves from our Facebook profile than we can from asking ourselves "Who am I?" So if we aren't what we do, what we say, or what we think, who are we? The answer to that question is probably hidden somewhere where we would never think to look - like 51 Main. Or maybe, and this is more likely, there are illusions right in front of us, ones that we've created for ourselves. So I'm taking Tender is the Night off my list of favorite books. I figure that's a start.
(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: Dina Magaril Most Middlebury students are aptly versed in the art of b.s.ing. At $49,000 a year, we should at least be able to pretend we know what we're talking about. It's a talent we acquire during our four years here for survival purposes, like forgetting to do the assigned reading and having to come up with a brilliant comment for class discussion, or writing a ten page paper on a topic you think can be best summed up in one word - boring. There are times when knowing how to b.s. will prove highly beneficial and should be resorted to and other times where it's out of order. In the spirit of keeping work and play separate, it is imperative to keep b.s. out of our private spaces, like the bedroom, and intimate situations, like getting to know someone you are attracted to.It's rare for a relationship to bloom out of honest conversation and a discussion of each person's wants and expectations. Let's face it - those of you who are dating probably first got to know each other through beer goggles, mindless groping and text messages you spent hours decoding with your friends. If that eventually turned into a relationship, great: you're in the envied minority. Most of us have to cut through a lot of bullshit before we can honestly communicate with one another and convey what we really feel. And it's not surprising if we consider the fact that we live in a culture where the majority of the relationship discussions we are exposed to come from prime time television or the closing lines of a chick flick (remember when Serena and Dan got stuck in that elevator and had to talk about their relationship or when Jack Nicholson told Helen Hunt that she made him want to be a better man?). It's understandable that we feel so scared and uncomfortable "talking about our feelings" in any genuine kind of way. Few would ever utter the phrase "you complete me," or "my life began the moment I met you," to another person, thankfully. But neither are we tapping into the other side of the spectrum, the "let's get real," direct side. When was the last time you told someone exactly what was on your mind, no excuses, just complete honesty? Most of us don't want to put ourselves in that vulnerable spot, yet being completely straight with someone often produces the best results. Wouldn't it be a load off to just tell your crush that you like them, or tell that person that you've been hooking up with that you really want to date them?However, it is sometimes unnecessary and even uncalled for to bring conversation into certain spaces, the most intimate of which is the bedroom. In such situations, actions may speak louder than words, but of course it all depends on your personal preference. While comments on how sexy someone is are definitely given the green light, there are often more personal dialogues that should be kept out of this territory unless guidelines have been preestablished. When in doubt, be sure your mother wouldn't mind hearing it; as a rule, one should avoid more profane jargon.Some people get off on talking dirty and giving precise directions on how they want to be touched. And that's totally fine, as long as both parties are comfortable. Just keep in mind that while it's encouraging to hear, "I'm almost there," in the throes of ecstasy, it may be off-putting to encounter "grab me," unless you know the person really well. Instead, use actions and body language. Guide each other, make eye contact and feel free to make facial expressions and get in tune with each other's bodies. Just remember, even if things get heated, no one wants to be treated like they've suddenly entered your personal porno kingdom. Phrases like "you've been a bad girl/boy" or "you're so big," are best left in the realm of adult entertainment. And don't forget to ask before you spank.
