culture. ish. page two

Andrew Bird -- Armchair Apocrypha (2007)

2007-04-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Cliché or not, Andrew Bird has come a long way in past ten years. From his stint as violinist for hot-jazz revivalists Squirrel Nut Zippers to the non-stop barrage of eclectic solo albums, the dude isn't afraid of tweaking his sound to improve it. And thankfully, the little tweaks make Armchair Apocrypha his best release.

Handling the bulk of instrumental duties himself, Bird piles violin, guitar, glockenspiel and whistling (he's an ace whistler) atop one another to form structurally impressive pop songs. Tracks slap everything from gypsy swing to folk rock together, more often than not using Bird's deft lyrical imagery as glue. And from the metaphysical "Dark Matter" to the pop culture-probing "Plasticities," the album is as thoughtful as it is impossibly catchy.

Armchair Apocrypha is that rare album not only provides common ground for classical musical purists and Top 40 radio listeners, but also ends up being Bird's most accessible release without sacrificing anything in the process.

--jp

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One Night With The King (2006)

2007-04-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

The makers of this film had great source material for this. You can read the book of Esther in less time than it takes this movie to draw out the mundane parts of the story.

The film doesn't even qualify as a good Sunday-school lesson. The important parts of the story are pushed to the margins to make the film the story of one woman's courage to change the heart of King Xerxes (also one of the stars of the film 300). At times the film seems forced into trying to be a romantic tale. I found the interpretation of the story to be trite (there are overt references to Haman being a Nazi; red and black flags with a frightening symbol on them).

Where the text allows for high drama, the audience of the film gets bad montages and didactic narration. I have always found the story of Esther to be fascinating, but this version makes it seem absurd.

--gpv

greg's blog
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David Batstone -- Not for Sale (2007)

2007-04-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

The current hot topic of justice is the subject of David Batstone's "Not for Sale." Offering detailed accounts of slavery found in the United States and in outside countries, the words flowing from the pages touch close to home. This is not an easy read. Although it is intriguing and heart wrenching, it is also scary, holding stories of which we would rather claim ignorance.

The official book of the Amazing Change campaign, this book both challenges and offers hope. Batstone skillfully networks together the different abolitionist efforts such as International Justice Mission and Free the Slaves, showing that this is a joint effort that needs more energy. He writes with passion and high expectations as he challenges readers to become abolitionists, a vocation that he believes still continues. This book tells stories of college students who have made successful efforts towards abolition.

Read this book. I challenge you to read it and to not feel a fire burn inside of you as you read of children soldiers in Uganda, of little girls being enslaved, of women continually tricked into prostitution. My hope is that after reading "Not for Sale" you will be unwilling to except the sight of injustice without digging past the surface.

--sk

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N.O.R.E. -- Y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe (2006)

2007-04-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

This band is part of a noticeable trend that has been occurring in the past couple years known as “Spanglish.” Bands like N.O.R.E. (pronounced NOR-EE or Ene-O-Ere-Eh), Daddy Yankee and Shakira have been throwing both Spanish and English into their songs, making their potential audience larger.

Dedicated to Puerto Rico, the album features Fat Joe, Diddy, Ja Rule and many others. For the genre lovers this album is known to be reggaeton, rap, and hip-hop. The album title translates to something like, “[N.O.R.E.] and the family…Now you know.” What they are trying to relate by this is that they are going to talk about how things are in Puerto Rico. Then, in the end, you will understand.

Many of the songs have definite references to Puerto Rican culture and history. In the song “Y Voy,” they speak of a Jibaro, a specific reference to the working-class man on the island. There are also references like “Boriqua,” slang for a Puerto Rican male or female.

It is surprising that this album was not more popular. It is a great compilation of genres, cultures and artists. Though the lyrics may not be the best, it is a good album. The artists put thought into what they were making and made conscious efforts to make this album very specific to Puerto Rico.

--jc

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God Loves Film (Got a Light?)

2007-04-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

I've been making short films since the summer before my Senior year of High School. Since then I've made over 70 short films. As to why I make films on my own, instead of just for classes, it's mainly because I couldn't stop even if I wanted to. I believe this is what I was meant to do.

I always think of Eric Little from Chariots of Fire when I think about making films. He says that he feels God's pleasure when he runs, and he can't stop running because God made him fast. I feel the same way about making and watching films. When I see a film by directors like Wong Kar Wai, Jia Zhang Ke, Chan Wook Park, or Hou Hsiao Hsien I not only see God in the humanness and artistry of those films, but I feel God calling me to go out there and do the same.

God loves films. He loves new innovative styles and cinematography. And I love films because I see God's beauty and truth in them. He made me to love films, and I'm just doing what he created me to do. That's the amazing thing about movies--they capture God's creation. Films capture humans in God's world, and we can experience so much of God's love, truth, and beauty in his creation through films. And the cool thing about it, is that we experience them through a film in a new, fresh, unique way that we could never do in real life. A minimalist film like Last Life in the Universe shows a real-life situation in Bangkok. But the style of the film makes it extraordinary. The music, the cinematography, the pacing-- all of these things add to this world that would not be there in every day life. Films celebrate the possible beauty of everything! As Christopher Doyle says, "maybe--just maybe--by celebrating the possible beauty in things, films can change the world just a little."

The other huge reason I make films is because I think (I hope at least), that I have something to say that will mean something to someone. I want people to walk out of my films asking big questions. I want people to love people more after watching my films. I want people to love God more after watching my films. I want to challenge people in the messages I bring across.

