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(01/21/11 5:00am)
Sometimes American television isn't very good at concocting original ideas. This seems like it would be a problem, but why would it be when bringing European shows across the pond has brought us some favorites like "The Office" or "All in the Family"? Certainly, British television is well ahead of American TV, and MTV's new series, "Skins," is no exception. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Following the lives of several drug-addled, sex-addicted high school kids, "Skins" is a raw take on the unscrupulous lives of modern teenagers. It's centered around those kids that our mothers warned us about, and the attraction to that type of danger seems to translate well regardless of your current location. While the show is wildly successful with its Americanized version and its original British form, the two have drastic differences aside from their accents. Generally, the plot of the pilot episodes are mirror images, only the content varies slightly. It's as if the American version is a rated-R movie, edited and watered down for television, while the British version is the director's cut. The sexuality and vulgarity of the European "Skins" definitely adds context to the show's story-line - context that the American show goes without - along with a general groundbreaking sense that fueled the original version. It seems as though the most recent rendition is just enough for American audiences to take with a successful 3.26 million people tuning in to watch. Though maybe the American audience is more prudent than once suspected. Though most shocking content has been removed, the young actors in scandalous acts remains. But what would popularity be without controversy? Did those 3 million viewers turn in for a new favorite show,or to see what the fuss is about. In an act to protect their children, parents have protested, and even big businesses like Taco Bell have pulled their commercials from the show's airtime. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Perhaps those recent additions to the "Skins" fan base have yet to discover the original, though once they realize the several seasons already filmed and available online for British audience, (not to mention the millions of protesting parents) it seems safe to assume that ratings will drop like an SUV in a suburban park.
(01/16/11 5:00am)
In the wild west, a woman knew her place. She knew to take care of the children, prepare the food that was provided by her husband, and she certainly knew not to avenge a death. Luckily Mattie Ross is not yet a woman; she is just a girl on a mission to bring justice to the murderer of her father. Armed with the quickest wit in the West, Hattie can handle herself in any situation - or so she thinks. Directed by the Coen brothers ("The Ladykillers" and "Burn After Reading"), "True Grit" lacked the tedious cowboy act that often accompanies the genre, all while maintaining the excitement that is expected of it. The focus on Mattie as the protagonist suggested an underdog tale of epic proportions, and allowed the Coens to stray from the testosterone-fest one might expect from a Western tale in a refreshing and entertaining manner. With such prominent names in cinema, this movie (adapted to film from a 1968 novel of the same name) had a lot of expectations, and it did not disappoint. The plot itself easily could have fallen to the land of terrible cliché very easily: a tough man and a small girl befriend each other and learn important life lessons. We've all seen it before, but the wonderful direction brought to the characters kept them far from monotony. It could be the quick tongue of Mattie Ross, or the danger of her Marshall friend, that makes this movie so captivating, though regardless of what caused it, this film certainly possesses "true grit" with an endearing air.
(01/16/11 5:00am)
Evan Reas was not exactly lucky with women. In his words, he had an unfortunate "lack of game" around them. But instead of wallowing in a tub of Ben & Jerry's, he had an idea. What if he made an FFP – that's "flirting facilitation platform" – where he could tell someone how he feels, without the embarrassment of them knowing who you are? Well, after "90 cumulative years of frustrated flirtation, 42 cups of coffee, and 12 hours of hardcore development," an anonymous flirting site, similar to Twitter, was born: Likealittle.com. Ignoring the fact that "FFP" sounds like some kind of E-Harmony jargon, Likealittle seems to have gained a very large fan base in the span of just a few short months, and a big part of that might have something to do with an anonymous aspect, or maybe even simple charm. Likealittle was brought to Otterbein's campus just this past Tuesday (thanks to Becca Lowe, Matthew Coffill, Gillian Henning, Eric Wolff & Bridgette Wilterdink – Otterbein's founding members),and it seems to be spreading like wildfire. The Otterbein page already has 64 likes on Facebook and multiple pages of posts. For those who remain unsure, there are moderators to remove posts deemed inappropriate, and users can remove posts as well. With the popularity of his site, Evan's "game" has surely improved, and this is his goal for all users. If a cute post just isn't helping though, a "plan B" is offered: carry around a picture of a cute puppy - one is available on the site.