(10/23/08 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] To the Editor:In reference to Dina Magaril's column ("The D-Spot", Oct. 9), there are some things I would like to hear her address in her next column. Mind games are something us men always attribute to women; I had not heard it the other way around. As for the seemingly mutual complaints about the opposite sex, people must get off their clouds at some point given that daunting (and terrifying) statistic that half of Midd alums marry another alum.If the dating/relationship scene on campus troubles Ms. Magaril, then her concerns are legitimate and I would like to hear them. However, an unconstructive, generalizing, wholly negative criticism of men on campus will not help the situation. It does not help us men and it will not help the situation for women. It will only seek to discourage men more from mustering up the guts to ask a girl out on a date and fall back on the late-night "wanna watch a movie?" text. If we're so bad, help us become better. A few patronizing "do's and don'ts" does not do the trick. Did you really say "Don't: Tell a girl you're into her, may even love her, but aren't enough of man to be with her?"I think a balanced examination of the dating scene here would be much more constructive, asking things like "why are women so scared of asking someone out on a date?" Isn't asking someone on a date supposed to be flattering and a way of saying "Hey you're interesting, and I'd like to get to know you better?" Why are there so many more strings attached?I do wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Magaril on one point: Middlebury women are gorgeous and brilliant.Sincerely,Eric Harvey '09.5To the Editor: Dina Magaril's most recent column struck a deep nerve with me and many of my friends, male and female alike.Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and whether or not they are as inflammatory as her's should be irrelevant. This said, I am sure that many women do share her gripes with the so-called "boys" on campus. However, I must reiterate what my fellow Y-chromosomes have echoed since the article's publication: the frustration is mutual, sister. The attempt to pinpoint blame so broadly on one gender is both biased and embarrassingly ignorant and denying that you have not done so would be a bold lie. Ironically (and sadly), I doubt that the hasty and condescending list of "do's and don'ts" you've composed will land you a date with a Middlebury (dare-I-say) man on campus.In short, we all have a lot to work on. But please, do not call all of us cocky when we're not, please do not call us schleppy when we're not (I am half Jewish and consider myself more of a mensch), and please restrain yourself from doling out deconstructive criticism when discussing an issue as sensitive and difficult as dating or relationships.I apologize if these comments are hurtful, for this is not my intent whatsoever. Yet I bet you are very well aware of how good it feels to get something off one's chest. Sincerely, Jeremy Martin '09.5To the Editor:For her next column, I would be interested to hear Ms. Magaril's thoughts on women taking initiative in the dating scene. Her column seemed to take a pretty traditional look at men chasing women, but not the other way around.Also, for every woman complaining about the lack of suitable guys here, there is a man that I have talked to complaining about the dearth of suitable women. Maybe we all just need to get out of our ivory towers and realize some realistic standards.Sincerely, Sam Libby '09.5
(10/09/08 12:00am)
Author: Grace Duggan After several years working for the The Middlebury Campus as a staff writer, photographer and editor, I think I can safely say that our campus newspaper is certainly no "Old Boys Club". Looking at our Opinions section, however, there is an appalling lack of female contributors to what is typically one of the more widely-read parts of the paper.Last year The Campus put out 24 issues, along with a special April Fools' Day edition. Each issue included columns, letters to the editor, cartoons and op-eds (including "Notes From the Desk," an opinion piece written by a different editorial board member each week). There was also an online poll featuring the opinions of students on hard-hitting issues like "What do you think about Cake as the Spring Concert?" and "Where is the best place to spend your Spring Break?" Given that the trio of students featured in each web poll were approached to participate and also that they never had more than two published sentences a piece, I have excluded them from my look at the lack of balance between male and female voices in Opinions. For the 2007-2008 academic year, females were overwhelmingly outnumbered by males in Opinions. This is ridiculous when one remembers that Middlebury's student body is typically an even split. For starters, there was no regular female columnist over the course of the entire year. Women authored only 17 percent of last year's columns and op-eds, and almost a third of those were jointly submitted with one or two male writers. Breaking that statistic down even further, one third of the females were either parents or Middlebury employees, bringing the percentage of published female Middlebury students down to a whopping 10 percent of all of the columns and op-eds written for the entire year. Out of the few published letters to the editor written by females, almost 40 percent of them were co-authored with at least one male. It may not sound like much to say that females were completely absent from the Opinions section for four issues last year, but that's almost 20 percent of the paper. Oftentimes the only female in the section with more than 250 words to her name was the editor who wrote that issue's "Notes From the Desk," a requirement for nearly every editor on staff at some point during the year. Even so, female editors were outnumbered almost two to one by their male counterparts, despite the fact that the editorial board was split nearly 50/50 last year.While I recognize that The Campus could not run every received submission, blame falls not on Opinions editors but on a campus environment that potentially discourages vocal women. The March 2008 report from Middlebury's Task Force on the Status of Women noted that alcohol and males dominated Middlebury's social scene, but I would also say that males dominate many outlets for expression at the College, including, the Opinions section. The report notes that students have different classroom experiences based on their sex, but fails to mention possible manifestations of said differences, stating that 93 percent of females reported feeling safe and respected in the classroom. I'm all about feeling safe and respected, but what about encouraged? Women are often criticized for being too vocal because it goes against gender stereotypes that value submissiveness and passivity. Is Middlebury an environment where the voicing of opinions from men and women is equally encouraged and facilitated, be it in the classroom, at a post-lecture discussion or in the newspaper? I'm not so sure. Maybe in some areas it is, but it certainly isn't showing in the Opinions section. After four issues this semester, female columnists and op-ed contributors are outnumbered 2:1. I applaud the work of Kate Lupo '10 and Leslie Lim '10 as columnists this year, but I urge undergraduate women - and the student body in general - to submit their views to this strikingly unbalanced section of the newspaper.