I hope my latest film Got a Light accomplishes some of that. I hope I showed the beauty of God's world and God's people in this film. The film is showing on at 7 p.m. on April 21, in John White Chapel in Old Main, but people can show up as early as 6 for refreshments.

--Mark Sanders

Light for Darfur

2007-04-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Light for Darfur Project arose from the desire of students to raise awareness about the situation that has been going on in the Sudan for the past four years. The project will culminate with an event in Johnson Gym on Saturday, April 21st from 4-7 p.m.

During the first hour, attendees will have the opportunity walk through a pictorial history of genocide. Dr. Ali Dinar, a native of the Sudan and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, will be speaking at 5 p.m. Students have been hard at work to create a multimedia experience that will challenge you to move from being a bystander to an active participant in the fight against the injustice of genocide. There will be opportunities for prayer support and also monetary support through donations and the purchase of t-shirts. Come and be educated, informed and challenged.

For more information on the Light for Darfur Project, visit our website at http://www.geocities.com/lightfordarfur.

-Rachel Veydt

Bayside -- The Walking Wounded (2007)

2007-04-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

This is the basic four-man band: the singer with his guitar, another guitarist, a bassist and a drummer. Singer Anthony Raneri has a unique enough voice in contrast to popular music out on the charts right now, but the band doesn't stray much from the rock/pop-punk sound.

Regardless, they are definite material to be popular soon. It is easy to understand and sing along to the words. The rhythm is simple enough to rock and dance to in concert. And they actually have a band name that is someone easy to remember.

So, let's suppose that this band does get popular with their new hit “Duality?” This is a song about two personalities. It is almost like any other, “I’m frustrated with everything” song. It is very insecure lyrically: “There’s no telling what tomorrow holds / There’s no telling which voice takes control / Is there anybody out there? / Is there anybody calling? / What if what I think is really wrong? / I’m not in control”

Being a fan of fun music when it comes to rocking out or dancing the night away at a concert, this song leaves me very conflicted as I see it is going mainstream and will be listened to mainly by young people.

I guess like many other bands, this band’s lyrics can not be taken all too seriously. Although, the sound is great, so have fun with it.

--jc

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Joss Stone -- Introducing Joss Stone (2007)

2007-04-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Joss Stone is a British soul and R&B singer. Her third album, Introducing Joss Stone, is not like her previous two. This album shows off her ability to sing over different rhythms and styles. Introducing... not only features guest appearances from Common and Lauryn Hill, but also is produced by Raphael Saadiq, the former lead singer of early '90s pop music band Toni, Tone, Tony.

Saadiq brings a lot syncopated rhythms, off-beat drums and catchy loops to the album. This all blends for on awesome pop and soul sound. This forces Joss to sing in different styles; as a result, she's not able to showcase her voice as much. This is good if you just want to hear some good music, but if you want to hear her strong voice, buy her first two albums.

It is a good album to have for a second date, relaxing with a special friend during open hours; it's also good if you just like Joss Stone or Raphael Saadiq.

--js

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Ben Guiles' Playlist

2007-04-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

Alias: Ben Guiles
Major: Sociology
Year: Freshman

Ben says the transitions on this playlist are amazing. Too bad imeem didn't have all the songs. Make sure you check out that claim though.

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Brad Roman's Playlist

2007-04-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

Alias: Brad Roman
Major: Civil Engineering
Year: Senior

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The Good, The Bad and the Queen -- The Good, The Bad and the Queen (2007)

2007-04-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Good art can’t be assembled from exemplary pieces like a fantasy baseball team. The Good, The Bad, & The Queen, the first album from the band formed by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, falls prey to the usual supergroup problem: it sounds too good, too slick and too professional to be very interesting. Produced by Danger Mouse, and featuring Paul Simonon of the Clash, Simon Tong of the Verve, and Tony Allen from Fela Kuti’s backing band (Afrika 70), the album is lushly arranged but ultimately uninspiring. The lyrics, intended to be a portrayal of modern life in London, are somewhat evocative but rather vague and obscure; they’re far more interesting as poems in the album liner than paired with the music.

The album does have a few high points: “Nature Springs” shows the band melding their diverse styles with much more success than the rest of the album, and hints at promising results if this group can ever move past being a project and meld into a band. This album, however, is still fairly immature.

--ap

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Reign Over Me (2007)

2007-04-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

There have been plenty of movies made that tell stories of trauma; in fact, one might argue that almost all films are about traumatic experiences and how this changes and moves people through a narrative, toward either greater meaning or nihilistic chaos. These films need to find resolution in redemption or some level of healing in the afflicted person, or they ultimately settle for despair. When dealing with true tragedy, good films need to find an honest way to allow the audience to imagine the possibilities of hope and love.

Reign Over Me is this sort of film. It never sinks to the level of despair, but is accurate in not providing false hope. Charlie (Adam Sandler) has been a recluse since the loss of his wife and three daughters on 9/11. He has stopped visiting friends and family, and spends his time playing video games, listening to music and collecting records. Alan (Don Cheadle), Charlie's former roommate, sees him scooting around town and tries to reconnect after a long absence. Alan soon realizes that he needs to try to help Charlie, but finds that the institutions in place for dealing with grief and loss are not adequate to the task. He realizes that it will require time and a slow reconnecting with a small group of new friends that might help Charlie to learn to live with the loss, and make sense of his own life. The film is really good at developing the characters, and as weird and random as the group seems, it works. The film doesn't try to make grand statements about death and loss. Rather, it simply shows that a little reflection on life can show us who we are and what it is that we love most.