(01/12/11 5:00am)
OMG. So I was at the library and I saw this guy. He. Was. Gorgeous. I really wanted to say something to him, but I was just a little shy. Well, shy enough to anonymously flirt via the internet. No, I don't mean Facebook creeping, or using seven tweets just to describe his hair (darn those character limits). What I'm talking about is Likealittle.com, the new virtual flirting site, where the anonymity allows you to be a little more daring. Here's how it works: Find the page for your campus, name your gender, the color hair of your flirtation target, and the location at which you saw them. Then, "Boom!" you have officially flirted via Likealittle. Likealittle seems to be the latest technology around campus. Less than a dozen Otterbein students have used it so far, but the trend is catching on fast. So go ahead, get your creeper on and tell that hottie at the OtterDen how you feel.
(01/12/11 5:00am)
Currently housed at the Miller Gallery is a collection pieces by Greg Murr. The pieces all involve satellite images of various rivers overlapped to create intricate designs and images. They are meant to "remind us that change is endless and everywhere, and that is doesn't stop at the limits of our perception," said Murr (Miller Gallery wall posting).
(01/06/11 5:00am)
The past few years have definitely been exciting for musician/comedian Evan Wecksell. He was named Hot Comedian for 2009 by Campus Activities Magazine, performed on "America's Got Talent" and participated in VH1's "I Love the '70s: Volume 2," "I Love the '80s 3-D" and "I Love Toys." Currently, his comedic journey has him traveling throughout the country, making stops at college campuses including Otterbein. Your online biography compares you to Adam Sandler and Stephen Lynch. Do you see the comparison yourself? When I tell people about my act, that gives them a reality of who I am, because those people are out there. My main influence was actually Jon Bon Jovi. I'm a huge Bon Jovi fan. That's how I started playing guitar, and the comedy thing didn't happen until a few years after. I kind of wanted to be a funny Bon Jovi. You were into sports marketing before comedy. How did you end up becoming a comedian? I really didn't know where my life was going after college. I just finished an internship with the National Hockey League in New York City. At NYU, I took a sports marketing seminar and for my final presentation, I talked about the WNBA and I was really funny about it, using hand puppets and all these silly things. The professor liked the presentation, but he really thought that I should be on stage. I love comedy and every club anywhere has a class, so I took a class at a club on the Upper East Side to learn stand-up itself. It taught me things that I still use today, even though I play more songs. You do parodies of "bad music"? I did a parody of Bowling for Soup's "1985," and I actually just finished a parody of the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" just because they're on tour again and I kind of just wanted to have some fun with it. What I really love doing recently is bringing people on stage and making the show personal. You've done work for VH1 with "I Love the '70s: Volume 2" and "I Love the '80s 3-D." What was that like? It was cool, and it was weird how I actually got the job at VH1. I was actually at a job for the New York City Marathon, and I was in the fundraising branch and all the people were helping us fundraise. And this one lady from VH1 found out I was a comic. Sometimes they spoon-feed you what you need to say, and depending on when you go in, they just need certain things. You're pretty much answering questions from a producer, and there's a green screen behind you. Is it intimidating knowing that you're going to have a large audience through TV or a live performance? Well, TV's easy because you write down your thing and then you hand it to the editors. I guess a lot more can go wrong with a live performance. I used to do crazy things during my live performance, whether it was chasing after students who left during my show, or calling people silly things. Just being like a kid. I get nervous when it's a little more than what I'm used to, like when I did "America's Got Talent" a year and a half ago. Do you think that a sense of humor helps relieve the stress of performing? Yeah, I like to interact. I don't want to just go up there with my script. I know what songs I'll do, but I want to keep it conversational. I like to have fun with it. It's just about being topical and making it personal so that you kids know what I'm talking about. I have to stay current. I'm probably ... 