(10/09/08 12:00am)
Author: Melissa Marshall and Liya Gao Here are five creative young directors who have taken it upon themselves to realize their artistic conceptions in five upcoming all-student productions. The five plays range from the exploration of gender to the problems of philosophy to the palpable political climate, taking full advantage of student acting, production and technical talent. The Campus talked to these talented students about the drive and direction of their dedication to independent theatre.Production: "Comings and Goings"Dates: Nov. 13-15, Hepburn ZooDirector: Dawn Loveland '09Tickets will be available through the College box officeThe setup: Megan Terry's "Comings and Goings" is a "theatre game" that explores various male/female relationships. The piece is a series of scenes between one man and one woman that transform directly from one to the next, where the characters and the circumstances constantly shift. The cast consists of three men and three women. During random points in the show, the actors will be called upon to enter the action and switch roles with another actor. The switches are determined on the spot, so there will never be the same performance twice.The attraction: As a director, I was interested in working on a piece in a style that was completely foreign to me, yet allowed for so many dramatic opportunities. Also, this play lends itself to working with an ensemble of actors who all participate equally in the show. I love the sense of community that surrounds the process of creating this piece. We can do an improvisational exercise, and the actors will take it and turn it into an incredibly moving, funny or truthful scene. I love being able to work so collaboratively. And there are no restrictions in the text. The piece can be whatever we make of it. The impact: This show brings a unique sense of playfulness, fun and experimentation to the stage. There is no plot, there is no main character, there is no saying exactly what is going to happen next. I have not seen another show during my time at Middlebury that allowed for the same freedom.Production: "Dying City"Dates: Nov. 20-22, Hepburn ZooDirector: Maegan Mishico '08.5Tickets will be available through the College box officeThe setup: Justine Katzenbach '08.5 and I are working together for our 700 project (I am directing and she is acting). We are producing "Dying City" by Christopher Shinn. Trying to not give everything away, the basic synopsis is a year after her husband dies during military tour in Iraq, a young woman is visited by his identical twin brother and forces both of them to explore social class, sex, intimacy, violence, the impact of 9/11, the hidden consequences of war and thus raises questions about the nature of public conscious and private grief.The attraction: While researching possible thesis projects, Justine and I found that we wanted to work with a relevant, contemporary play that would impact the way our generation views the society around us (this play was first produced in 2005). "Dying City" forces the audience to confront their own beliefs about our world today, while still being an engaging and vibrant theatre experienceThe impact: The issues that these characters discuss are issues that you hear being talked about in dining halls or in classes. We hope that this play will contribute to a greater dialogue in the College community about the current state of American culture and beliefs.Production: "Dusa, Fish, Stas & Vi"Dates: Dec. 4 & 5, Hepburn ZooDirector: Emily Feldman '09Tickets will be available through the College box officeThe setup: Four women sharing a flat in London struggle to find happiness in a world riddled with obstacles and expectations. See how their contrasting personalities help and hinder their relationships with each other and with the men in their lives. Each has her own personal battle to fight, but all have a desperate need to find a place in the world as women and as individuals. The attraction: Stephanie Spencer '09 and Lucy Faust '09 read several plays in their search for a 700 project. Faust read "Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi" in a Contemporary Women Playwrights class with Cheryl Faraone and she had an "I've gotta do this play someday" moment with it. So then she gave it to Spencer to read. They love the language and the issues it deals with. It's set in the 1970s in London, and it's a very feminist play, but the issues are still pertinent to our culture today. It's been a very cool process to work with an all-female cast and a female director. We're also really enjoying all our research about feminism in the 1970s. It's so weird to see how far society has come in some respects, and how stagnant it's stayed in others.The impact: It's a quirky play that explores the work-life balance that women of all generations grapple with. I think it will present issues that concern women on the College campus from a unique cultural lens! Production: "Two Rooms"Dates: Nov. 6 - 8, Hepburn ZooDirector: Oscar Loyo '10Tickets will be available through the College box officeThe setup: The piece is about political terrorism, the government and the media. In the play, a professor, Michael, is kidnapped in Beirut three years prior and the play chronicles his wife, Lainie. She tries desperately to get her husband back and is torn between how to act. The state department is urging her to stay quiet and let them do their jobs, while the media is encouraging her to go public