--gpv

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Bright Eyes -- The Four Winds EP (2007)

2007-04-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

According to current polls, two out of every three people think that President Bush is doing a bad job running the country right now. This number must be higher among people with recording contracts. But with the recent crop of blatant musical statements of political dissatisfaction, Bright Eyes’ latest work, the Four Winds EP, stands out.

Although his political commentary isn't hidden beneath layers of complex literary constructions, Conor Oberst did have the grace to craft his songs into clever and compelling metaphors, avoiding the descent into blatant and puerile name-calling that has plagued the work of other folks forwarding similar messages.

And while his lyrics do become heavy-handed in places (“the Bible's blind, the Torah's deaf, the Koran's mute/If you burn them all together you get close to the truth”), the album is not a tirade. The Four Winds is certainly tinged with sorrow and despair, but Bright Eyes keeps things listenable with his skillful folk rock arrangements. This collection of songs is one of the most palatable statements of frustration to come out of the cottage industry of dissident voices that have sprung up since Bush’s re-election.

--nc

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The Boundries of Cultural Engagement

2007-04-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

When I was in the ninth grade I wanted to be cool. So, I bought the coolest album I could- Pearl Jam’s Ten. Everyone in high school seemed to love them. They sounded good, and it wasn’t like I had to reflect too hard on the lyrics that you couldn’t catch most of the word too anyway. It was about being cool. I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but my Dad (a pastor) decided that we should sit down and listen and read the lyrics together. At first this seemed even cooler, seeing as how my first experience of rock music was the Simon & Garfunkel my Dad recorded off the radio during his college days. But as we read the lyrics of songs like “Evenflow” and “Jeremy” I began to realize that this was disturbing stuff- painful and emotional songs about child abuse. My dad didn’t make me burn the CD’s or throw them out, he merely pointed out that there was a massive disconnect between my own life and experience and the music I was listening to. I came to the realization that I wouldn’t be listening to Pearl Jam anymore (My junior year of college I returned to them with more mature questions). I had to recognize my own limitations.

What I have come to realize is that while a Reformed view allows Christians the freedom to really engage and ask good questions of culture, it also places on us the responsibility of know where the boundaries are. Even before the Fall, God had told Adam and Eve the limits that they were under, not as slaves to God, but so that they could find their identity and flourish in their relationship with God, rather than being deceived by thinking of themselves as god. This has become clearer, or rather more muddled, after the fall, where we now see the world “through a glass darkly.” In a world with real goodness and real evil, we must come to realize what our boundaries are so that we are pursuing faithfulness, rather than running into ruin.

What we need is a community of conversation- a space where we can learn and grow in maturity and discernment. To be human is to be a creature in God’s world, and we flourish most when we live inside the limits that God’s grace provides. Engaging culture is not a free for all in which we celebrate every created thing as art, rather it is a careful process in which we work out our faith with “fear and trembling,” trying to discern the complexities of an originally good creation that we have screwed up by mistaking grace for irresponsible freedom. Engaging culture will involve developing appropriate gestures in response to culture; these gestures then shape our posture toward culture. Andy Crouch (Culture Makers, 2007) lists “condemnation, critique, consumption, and copying” as possible Christian responses to different things in culture. While each of these responses are appropriate for different things, we should not allow one of them to become the dominating response. Rather, within the limits of God’s world we have to become creators and cultivators of culture- to truly be salt and light in the world.

--gpv

greg's blog

Casino Royale (2006)

2007-04-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Let’s be honest: James Bond will always be James Bond. There will be explosions, there will be a ridiculous villain, and there will be a fairly offensive and chauvinistic approach to all the female characters. Casino Royale is no exception to the Bond formula. In addition to the sex and violence, however, the latest installment in the series takes an opportunity to slow down and do something very interesting.

In the slower moments of the film, the writers take time to deal with the origins and consequences of the callous mindset that defines James Bond. They take a sensitive look at the casual sex-hound and remorseless murderer, which--while still admiring--shows a certain hollowness to his being.

Over all, Casino Royale is little more than a fun popcorn flick, but its moments of introspection lend it a gravity and sense of dignity seldom found in the blow-'em-up super-spy genre.

--nc

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Aqualung -- Memory Man (2007)

2007-04-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

This is car-commercial music. This is music that only feels meaningful when you’re at the bar and you’ve been drinking alone. This is a dull, dull, overproduced album. The lyrics are formulaic and uninspiring, and bear the distinctive shape of Nashville cookie cutter pieces (see, for example, such gems as “Had enough of wondering / what became of all the dreams she had / oh, they're out there somewhere”). The standard piano-rock pieces are mostly split between tracks that sound either like a mix of Coldplay and U2 run through a fruit juicer, or like absolutely generic CCM-ish cuts.

A large part of the problem with this album is the production; “Rolls So Deep,” for example, would be an enjoyable, if unremarkable, Blur-esque number but for the effects on Matt Hales’ voice; as it is, the vocals sound as if they were ground up and pressed through cheesecloth. This album shows some promise, but isn’t actually good in its own right; it’s worth a second listen, but definitely not a third.

--ap

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Official Concert Announcement

2007-03-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

OVER THE RHINE
DAVID BAZAN
of PEDRO THE LION, HEADPHONES
with RACHEL ZYLSTRA

GENEVA COLLEGE
JOHNSTON GYMNASIUM

Tuesday. April 24, 2007. 7:30 PM.