10 years older than all of you guys, but I still know about "Jersey Shore" and Four Loko and all of that stuff. What is your best performing experience? I think the best was Missouri State because it was the first time that I performed in front of about 650 people. It was really packed. It just played really well and I guess they really liked me. And worst? I got kicked off the stage once. I did a show for North Dakota State, and it was really unfortunate because I know that there was something in the contract about an obscenity law. Like, in the state of North Dakota, you can't curse and you can't reference sex. They wanted PG and I may have brought PG-13. Can you describe your college experience? I went to Tufts University, near Boston. I ran on the cross country track team, and in my sophomore year, I pledged to a fraternity because I was injured. I didn't expect to pledge, but I knew some of the guys. It was interesting. It gave me another group to be a part of. And I think that Greek life helped my career more than anything. How do you develop your jokes? It could happen at any time, anywhere. It can be externally motivated. I don't really write from my soul, per se. One time, a person asked me if I had a song about "Jersey Shore," and I said yes but I didn't. So I had to write a song that night about how the "Jersey Shore" was so bad that I killed my grandpa. I saw the Backstreet Boys at the American Music Awards, and I wanted to write a song about them. Instead of "I Want It That Way," it's "We Need the Money." Any advice for current college students? A career is just a job. Your first one will not be your last. If you have that itch to do something that will shake people up a little bit, you should do it before you get some cortisone cream for your itch. t&c;
(11/17/10 5:00am)
As I stepped into one of the many small offices in the art side of 33 Collegeview Rd., I couldn't help but notice a rather large photograph of a man and a truck. Is he praying to it? Is he asking forgiveness for it? Certainly, such queries could be answered by the brain that spawned the piece, but as I sat down to chat with Takeshi Moro, I learned much more than the origins of this print. The print is one in a collection of 50 called "Collecting Apologies" by Otterbein photography professor Takeshi Moro. Five of the photos are housed in Columbus' ROY G BIV Gallery. In this collection, people are in a solemn bowing position, a gesture meant to spark curiosity while simultaneously uniting individuals through its humility. According to Moro, the prints are not the only artistic element of the collection, the spacing through which the pieces are positioned is integral to the experience as a whole as well. Moro has had exposure to art since an early age. Growing up in England, he was brought to numerous museums by his parents and was raised on an education of European art. While he didn't fully understand it at the time, he now said that, "It must have had a positive effect on me." "I wasn't necessarily interested in it as a child, but I feel fortunate to have the experience," he said. He received his first camera at the age of 7, and though it was a toy, it was enough to spark an interest. Art was his passion, but he did not intend to go that route until a teacher at his high school in Japan suggested otherwise. "I had a great teacher," he said. "He taught me photography and art theory and made me go to museums." From then on, Moro followed a rigorous regime of photographic courses all the way through college. "I did not achieve my goal immediately," he said. "I got there eventually. It took a lot of twists and turns." With majors in both art and economics, Moro went on from college to work at an investment bank, a job he deeply disliked. Soon after, he held a job marketing and designing products for L'Oréal. Though this employment opportunity was a slight improvement from his previous position, "I still wanted art," he said. "I couldn't resist being an artist." At this point in his life, five years had passed since his pursuit of being an artist, which he described as "five years of blank." It was this lifelong yearning that helped him realize his calling. "If you wait for five years and still want to do something, then that is what you should do," he said. Being an artist is his life's passion, but he still feels a need for practicality. "I know artists who just jump in with $10 and not knowing where their next meal would come from," he said. "I admire that sense of proaction, but it's not in my DNA." His sense of practicality is what brought him to his decision to become a professor, which allowed him to practice what he feels is one of the most important aspects of his life as an artist: sustainability. "My practicality allows for the sustainability of practice. I have to be practical in that sense, for I want to be an artist until I die," he said.