with her search. The play focuses on Lainie and her struggle to make a decision.The attraction: It's a timely piece that questions the motives of the government and the media, and whose intentions they are really looking out for. It's a play that makes a political statement and pulls at your heartstrings at the same time.The impact: This is definitely a piece to make you think and question the environment around you. While the play takes place on the other side of the world and is set in the 80s, it presents a situation that is very relevant the world today. Production: "On Ego"Dates: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, Hepburn ZooDirector: Sara Swartzwelder '09Tickets will be available through the College box officeThe setup: The piece, a thought experiment by Derek Parfit, takes up the question of personal identity. Does our idea of the self have the stability, the significance or even the existence that we experience it to have? The attraction: The nature - the meaning and the existence of the self - is put into question through the medium of theatre, and the play does something that philosophy so often fails to do. It allows philosophical issues and questions to collide with real life.The impact: It addresses the kinds of things we tend to abandon as soon as we leave the classroom (or even before) because they're too difficult to think about, to fathom, to apply or to try to reconcile with our reflexive, everyday sense of who and what we are. "On Ego" poses a question philosophers have pursued literally for millennia and, by planting it in the story of realistic, emotionally-charged characters, makes the answer easy to swallow.
(10/09/08 12:00am)
Author: James O'Brien I heard someone say the words, "work hard, play hard" this weekend, and that, along with the Natural Ice that somehow ended up in my CUPPS mug, made me want to throw up. The whole "Work Hard!!! Play Hard!!!" philosophy is possibly the second dumbest thing I've ever heard. It's topped only by the fact that Subway's slogan is still "Eat Fresh." Whenever I hear "Eat Fresh," I feel as thought the commercials are intentionally directing me away from Subway - and towards a place that actually serves fresh food and doesn't microwave their meatball subs. They should change the slogan to "Eat Cheaply at a Place Endorsed by Some Guy Named Jared." In that case, I would appreciate their honesty and maybe buy something from them. Third place, in case you're wondering, goes to the fine print that pops up during Cialis ads that tell us that Cialis does not protect against HIV. Oh, really? Why is that even in the ad? Did people seriously think that their erectile dysfunction drug made them immune to HIV, leading them to sue Cialis over it… I can't figure this out.Anyway, the "work hard-play hard" dynamic is equally as silly as the Subway slogan and Cialis' fine print. Let's look at what we are actually doing when we "work hard" and "play hard." For a good percentage of the campus, when we do what we refer to as "working hard," we're not even working up a sweat. Committed athletes certainly do their fair share of actual work, but a lot of us, me included, just sit at a computer flipping through a book and call that working hard. Not that you need to go out and plow a field on a daily basis, but, and somehow it took me like two years to realize this, the actual real world difficulty level of our "hard work" is not that high. Sometimes I'm amazed by our collective ability to make ourselves as anxious about a calculus exam as our parents were about the threat of a Russian bomb exploding on their school.In terms of the "playing hard" half of the equation, we seem to define playing hard as consuming large amounts of substances and then maybe having sex. I don't think that actually qualifies as "hard" (insert here: erection joke that I was too lazy to write). It's certainly hard on your brain cells and liver and whatnot, but the actual act of doing something like taking three shots in a row doesn't take much physical effort at all. In fact, I'm pretty sure my grandmother Phyllis could do it, and she's an 83 year-old woman with severe back problems and high blood pressure; though the fact that she can't taste anything anymore might actually give her an advantage over us in downing Cossack Vodka. My point here is that what most people call "playing hard" isn't hard at all, and it's really not all that fun either. Still, we pursue this vague idea of playing hard, and that's just the problem. Because when you chase an idea, you never end up catching it. Instead, everyone just ends up wandering from place to place, doggedly pursuing something they don't understand and can't define, and then somehow ending up at the Mods wondering what went wrong with their night. To me when you have several of your friends in one place, along with some new people you are getting to know, that's the best thing you could hope for. Instead of working hard and playing hard, maybe our motto should just be "work and play, and eat fresh." It's simple, but that's the beauty of it. You really don't need to end every night by walking 15 miles to the Mods in a desperate attempt to "have fun." If there's one lesson I've learned in life, it's this: fun is always much closer to you than the Mods. If you take time look at what is right next to you - without expectations or judgments - you might find that, even though you aren't looking for anything, you've somehow found just what you're looking for.