Here's some amazing pictures from the Over the Rhine, David Bazan and Rachel Zylstra show taken by Caryn Azure.

The Concert

If you were there, let us know what you thought of it. If you have some pictures, link to them in the comments and send them to us. If you weren't, sorry you missed out on a great time.

Thanks for your support.

Emily Colledge's Playlist

2007-03-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

Alias: Emily Colledge
Major: Master of Arts in Higher Education
Year: Second

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David Wilcox at Club Cafe

2007-03-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

Rarely do you get to experience a concert from on stage, looking out at the audience. Apparently, arriving late can have its advantages. The last available place to sit in Club Café, a small lounge/bar in Pittsburgh’s Southside, was a speaker just off of stage left. It made for an awkward crick in the neck for the two hours of stories and songs with David Wilcox…but oh, it was so worth it.

Wilcox is not only a great musician, making his acoustic guitar keep the rhythm while sustaining intricate picking, but his ability to tell stories makes him unique. In fact, most of the audience was there because they knew Wilcox’s work (another advantage of seeing the crowd sing along to some of his more famous songs). Wilcox’s songs focus on human relationships, mostly the intensity of love, the pain of heartache, and the comedy of human mortality. Wilcox moved seamlessly from the laugh inducing “Reaper Sweepstakes” to the tearful “Deeper Still” ("In this life, the love you give becomes the only lasting treasure/And what you lose will be what you win/A well that echoes down too deep to measure") to narrating the philosophical in “Inside of My Head” ("I've got to empty out the inside of my head/This could be a room with such a view,/but its covered up with junk/Blocking off the place the light gets through"). Wilcox claims his best song is “Three Brothers” from his latest album, which explores the religious conflict in the Middle East in a subtle and beautiful way.

The well-told stories interspersed throughout the set helped explain the inspirations to the songs, making the music take on heighten meaning. Wilcox is pretty honest about his faith and how it helps him see both the funny and serious sides of life, brokenness and spirituality; pointing out that our love for one another is a mired and grace-filled reflection of God’s love for us.

His latest album is called Vista. Wilcox was quick to point out came out before the latest version of Windows.

--gpv

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The Hold Steady at the Rex

2007-03-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

The Rex Theatre on the Southside of Pittsburgh apparently used to serve as an actual theater. The only give-away to this storied past is the lit, carpeted walkways. This is a fantastic place for a concert, especially the Hold Steady.

Listening to live music can easily be compared to watching a live sporting event. Rarely (except on dumb commercials by TV companies) do you hear the claim that it’s better to sit at home and watch the game than go to see it--everyone knows what you’re missing.

The Hold Steady show is the same way. As I stand packed in, listening with friends I came with and a couple hundred other people I may never see again. There’s a pretty intense energy flowing through the room. Yet, we’re willing to stand abnormally close and even smile and laugh with each other (which certainly wouldn’t be acceptable if we passed each other on the street).
There’s very little more enjoyable in life than getting a glimpse into the life of someone who totally loves what they’re doing. The guys from the Hold Steady are a great example. From their constant smiles to their incessant thanking, they certainly looked like they might have been enjoying the concert even more than the exuberant audience.

During the final song, vocalist Craig Finn told the audience that “there’s so much joy in what we do” and started grabbing people by the hand, pulling them up on the stage. Finn just stood there smiling--surrounded by the twenty people he brought on stage--and mouthed “thank you.”

This is the kind of stuff that makes it more than worthwhile to go hear live music.

--cc

listen to the hold steady.
photo credit: Rex Sorgatz.

Terry Thomas' Playlist

2007-03-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Alias: Terry Thomas
Major: Philosophy
Year: Fifteenth

Richard Mouw -- Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport (2004)

2007-03-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

I am Dutch and a Calvinist (more specifically a neo-Calvinist). The obligatory joke here is that God decided this before the beginning of the world. Words like "Calvinism" make people feel uncomfortable; people are suddenly confronted with theological conversations that seem to mean everything and nothing at the same time. Lucky for us, in contemporary times getting burned at the stake for small distinctions is unlikely. But we also shouldn't be lazy when it comes to knowing what we believe about the "ultimate things."

Mouw takes his book title from a scene from the Paul Schrader film, Hardcore. This film focuses on a Dutch Reformed man from Grand Rapids who goes to LA in search of his daughter, who has run away while attending a Christian youth conference. He ends up in the Las Vegas airport with a prostitute who has a lead on where his daughter might be. They have a brief conversation about their beliefs in which he can only manage to say that he believes in TULIP—the five points of Calvinism. The film suggests that in the emerging postmodern world, TULIP is a shabby antique of a theology.

Mouw has written this small book (127 pages) to show that the Calvinist heritage does indeed speak to a diverse and pluralistic culture. Using clear and concise language, he gives a brief explanation of the five points of Calvinism, and then goes on to apply them to contemporary conversations about God's sovereignty, the basis for cultural renewal and evangelism. Mouw is always reiterating the need for humility and compassion along side of conviction, in order to change the stereotype of Calvinism as an arrogant view that can be used as a pedestal and hammer—or in the case of South Africa, apartheid. For all of its downsides, Mouw also points out the valuable contributions that Calvinism has made to thoughtful Christianity, and a Christian engagement with culture and the public sphere.