(11/04/10 4:00am)
For the average college student, three priorities reign over a list of many. Undeniably, the first would be food. The second is money. And the third, convenience. (With all that studying, time is a valuable resource.) A company considering each of these collegiate concerns would seem to be the ideal commodity on campus, and the brains behind Dormzy, an Internet-based grocery store, were well aware of this. You might be wondering why a service offering competitive rates and room delivery took so long to surface. I had the same query until I tested the online service. At that point, I realized that the dream food service system might not be worth all the fuss. Initially, my excitement far surpassed any doubt. Cheap food right to my dorm? Who wouldn't give it a try? I signed on to the site, and the neatly organized items only added to the exhilaration. Cheetos, Ramen, paper plates, notebook paper — they had everything a student could want. But what happened to the competitive prices? As I continued to search the site, my shopping thrill slowly diminished at the realization that only name brands were offered. I definitely appreciate some Doritos as much as the next poor student in between parental monetary assistance, but what I needed was something slightly more affordable. Though the prices were a bit disappointing, I decided that the concept was worthwhile. The convenience still kept my interest, especially considering what little gas I had and the fact that I had actually found a parking space relatively close to my dorm. After selecting my items, I navigated my way to the checkout and was mildly alarmed at the price difference. Certainly, had I gone to Kroger, a bag of pretzels, another of Goldfish crackers and a box of popcorn wouldn't have cost me nearly $16, including shipping and handling. In my state of denial, though, I was determined to find the benefit of this "wonderful" idea. Perhaps there was a reason why I had yet to see any Dormzy boxes in the hall. Three days had passed and my package had yet to arrive. This seemed a bit odd. I was under the assumption that Dormzy was generally a regular shopping experience, only in the virtual realm. If I wanted a box of Special K cereal bars, all I had to do was click around and it would magically appear at my door the next day. The instant satisfaction that comes from conventional grocery shopping was lost somewhere in the Dormzy experience. Maybe this was meant to be a trade-off for aisle gazing from my desk. My naïveté became a source of shame: How could I have been so stupid? But my embarrassment soon turned to anger as I checked my e-mail. Apparently, a package had arrived for me. Had this been a normal day, I would have skipped with joy to the Student Mail Center. But I knew what awaited me. As I realized that the convenience of Dormzy was just another illusion, I ignored my e-mail. Convenient or not, the next time I find myself needing Easy Mac, I will be on my way to Kroger. It might be a few miles out of my way, but the instant gratification sans shipping and handling is well worth the trip. t&c;
(09/30/10 4:00am)
In addition to their instruments, the students of Otterbein's marching band were required to bring something extra to band camp. "We were told to bring a Hawaiian shirt. We ... had no idea what to expect," said senior band assistant Kerri Sims. Little did they know they would be one of 18 bands competing in CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" Marching Band Mania. When Otterbein's band director, Michael Yonchak, received a phone call from the network in July, he knew he could not refuse the offer. "It was an open invitation," he said. "There was no official group called, but the parameters fell right during band camp." This was an advantage over other schools that had already begun their football seasons. Due to what he refers to as "the luck of the draw," Otterbein is the only school representing Ohio. The contest is an effort to promote CBS' new series, a remake of the hit '70s show "Hawaii Five-O." For the contest, each band was to submit a tape of its performance of the show's theme song. Considering the tough competition from larger Division I schools, the band members knew they had "to create something unique and draw a lot of views," said Sims. Yonchak said, "We did our homework, and we all agreed not to do a video from the press box. We had to do something original. We weaved shots of our performance into a featurette film." CBS sent a copy of the musical arrangement to each school in July. Fortunately, the piece was up for interpretation. "High on our priority list was a totally different approach in the recording aspect," Yonchak said. "We listened to the track and changed the arrangement to fit the original stylistics." With such a spectacular spoof in their artistic arsenal, it seems that the band can't lose. But with voting as the means of victory, "it's a numbers game," said Yonchak. Larger competition such as Notre Dame and Yale definitely have an edge. However, anyone can vote daily at cbscollegesports.com from now until Oct. 4. Vote for the band on the CBS College Sports website In addition to the publicity, the winning team will receive a cash prize of $25,000. No official plans for the potential winnings have been drawn up, but it is the mass exposure the band is aiming for. "Winning would level the playing field by throwing us on a national stage," said Yonchak. On Oct. 11, the Cardinal Marching Band will see if its work paid off. Before that night's episode, the winning band will be announced. Though victory remains uncertain, one thing is sure: The overwhelming feedback from Otterbein alums and students from other schools is enough to turn the band's initial skepticism into well-deserved confidence. t&c;