(10/09/08 12:00am)
Author: Melissa Marshall When reaching for a paper topic at the eleventh hour or as bravado of intellectual sensitivity, women - despite post-lapsarian ideology - are saving graces. Guaranteed to lend a level of provocation without waging a revolution, the subject of gender theory not only drenches over-thumbed versions of early modern literature, but also fully wedges itself in the contemporary chaos of media culture - both scholarly and secularly. Pushing aside for a moment the ubiquitous bane of bikini-clad muchachas and the mixture of ho-hum with horrible housewives, the issue of gender has become newly politicized - literally. As we've all seen by the surprisingly sidesplitting SNL skit of "attractive" Sarah Palin and "cankled" Senator Clinton, the collective American mind has magnified its attention on the manipulation of and the manipulation by the fairer sex. However, I will leave the rest of the political commentary to the Opinions section - allowing my leanings to remain cloaked in Victorian modesty - and instead shamelessly bare my love of the low-fidelity Vivian Girls, three women who have commanded the attention of the industry stage and secured my vote as the most powerful female force of 2008. At a shocking twenty-two minutes long, their self-titled virgin release shows that the Brooklyn trio remembered their mothers' advice to not give it all away on the first date. Based around rough production and rushed vocals, the album lends a sense of immediacy to a genre that is slowly suffocating under the languor of bashful boys with acoustic aesthetics. And while I adore the subdued strum of a high-pitched white boy as much as the next Paste-reading protester of plebeian pop, it's invigorating to hear a female vocalist released from the tinkling of a piano and untied from the chords of a synthesized keyboard. Although refreshing in their breakneck percussion and shunning of the shoe-gazer trend, Cassie Ramone, Kickball Katy and Ali Koehler still steep themselves in the maze of contemporary culture. Deriving their name from the recently discovered 15,145 page fantasy opus and artwork of Chicago janitor Henry Darger, the Vivian Girls wheedle themselves in the pop-referential tradition with Sufjan Stevens, John Ashbery, Neil Gaiman and Tilly and the Wall. Despite these connections - and critical comparisons with the foundational Velvet Underground as well as the genre and gender-bending Times New Viking - the trio knocks out the Ovidian metaphor of reflection and crafts a voice, albeit unintelligible, of their own. Surprisingly unfocused on lyrics - many of the words are indistinguishable in their version of noise-pop - the band forces the listener to focus on the feel of the sound. And in a decade spearheaded by the lyrical magnificence of Conor Oberst and Jeff Magnum, a return to the submersive quality of sound can be just as poetic as the storytelling of Springsteen. Monotonous at times, the Vivian Girls compensate for lack of variation with urgency, heightened heartbeats and a concrete concentration on pure emotionality that translates to the listener not through lyrical connection, but through the tantric tapping of "Tell the World," the guttural guitar of "Damaged" and the relentless rhythm of "Never See Me Again." Somewhere under the frenzy of raw measures lies the universal groanings of love and loss, molding Vivian Girls as an endeavor of fierce female influence with a stripped emotional appeal that is wonderfully genderless. As 2008 works its way to a close, the punch line to the year is not "lipstick." Rather, it's a return to musical creation that is unpolished, immediate and emotionally winding. And while the Vivian Girls position themselves as poster-children for the roar of female rock, they more importantly strengthen a movement towards energizing a genre that is suffering from acoustic depression.