I recommend reading this book, you might be surprised to find that God had you listed a Calvinist the whole time.

--gpv

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A First Hand Look

2007-03-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

Too often we define the city of New Orleans, by the devastating affects of hurricane Katrina. My perception was proved wrong, after returning to New Orleans for the second time on the spring break missions trips.

The people of New Orleans are filled with a spirit of hope, and a commitment to rebuilding their lives and communities. They are not defined by the storm, but rather by their incredible culture, and their perseverance to embrace change and continue the progress being made.

There still is a huge need for volunteers, so if you are interested in volunteering and visiting a unique culture Google Trinity Christian Community, Hollygrove, New Orleans. Or email me at kllandes@geneva.edu.

--kll

bush clinton katrina fund
red cross
trinity christian community
hollygrove

Spike Lee -- When the Levees Broke (2006)

2007-03-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

In this 4 hour documentary, made for HBO, Spike Lee investigates the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina. Lee looks at all the angles: the natural, social, governmental, and human disaster that Katrina created in its wake and aftermath. It is an eye opening film, and tries to ask more questions than it is able to resolve about the stakes and impact that Katrina had and has on the lives of those who were born, raised and continue to call New Orleans home.

The documentary starts with the events leading up to the storm, and the government's failure early on. The second part focuses more on the media, and the good and bad that resulted from information on a mass scale. Lee does a good job of weaving together the big picture with the lives of individuals and the personal stories that those at the center tell about their experience. This film made me realize the filter and blinders that I have as a person who has never been to the southeastern US, and the difficulty of discerning the info-glut of CNN and the Internet.

The best insight of the film is not that we have a race problem in America (which is true, and may be the reason Crash won best picture immediately following Katrina), but rather the film points out the integral nature of human relationships that are mediated by social institutions. A personal disruption of your everyday life can be traumatic, but this can be exponentially damaging when social structures also start to fail in helping people recover a sense of normalcy and meaning. We all want personal freedom, and often times we overlook our intimate connection to the reality of a social world, involving a massive web of relationships. What we need is a politics that takes into account the reality of both.

--gpv

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Dave Eggers -- What is the What (2006)

2007-03-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

In his latest novel, Dave Eggers undertakes a bold task, presenting a lightly fictionalized account of Sudanese refuge Valentino Achak Deng. Fortunately, Eggers proves himself to be up to the task.

Deng’s wild, tragic journey across Sudan and into refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya is framed around a tale of suffering induced in the one place Deng should allegedly feel safe--the United States. He tells his life story to the audience while lying on the floor of his own apartment, bound and gagged by robbers claiming to teach him a valuable lesson.

The stories of Deng’s hardships in both his native Africa and in America become a compelling--if emotionally draining--yarn in Eggers’ hands. He manages to mix in a measure of lightness into the heavy meditations on death and torment, keeping the book from becoming unbearable.

Eggers successfully presents a picture of the very real suffering of individuals in war-torn Sudan, and he does it without hitting a strident or preachy note. His honesty and earnestness give this novelized autobiography an unimpeachably authoritative voice. “Read this” isn’t quite strong enough a request.

--nc

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Modest Mouse -- We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007)

2007-03-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Modest Mouse are an unlikely success story--quirky band on a tiny label, gains a following, gets picked up on a large label, has a hit record, doesn't alter sound too much in the process, still together after nearly 15 years.

We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank--their fifth full-length album--shows the band tweaking their approach, if only slightly. While the lyrics are hued with nautical tones, the music is a juggling act between the radio-friendly ("Dashboard"), the challenging-yet-hummable ("Fire It Up"), and a few riveting tunes that might only appeal to the adventurous ("Spitting Venom").

But even with the addition of legendary Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to the line-up, We Were Dead... is missing a lot of bite. It's a good album, with brine-soaked instrumentation and bluntly introspective lyrics. But as good as it is, the band could've done a little better.

--jp

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Hellogoodbye -- Zobies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! (2006)

2007-03-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

So here’s the thing about whipped cream: it’s very difficult to develop a strong reaction to it, either positive or negative. Sometimes that added bit of white froth makes an otherwise mundane hot drink just perfect. Other times, the bit of additional sweetness is cloying and unnecessary. But ultimately, the cream is just a bit of white foam, and not really worth getting worked up over.

Hello Goodbye has created a bit of whipped cream with their album, Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! As the title lets on, it seems that these guys had a lot of fun creating these songs. The album is light fare, full of bright-eyed love songs, exploding with positivity and optimism. The electronic music buoys the tracks along quite nicely, keeping the pace bubbly and discouraging the listener from looking at the generic lyrics too closely. Ultimately the album is sugary fluff, pleasant enough to listen to, but not filling or deeply satisfying.

--nc

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Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

2007-03-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Going back to the '90s for a TV show that didn’t even air a complete season isn’t always the best idea, but in some rare occasions it’s worth it. Freak & Geeks is the reason I came up with that ridiculous sentence in the first place.

Freaks & Geeks is about teen angst and whole lot more. The show centers around Lindsay and Sam Weir, two high school kids who fall into two specific categories in their high school: the freaks and the geeks (yeah, that only happens in high school). Their two parents, Harold and Jean, stereotypically cannot understand either of their kids, yet at times are just what they need (Harold: "She's hanging with a bad crowd. She's lying and cheating and next thing you know, she's Patty Hearst with a gun to our heads").