(09/23/10 4:00am)
Just ask Olive, the imaginary call girl in question. While she might appear to be the Webster's Dictionary definition of debauchery, in reality, she would give the Virgin Mary a run for her money. Deceiving appearances seem to be a recurring theme in "Easy A," starring Emma Stone as Olive. This teenage dramedy seems a bit more unrealistic than the average generational flick, and almost shamelessly so. Poor Olive. Though her grades and vocabulary rival those of most of her teachers, and her physical appearance would more accurately be described as Jessica Rabbit than "awkward high school girl," she is the epitome of mediocrity and anonymity. Her life screams "normalcy," and in an attempt to change it all, she lets out a little white lie in the form of lost virginity. Unfortunately (or perhaps to her benefit), the evangelical Marianne (Amanda Bynes) overhears this juicy tidbit. Unable to resist a soul to save, the secret slips and an all-too-anticipated rumor train ensues. Relationships end. STDs spread. Best friends feud. Scarlet appliqués are embroidered. Wait, what? While desperately trying to expand the demographic, the brains behind this wannabe "Mean Girls" added a slight twist to the plot: Puritan literature. As if the awkwardly placed advanced vocabulary (most likely beyond the brains of a majority of the viewing audience) weren't bad enough, Olive is suddenly transformed into a modern day Hester Prynn. (Just add some lingerie and take away the baby.) In an attempt to be ironically trite, "Easy A" transforms the high school setting into "the high school" setting. The film dwells in the land of high school clichés. And though this idea initially seems appealing, upon further inspection, it becomes all too obvious that something is slightly amiss. The problem with "Easy A" is that though the clichés were indeed intentional, the Hawthorne references still try to individualize the film, leaving it in some far-off no man's land, where even the most immature dirty joke can't save you. The thought of poking fun at everyone's worst high school memories, though nothing new, is definitely entertaining. But the execution in this example is more than a bit off. For future reference, perhaps "Easy A" would have been more successful had the writers kept a few things in mind: Polishing a tarnished piece of literature by bringing it to life in a new film only works if (a) the film is successful, and (b) the original work was tarnished in the first place. Unfortunately, neither of these variables came into play, leaving this movie nothing more than a desperate attempt at intellectualism. While the Hawthorne references were initially clever, perhaps the more accurate historical reference lies not in Puritan witch hunts, but rather with the sinking Titanic. t&c;
(09/16/10 4:00am)
On Sept. 5, Pittsburgh residents found themselves awakening to hoards of leather-clad "Little Monsters" (Lady Gaga fans) and a sea of caution tape gathered outside of the new Console Energy Center. Steel City recently erected the building as a replacement for the Melon Arena, though on this particular day, the arena was transformed into the famous Haus of Gaga. While troves of fans awaited their beloved "Mother Monster" (some of them in line for nearly eight hours), setup began for what she refers to as "the greatest party of all time." Such a tremendous reputation seems an exaggeration, though night after night, in city after city, Lady Gaga disappoints absolutely no one (the exception being a few angry protestors). Fans argue for her genius and critics argue against her antics, though one thing is certain: Lady Gaga is controlling pop culture, and no one is immune to these effects. Doors opened, the stage was rushed by a monsoon of high-heeled monsters and then Lady Starlight (a longtime friend of Gaga's) started the show. DJing a set of classic rock anthems while downing a bottle of Jack Daniels, Lady Starlight prepared fans for the lusciously lewd opening band, Semi Precious Weapons. Fronted by Justin Tranter (a male Debbie Harry in dangerously high-heeled glitter boots), the five boroughs quartet quickly pounded through their set, complete with onstage wardrobe changes, the promise of sexual favors and champagne spouting straight from Tranter's filthy mouth. After a wonderfully raucous farewell, Lady Gaga was introduced, and anticipation grew to a staggering level. The Lady took the stage, though only a barely opaque screen with a grid of lasers was visible. A remix of "Dance in the Dark" commenced the performance, and the crowd collectively lost all control. As she made her way through several of her chart-topping hits, the campy dialogue revealed a loose-fitting plot. As Gaga and her dancers journeyed in search of the ultimate party, fashion was front and center. A disco bra, spark-throwing panties and even a giant, moving dress provided the aesthetic pleasure and gasp-worthy wardrobe choices Gaga onlookers have come to expect. At long last, the destination was reached, and the show was over. But no respectable Gaga fanatic could leave without hearing his or her favorite "Fame Monster" single. In an encore performance of "Bad Romance," Lady Gaga screamed out to the audience, "There's one minute left. You are free, Little Monsters! Go out and celebrate it every minute of every day. Because, baby, you were born that way." And born that way they were, as tens of thousands of Little Monsters made their way to the exit, feet throbbing, ears ringing and heels clicking to the beat of pop music's brightest superstar. t&c;