(10/02/08 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] To the Editor:I would like to thank your columnist James O'Brien for looking into the dating scene here at Middlebury and sharing his observations. I thoroughly enjoyed his piece, especially his reference to the Love & Condoms Department of the Health Center - what a lovely new moniker for us. I agree that we spent a lot of time last year promoting dating and safer sex but I would hate for the student body to think that is all we are up to. We offer a wide array of programming on such topics as high-risk drinking, sexual assault prevention, smoking cessation, eating disorders, and wellness education, which includes nutrition, stress management and staying safe over spring break. Our next big event in National Gordie Day on Oct. 21 and 22 when we will present the documentary HAZE and a lecture from Travis Apgar, a Dean at Cornell who was hazed when he joined his college football team.I do admit that my office has a penchant for promoting dating and romance. But my office tries to help students get over their anxiety of getting together in the hopes that someday students will all be having better intimate relationships. We also provide students with a way to take risks and reveal their many hidden talents without involving alcohol or drugs.Our office will continue to come up with bigger and better ways to combat student anonymity and social anxiety. So I say to James and the campus, "Hold on to your hat, you ain't seen nothing yet.Sincerely,Jyoti DaniereDirector, Health and Wellness Education
(10/02/08 12:00am)
Author: Jason Gutierrez As a film student, I see the recent advances in digital filmmaking technology as the greatest gift to independent film since the advent of the 16mm camera. Consumer DV cameras and affordable editing software mean that anyone and everyone has the ability to make a movie. "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," shot on DV with a minuscule budget of $25,000, is a product of this flattened filmmaking landscape, and stands out as a fantastic surprise in a year that hasn't seen many surprises coming out of the independent film world. "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" tells the story of Wilson, an aspiring screenwriter and all-around lonely guy who succumbs to pressure from Jacob, his roommate/best friend, and posts an advertisement on Craigslist looking for a New Year's Eve date. "Misanthrope seeks misanthrope," the beginning of the ad reads. The abrasive, profane and chain-smoking blonde with bangs, Vivian, responds. She gives Wilson four hours to make her want to spend the rest of New Year's Eve with him. So begins their journey on the streets of Los Angeles: eating and drinking, walking and talking. They ruminate about life, hopes, dreams, ex-lovers and sex. They connect, disconnect, make up and manage to last through the night. Scoot McNairy plays Wilson with a despondent exterior that hides his stubborn optimism that this New Year's Eve will turn out better than before. His optimism is infectious. I have never wanted to see a protagonist succeed as much as I wanted Wilson to succeed. Sara Simmonds as Vivian presents a bit of a problem. Her performance seesaws between heartbreaking poignancy and over-the-top quirkiness that makes her character tough to get a hold of as well as threatens to sink the film at several different points. Luckily, first-time writer-director Alex Holdridge holds the film together nicely. He finds a way to balance moderately manic comedic scenes with quiet, subtly affecting ones, all with the steady hand of a seasoned pro. An impressive feat for any director, this is made especially so by Holdridge's lack of experience and tiny budget. "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" is a bit quirkier than the standard romantic comedy, but also a bit more straightforward than the mumblecore films from which it takes its cues. Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset" stand out as Holdridge's obvious touchstones, but strains of Aaron Katz's mumblecore masterpiece "Quiet City" also course through the veins of Holdridge's impressive debut. However, unlike the aforementioned twenty-four hour romances, Holdridge takes the time to ensure he creates well-rounded characters. They have flaws, and he doesn't hold back from showing those flaws. Holdridge doesn't force his characters on us, though. Their flaws become part of their personality, and as the film progresses we like them in spite, and at times because, of these flaws.The gorgeous black and white photography also calls to mind other indie film classics, like Jim Jarmusch's "Stranger Than Paradise" and Kevin Smith's "Clerks." In a way these comparisons seem more apt than others because of the way those films saw how other films traditionally operated within generic conventions and made deliberate stylistic or narrative decisions that sidestepped what would be considered typical. Likewise, Holdridge work holds a darker vision of the romantic comedy and pays more attention to the minutiae of daily life than one would normally expect in a film that is, at its most basic level, a genre picture. Normally the emotional zenith of any other romantic comedy, a marriage proposal, is here shrouded in the heartbreaking certainty that the relationship will fail. There are so many moments where characters don't act like characters in romantic comedies that eventually the audience must leave behind the vocabulary of genre it has cultivated over the years and search for a new way to view the film. In other words, Holdridge forces the audience to stop viewing these characters as characters in a movie, but instead see them as real people. In a film as surprising and emotionally complex as "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," I'm not really sure I can offer higher praise than that.