The topics range everywhere from friendship to just trying to fit in (Lindsay: "All my new friends think I'm a goody-two-shoe and all my old friends think I'm throwing my life away. What am I supposed to do?"), but no matter what the show covers, there’s bound to be something hilarious in every episode, and something very descriptive about life even beyond the high school years.

The show was canceled for who-knows-what-reason (TV shows I watch have a habit of doing that), but you can pick up the complete first season on DVD from Netflix or from the store.

--cc

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300 (2007)

2007-03-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

This film is about originality of dialogue and story structure--OK, I can't say that with a straight face. This film could not be further from it. Most of the lines are cliches and or slightly plagiarized from other works (there are actual clips from Gladiator in this film!...almost). However, this film is a cgi marvel, allowing the viewer to enter into a fantastical ancient culture, where gods, men and wild beasts struggle for survival and honor.

Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller (Sin City, Batman: the Dark Knight Returns), Zach Snyder adapted and directs this film about the Persian/Greek battle at Thermopylae in 480 B.C. The Spartan warriors are the inspiration of this film about the human struggle for honor and courage in the face of death. One of the films best qualities is its take on the religious structure of the time, with the Persian King Xerxes speaking and acting like a god among men. The visuals are stunning and the blood flies, splatters, and many other verbs. The sub-plot of family in Sparta actually gets in the way of the action-packed bloodbath. This is a film where you get a little history-lite and learn not to take yourself too seriously.

--gpv

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Elise Grybos Playlist

2007-03-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

Alias: Elise Grybos
Major: Elementry/Special Education, Reading
Year: Junior

visit culture. ish. on imeem.

Toby Mac -- Portable Sounds (2007)

2007-03-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

Former DC Talk member Toby Mac is dropping his sixth solo effort. He has been a solo artist since 2001. Toby albums are full of diverse elements and mixes of pop, hip hop, rock and gospel music.

His new album Portable Sound is a real treat. He has added a blend of reggae to the mix, including the pure reggae track "No Signal." That creates a lot of styles for the ear to hear at once, but it's mixed just right so it's not distracting. If you're worried about his skin color he has soul and rhythm. He is very lyrical, skillful and tasteful with the choice of topics he chooses. This is a good album for most ages.

Toby’s albums have a dominating pop sound, but this album has a darker tone than the rest of his albums. This album has something for everyone and if you are a fan of hip hop it is a must buy. However, be prepared to be slightly disappointed at the length of the album. But trust me, this album still worth the money spent--the message of the album is awesome.

--js

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The Well Fund Update

2007-03-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

Donations: $1,216.70
Matched by The Call: $500.00
Total: $1,716.70

Cost of a Well: $5,390.00
Still Needed: $3,673.30

We’re going to take this opportunity to yet again say THANK YOU. We’d have zero bucks without you.

However, we still could use some more. Keep it coming. It’ll help.

Why culture. ish. Part II

2007-03-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Why culture. ish.?

Because that question has to be asked. In an atmosphere where every action is expected to be circumscribed and propped up by mission statements that read like the credo printed on top of bathroom hand dryers, where every endeavor is required to submit a financial plan and detailed cost analysis, where some new and trendy vision of the beloved community is always around the corner, asking to be made immediately real, culture. ish. seeks to make its place somewhere else.

We don't aim to be in conflict with those things, but to exist outside of their tightly-knit world, subsisting in joyous practice. Our aim is not to communicate facts and bits of data. Rather, if we are looking to educate, it is in a deeper and more interactive sense - a mutual education that is found in sharing of ourselves and earnestly listening as we seek to practice a Christian relationship with art and culture, and in drawing those around us into that same ecstatic dance.

--ap

Dolorean -- You Can't Win (2007)

2007-03-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

If there is a defeatist attitude underlining You Can't Win, it's easy to miss. The Portland, Ore. band's breezy folk rock--reminiscent of the Band or Neil Young--drifts along on bright melodies and frontman Al James' tender voice.

But the lyrics betray sunken hopes, capsized relationships and scuttled dreams. The hypnotic opener has the band--in full harmony--repeating the album title over a growing bed of lush instrumentation. "Beachcomber Blues" evokes the image of an aimless, shuffling mediation by the sea. And despite James' pretty vocal part, "Buffalo Gal" packs uneasiness into benign lyrics.

But the record hinges on "My Still Life," the final track. James lists the seemingly mundane aspects of his day to a loved one, but the delivery suggests something better--he's fine with what he's been given. You Can't Win is a disarmingly pleasant album, and is a great aural soundtrack for the shift from winter to spring.

--jp

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Fall Out Boy -- Infinity on High (2007)

2007-03-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

Infinity on High is a compulsively listenable artifact of the culture that arises from the ruins of a centerless worldview. In lieu of any higher authority, we tend to establish ourselves as the be all and end all of our existence. Fall Out Boy’s lyrics reflect this narcissism.

The album is not just a celebration of celebrity culture, although it certainly comes off as that. There is a pain in these lyrics hidden beyond the poppy tunes that are an enjoyable departure from the pop-punk formula that permeates the band’s previous efforts. “I'm a stitch away from making it and a scar away from falling apart,” cries “the (After) Life of the Party.” While there might not be anything revolutionary about their pain, it is palpable. They are, through their skillfully produced versions of shoddy myspace poetry, declaring themselves to be the voices of a generation of moderately disaffected suburban youth.

While there is much to revile in the hymnody of these self-proclaimed prophets, the fact that it has the potential to be the new Psalter for a large percentage of the youth population is enough to warrant careful listening and consideration.