(10/02/08 12:00am)
Author: Amanda Greene Parents' Weekend is just around the corner. The real world is coming to Middlebury! Students will (most likely) be unnerved by the juxtaposition of their two worlds coming together and images of parents sitting on twin extra long beds will arouse smiles and anxiety. The introduction of parents to a "college no parents" environment is, not surprisingly, accompanied by a variety of issues.For instance: Is it time to hide the alcohol? Will Mom and Dad realize that Bill and Lucy are sleeping together? Is it ok to take Sarah and not Karen out to dinner, even though Karen is your roommate? Will the new beer pong table fit in the closet?Newsflash: Parents most likely know a lot more about what is going on than you expect. Remember, they were young once too. Parents' Weekend is designed so that students can show adults a glimpse of their lives and should not make students feel that they need to hide substances in closets, or under beds, in order to paint an idyllic picture of their lifestyle and values.That said, if you know a particular subject is likely to upset parents, steer away from full disclosure which is not necessary or required. College students, as emerging adults, are afforded discretion. If you don't feel comfortable sharing something, don't share. Parent-child privacy thrives in a college environment. So, Parents' Weekend can be spent addressing sex and drugs and rock and roll or it can be spent picking apples, watching the sunset and discussing the upcoming election. Both activities offer parents a window into college life and explore issues that are minds of Middlebury College students.Ultimately, college is about growth and autonomy and Parents' Weekend need not be a source of stress or anxiety when the dining hall is serving spectacular food and panther cookies.And now for this week's question:Q: Recently, I was wandering to Armstrong Library and stumbled upon the study abroad fair in the Great Hall. I'm a Senior, so the fair was not targeting me, but it intrigued me nonetheless. I went from booth to booth pretending that I was interested in the programs and pocketed as many pens, compasses and notebooks as I could. I had no intention of enrolling in a study abroad program. Were my actions unethical?- Proud-PilfererA: Your actions were unethical, not because you acquired free pens but because you intentionally misrepresented your circumstances in order to acquire the writing instruments. There is nothing wrong with you pocketing study abroad materials because the study abroad providers come to Middlebury with the intention of selling a service. The study abroad companies hope that you will tell your younger friends about such opportunities and consider their mission a success if they increase their name recognition and get individuals to discuss the merits of a particular program. In this situation, you should not have introduced yourself as a potential applicant, but rather should have presented yourself as a curious college student. I'm sure the companies would have been willing to give you (lots and lots!) of branded pens.Want to consult the ethicist? Send submissions to amgreene@middlebury.edu.
(09/25/08 12:00am)
Author: Emma Stanford Last Friday Middlebury students and community members alike flocked to "The Boycott," the inaugural production sponsored by Middlebury College in the recently renovated Town Hall Theater. The show cast a new and whimsical light on an issue that lies near the hearts of many Middlebury students: climate change."The Boycott," written and performed by touring actress Kathryn Blume, is based on Aristophanes' play "Lysistrata," in which a band of Spartan women led by the title character attempt to end the Peloponnesian War by withholding sex. In Blume's adaptation, the central action revolves around Lyssa Stratton, First Lady of the United States. The issue at hand is global warming instead of war, and Blume led the audience on a giddy adventure punched up by talking frogs, hazes of absinthe and a scene in Congress where a construction of foam, softballs and pantyhose illustrated the senators' sexual frustration. "Open scene," Blume shouted gleefully, waving her prop on high, "and insert giant phallus!"The lavish and expensive renovations of Town Hall Theater were completed just seven weeks ago, and it was clear Friday night that the new performance space has already found its niche in the community. Audience members arrived early to soak in the eccentric and utilitarian stage set, where a collection of chairs, tables and plastic storage bins reminded college students of their own dorm rooms. When Blume swaggered onstage, she began with a classic opener. "Once upon a time," she said. "I've always loved that beginning. When you hear that you know it's time to settle in for something good."Blume did not disappoint. She punched up her pell-mell comic storyline as a would-be screenplay, complete with cameos of famous actors and a musical score pirated from "Lord of the Rings" and "Mission: Impossible." As the sole performer, Blume portrayed a dozen different characters, dashing from one side of the stage to another to capture each perspective. She was most convincing as her good-natured lead, Lyssa Stratton. Lyssa, wife of swinging President Jack Stratton, is rudely awakened to the climate crisis by an ambassador from a small island nation. After going on a bender fueled by Abraham Lincoln's hidden stash of absinthe, Lyssa resolves to confront global warming in her own way: a nationwide sex strike. Her campaign lobbies the President to take aggressive measures against global warming, drawing activists all across the country. The result is a phenomenon of national abstinence that affects America in some surprising ways. In time, of course, the President caves in, the planet is saved and the camera pans out on a global love-fest.Unfortunately, standards of comedy have grown subtler since the days of Aristophanes, and Blume's determination to entertain grew tiresome. The show would have been better without the number of comic accents, suggestive props and grating references to "The Princess Bride." The play was saved, however, by Blume's decision to juxtapose its plotline with a memoir of her own journey as as activist. After every sexual innuendo or Secret Service joke, the stage lights came up and she told the audience about her doubts that a theater performance could stop global warming. Later, she entered a hysterical tailspin describing the predicament of buying groceries: plastic bags, paper bags, canvas bags and organic canvas bags. "Look at me!" she shrieked, dropkicking one of her plastic storage bins. "I'm doing this show, and I've got plastic on the stage!" When she sensed that the audience was nearing emotional overload, she squatted on a table with her cheeks puffed out and said, as her character Iniga Frogtoya, "You killed my planet. Prepare to die."In the end it was not the pop culture gimmicks or the funny voices that made the show compelling, but Blume's earnest concern about climate change. Flitting between giddy parody and wide-eyed sincerity, she hammered home her cause from every possible angle, desperate to convey its urgency. She was, of course, preaching to the choir, here in Vermont. But after Lyssa Stratton got her happy ending and the world was put to rights, there were few in the audience who could doubt Blume's faith in our planet's potential for "blazing, unquenchable hope."