--nc

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Menomena -- Friend and Foe (2007)

2007-03-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

So this is how a logical syllogism works: there’s a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion that follows if both premises are true. Something like this: bands who whistle in their songs are always good. Menomena whistles in their songs. Menomena is good. It’s a true story–the syllogism proves it, and syllogisms don’t lie.

This album has a bizarre feel; xylophones and saxophones and all sorts of other instruments mix with affected vocals differently from song to song, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. It’s music that’s easy to get lost in, and difficult to find your way out of once you start. This world that’s so difficult to get out of, though, has a dark undertone, and a grotesque underbelly – and, as the lyrics portray, the grotesqueness is our own, the product of our modern society. It’s a society that creates people who wish “O, to be a machine / O, to be wanted / to be useful” ("Evil Bee"); a society that creates people who twist speech into a tool of destruction: “I've got a stranglehold on this decision / All those opposed can rot in hell / Any day now the words will form a sentence / You'll be reduced to nothingness” ("Rotten Hell"). It’s an intriguing album, if unsettling or jarring at times, and rewards repeated listening.

--ap

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The Arcade Fire -- Neon Bible (2007)

2007-03-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

“I’m living in an age that calls darkness light.” There’s some capital-T truth for you.

The Arcade Fire’s highly anticipated follow-up to Funeral, Neon Bible, could be one of the most looked forward to albums of the year (next, maybe, to Modest Mouse). The album is clearly a biting critique of the modern age. It snaps at everything from government to church, and it’d be hard to find fault with many aspects of their appraisal.

The pessimism of the album is sharp as the Arcade Fire laments everything, summed up in the phrase “the poison of our age." From planes crashing into buildings two by two, to the prayer of a father asking the Lord for a famous daughter, to asking if maybe he is the Anti-Christ, Win Butler has serious questions (and concerns) about the society and world in which he lives.

The sound of the album is as emotionally distressing as the message, and it is beautiful. Neon Bible (an overtly modern and blasphemous title) features a church organ and the typical Arcade Fire symphonic sound.

Despite the overwhelming sense of hopelessness Butler allows himself (and others) to dream of the place where no ships/cars/spaceships/subs go. It’s the place “us kids know” and it’s “between the click of the light and the start of the dream.”

--cc

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Nick Hornby - Housekeeping vs. The Dirt

2007-03-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Nick Hornby--author of High Fidelity, About a Boy and Fever Pitch--likes to read. Hornby likes to read so much that he writes about it monthly in the Believer, a literary magazine released by publishing house McSweeney's.

Housekeeping vs. the Dirt is a collection of 14 book review columns. Each month, Hornby lists the books he bought and the books he read. He may not read the same books he bought that month; in fact, he may not ever read some of the books he bought. The Believer staff also told Hornby avoid negative comments about the books; a madcap writer at heart, he manages to find ways around this.

The reviews don't stick to any format; he says what he wants, when he wants, how he wants. He's frequently funny, usually insightful, and possesses an eclectic taste in books. He spent one month reading as much Truman Capote as he could; he spent another trying to figure out why he can't understand science fiction; he spent another being freaked out by the Motley Crue biography the Dirt. Hornby makes it an entertaining read, but also succeeds in making you want to read what he's reading.

--jp

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Amazing Grace (2007)

2007-03-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

As biopics go, this film is as good as Walk the Line and Ray. Amazing Grace is about the life of English politician William Wilberforce, especially his work in bring about the abolition of the British slave trade in 1807. The movie chronicles a small part of his life as he grows more and more confident of his convictions and influence in the political sphere. The film highlights the people that were around him that kept him going, especially his live-long friend William Pitt.

Amazing Grace mentions a few other important parts of his life in passing: the Clapham Sect that he was a part of, his friendship with former slave-ship captain-turned-composer John Newton, and his fast romancing of his wife, Barbara. I feel like I had an advantage in knowing a lot about Wilberforce before seeing the film--viewers with less background may need to do some research following viewing in order to fully understand the film, but the movie is a much-needed introduction to a great example of a man struggling and eventually finding his vocation.

--gpv

Greg's Blog

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Rob Sheffield - Love is a Mix Tape (2007)

2007-02-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

“Music allows emotionally warped people to communicate by bombarding each other with pitiful cultural artifacts hat in a saner world would be forgotten before they ever happened.” Rob Sheffield is a man for whom music is almost everything; including the only connection he has left with his now deceased wife. Love is a Mix Tape is his way of dealing with his life, providing some fascinating insights about the nature of love and its relation to music along the way.

Sheffield’s book is structured around mix tapes, each chapter opening with the play list of a tape made by him or his wife. The chapter that follows is full of ruminations that were kick-started in his mind by that particular tape. His writing is warm and personal, inviting the reader into the world of his reminisces.

In its tracing of his relationship with his wife from the day they met until the day she died, the book takes an inevitable turn in to the melancholy without being dark or depressing. Despite his past experiences, Sheffield is a man who believes in love and in music, and he has an optimism and confidence lacking in so many memoirs of personal pain. Sheffield concludes that love is a mix tape--sometimes it’s good, sometimes bad, but always worth the effort.

--nc

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Lucky # Slevin (2006)

2007-02-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

Lucky Number Slevin is delightful–not only visually, but entertaining in its twist-filled plot. In staying away from spoiling the twist and plot the movie is about two mob bosses who used to run their mobs together. The main character Slevin (Josh Hartnett) gets thrown in between these two bosses because of a mistaken identity, and has to pay off the debt by some means to each boss. To make it even more complicated, he also meets a girl.

The visual cues in the cinematography played so well together that is was almost a reminder of the Sixth Sense. With these cues in mind, not all the flashbacks would have been needed; if someone can remember something from forty-five minutes ago they could puzzle it together.

Sure, the plot isn't completely original, but with good acting (including Morgan Freeman, Lucy Liu and more), awesome cinematography and thought-out direction Slevin is a completely pleasurable movie. So, delight yourself and watch.

--jc

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Half Nelson (2007)

2007-02-26T10:43:00.001-08:00

This is not your typical film about a teacher in an urban school. Most of the films in that category usually work on the premise that the teacher comes in as a sort of renegade savior, and changes students, the school and the world.

There are, of course, degrees of this. Dead Poet's Society, the History Boys and Stand and Deliver do a pretty good job of staying in the realm of the real, which gives them more relevance to actual situations; films like Dangerous Minds and Coach Carter, on the other hand, make education trivial and simple if the teacher just asserts themselves.

This film does the opposite of these films. You are sympathetic to the main character Dan (Ryan Gosling), a junior high history teacher in an urban school. He is somewhat of a renegade teacher in that he frequently leaves the set-out curriculum to give his students his own view of how history works. Added to all this is the important fact that he is hiding his drug addiction from everyone. One of his students, Drey (played excellently by Shareeka Epps), accidentally discovers this secret and their relationship is forever changed.

The rest of the film develops the nuances of this relationship and how it changes both Drey and Dan. This secret connects them to the truth and while it doesn't ultimately set them free, it allows them to recognize the potential to be set free.

--gpv

Greg's Blog
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G-DEP and Loon - Bad Boy (2007)

2007-02-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

Loon and G-DEP are both artists looking to regain their status in the rap community after a long time forced underground. Both Loon and G-DEP are Harlem natives and former Bad Boy Entertainment artists that gained some success early in their careers. Loon signed with Puff Daddy in 2000 and, after making some featured appearances, left to form his own label in 2004. G-DEP still owes Bad Boy Entertainment four more albums as part of his deal.

The album is below average at best. It has a mixtape quality in the mixing department, and the lyrics are average and sound like every one else in gangster rap. Loon does take time to respond to the beef between him and fellow rappers the Dipset. The production is the best part of Bad Boy; it's the only part that doesn't make the album seem like it was made in some basement last week. If you like good beats and reparative gangster rap, this album is for you. If you require depth from the artist and good musical quality then save your money.

--js

culture. ish. page two

Andrew Bird -- Armchair Apocrypha (2007)

One Night With The King (2006)

David Batstone -- Not for Sale (2007)

N.O.R.E. -- Y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe (2006)

God Loves Film (Got a Light?)

Light for Darfur

Bayside -- The Walking Wounded (2007)

Joss Stone -- Introducing Joss Stone (2007)

Ben Guiles' Playlist

Brad Roman's Playlist

The Good, The Bad and the Queen -- The Good, The Bad and the Queen (2007)

Reign Over Me (2007)

Bright Eyes -- The Four Winds EP (2007)

The Boundries of Cultural Engagement

Casino Royale (2006)

Aqualung -- Memory Man (2007)

Official Concert Announcement

Emily Colledge's Playlist

David Wilcox at Club Cafe

The Hold Steady at the Rex

Terry Thomas' Playlist

Richard Mouw -- Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport (2004)

A First Hand Look

Spike Lee -- When the Levees Broke (2006)

Dave Eggers -- What is the What (2006)

Modest Mouse -- We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007)

Hellogoodbye -- Zobies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! (2006)

Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

300 (2007)

Elise Grybos Playlist

Toby Mac -- Portable Sounds (2007)

The Well Fund Update

Why culture. ish. Part II

Dolorean -- You Can't Win (2007)

Fall Out Boy -- Infinity on High (2007)

Menomena -- Friend and Foe (2007)

The Arcade Fire -- Neon Bible (2007)

Nick Hornby - Housekeeping vs. The Dirt

Amazing Grace (2007)

Rob Sheffield - Love is a Mix Tape (2007)

Lucky # Slevin (2006)

Half Nelson (2007)

G-DEP and Loon - Bad Boy (2007)

Why culture. ish.?

Why culture. ish.? Introduction.

Thom Yorke - The Eraser (2006)

of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007)

Steve Robbins' Playlist

Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home (2007)

Keith Martel's Podcast Playlist

Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity (2007)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder (2007)

Third Places

Catch a Fire (2006)

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) and Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

More on The Well Fund

Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City (2007)

Supporting the Visual Arts in Beaver Falls

Nas - Hip Hop is Dead (2006)

Damien Jurado - And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (2006)

The Office - NBC

Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me (2006)

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Cormac McCarthy - The Road (2006)

Switchfoot - Oh! Gravity. (2006)

Pilot Speed - Into the West (2006)

Norah Jones - Not Too Late (2007)

Acting on Aids

Mindy Smith - Long Island Shores (2006)

The Queen (2006)

Badly Drawn Boy - Born in the UK (2006)

Engaging Culture

The Well Fund

Tsotsi

Max Brooks - World War Z (2006)

Mary J. Blige - The Breakthrough (2005)

Incubus - Light Grenades (2006)

International Justice Mission at Geneva

Idiocracy (2006)