(09/18/08 12:00am)
Author: Kate Lupo A cult of motherhood is emerging in American culture today. Even in our own sleepy town of Middlebury, the chic store Rainbow Room on Main Street features three shirts in its storefront window that read "Mother of 1, 2, 3." Instead of reading the traditional news, young women are reading articles in teen magazines about "Brangelina's Baby Bump" or "Christina Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss Regimen." It makes me wonder: is the media reflecting a rise in pregnancies within the American population or is it actually perpetuating them? Perhaps this trend began with Jamie Lynn Spears. Spears brought the topic of teen pregnancy into the national spotlight. Just when we thought that Britney's family drama had reached it lowest point, her angelic 16-year-old sister became pregnant. Jamie Lynn's pregnancy sparked a veritable storm of media attention, bringing teen motherhood to the forefront of the American psyche. Over time, the media seemed to create two ways of looking at Jamie Lynn's story: either it marked the tragic end of a young actress' career and promising youth, or it represented a noble portrayal of a brave young woman poised for motherhood. At first, they dwelled on the dysfunctional Spears family and the tragedy of their daughter's pregnancy, but over time stories began to circulate that painted the situation in a positive light. Sensing the public's insatiable curiosity, magazines began to give us joyous accounts of what types of clothing Jamie Lynn was buying for her baby and who would attend her baby shower. Jamie Lynn's pregnancy made her more famous than she had ever been before.In the past year in a half, we have also paid money to see Juno and Knocked Up in theaters. Jamie Lynn's story combined with these portrayals of young, unwed mothers have de-mystified and glamorized a topic that used to be one of uncomfortable shame. Ever since, American popular culture has been infatuated with the idea of the pregnant mother, both the teenager and adult. One cannot enter a gas station, supermarket or convenience store without being bombarded by racks of magazines which seem to always feature pregnant celebrities gently holding their growing stomachs and smiling cheerfully. The trend has run rampant in Hollywood where celebrities like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie orchestrated an amazing publicity stunt with the birth of their twin babies. Angelina Jolie was paid a higher amount for giving birth (People Magazine allegedly paid $14 million) than she usually gets for making a movie (average salary: $10 million). The day the photographs of the Jolie-Pitt twins were revealed, there was an absolute frenzy. The attention demonstrates just how obsessed the American public has become with the cult of motherhood.Pregnancy has also workd its way into politics this year, especially in the everlasting debate on abortion. One could also argue that the political climate in the past eight years has encouraged the idea that bearing a child, even if you are unwed and unable to support it, is a noble and just thing. I find it really interesting that Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate and mother of five, expressed her views against abortion just days before announcing that her own teenage daughter, Bristol, is expecting a child. Bristol Palin's story adds to our theme. Within the past year and a half, the pregnant teenage mother has emerged as a heroine.So what does this mean for American women? I think it means that we need better role models and less attention paid towards the recent glorification of teenage pregnancy. Thankfully, there are now some very powerful female politicians in the national spotlight that demonstrate the idea that a woman can have a successful career as well as a family. While this is a good start, let us hope that even more female professionals will emerge and inspire the younger generation to achieve their goals and plan ahead for the future. Planning ahead also means practicing safe sex. In the end, I think we can all agree that motherhood should not and must not be the only option for young women in this country.
