Lecture Series Starts With Two Solid Hits
Chain Eliyah
A & E Editor
The first two lecture presentations of the Artist and Lecture Series here at Shoreline Community College have been powerful and thought-provoking.
On Nov. 17, SCC welcomed Dr. Roger Fouts of Central Washington University, who spoke on the maltreatment of chimpanzees in research and in general. On Oct. 26, SCC welcomed speaker and Filipina activist leader Ninotchka Rosca.
The most recent of these speakers, Dr. Fouts, who was introduced with the title “hero,” responded in kind by saying he has two heroes of his own; his wife Debbie and Washoe -- the famous chimpanzee who has been the subject of so much research for Fouts. Or, perhaps as Fouts might see it, the chimpanzee for whom he has been the subject of so much research.
Washoe, a 39-year old chimpanzee who resides at Central Washington University, has one year seniority over Fouts, as he puts it. Raised as if she were a deaf human child, Washoe has been an honorary member of the scientific community since the sixties when she was donated by the Air Force. At that time the US Government had been sending chimpanzees to space in rocket ships -- something Fouts attributes to the “ignorance of their time.”
Fouts spoke of the exploitation of “animal beings” in terms similar to those used by civil rights leaders regarding racism - a phenomenon he refers to as species-ism. He highlighted the fact that Washoe was brought to a place where she faced life imprisonment and second class treatment, and that this is the case for most chimpanzees stolen from Africa.
Fouts demonstrated with his lecture ways that chimpanzees are similar to human beings, and spoke of their communication skills as advanced. He said that they not only understand interruptions and breakdowns in communication, but also how to repair these misunderstandings. For example, he said, if you go into the middle of a conversation with a chimpanzee and say “I don’t understand,” (in sign language of course) the chimpanzee can successfully make you privy to the events of the conversation or even explain details you might be unaware of.
Fouts gave a brief history on human-animal communication studies. He then discussed the living conditions of most chimpanzees within the US today, saying that it’s perfectly legal (but not humane) to let them live their entire lives in a small 175 cu. ft. space.
Fouts explained how we share a similar genetic code to that of the chimpanzees, with a 98.4% similarity overall. Chimpanzees and humans, Fouts says, are closer to one another genetically than either one is to a gorilla.
Fouts used these points to raise the consciousness of the audience in accepting that chimpanzees are salient emotional beings who deserve a certain level of treatment. Through forced experiments and captivity, according to Fouts, we are denying them certain rights.
Fouts realizes his views are somewhat unorthodox, but has developed his knowledge and opinions through at least thirty years’ experience with these animals and has a thorough understanding of their condition and situation. He urges all of us to maintain “a reverence for all of existence” and to let our fellow human beings know that unfair treatment of these amazing beings is unethical, immoral, and wrong.
Ninotchka Rosca is famous for her writings about ordeals and crimes that Pacific Islander women are subject to in war.
Rosca, a one-time political prisoner, advocates for men and women who unknowingly become participants in international sex trafficking schemes – which was the main thesis of her presentation.
She began by saying that being asked to speak on the topic of women and war was apt because in Iraq recently there had been many pictures of women with tortured or dead Iraqis. Rosca said this is one way women are portrayed in a negative light during war. She criticized martial action in Iraq, saying that the United States has “a military in the service of corporate interests rather than the people.”
Rosca said those of us who went through colonialism and neocolonialism know full well that women participate in the torture of other women. She showed graphic pictures from Iraq, including a captive woman in a large blinding hood (which, she says, is a common practice in Iraq) and tortured Iraqi dead. She quoted an Iraqi female writer who said “you Americans receive your dead neatly packaged in red white and blue; we must scrape ours from the walls and floors hoping there is enough for identification.” She criticized Bush for his apparently misleading statements about the war, showing the President with the banner “Mission Accomplished.”
Rosca blames current global strife on “overproduction, over-centralization of money” and colliding global interests. When asked about these colliding global interests after the speech, Rosca clarified by saying there is a sort of constant war going on between corporate interests and the cultures of many people in many countries. War, she said, is becoming the fashionable method of international control.
Rosca said women suffer from a continuing repercussion of what Friedrich Engels called “a continuing historical defeat” of women. She said defeat began in Mesopotamia in about 4500 B.C.E., where she says women first tamed plants and animals. This ironically led to their isolation from production and economy, and subsequently from religious and political authority as well - thus making them second-class citizens. Every institution since built on this defeat, she says.
Rosca talked about what she calls military sexual slavery, or war-driven prostitution. She said there is a long history of organized systematic use of women for military entertainment in Asia. She referred to the “comfort women,” who were 250,000 mostly Korean women recruited by Japan for its military brothels.
In addition to criticizing links between militarism and global secret sex trades, Rosca said for many women the choice is between becoming “rebels” in their own country or being exported by the Filipino government pursuant to IMF and World Bank policy. Under the IMF and World Bank policy, there are three steps of development mandatory for “progress,” including tourism development, labor export, and export processing zones.
Rosca answered several questions before going on to sign books and other memorabilia.
Passion and Music in the Language of Love
Rosie Sabaric
Ebbtide Correspondent
A woman and man sat in the PUB stage shadows, waiting to begin a set on Nov. 15. They had been laying their instruments out near the stage front.
The two, Madeleine Sosin and Abel Rocha, make up the Latin American group Correo Aereo. They were welcomed to SCC by International Programs and the Association of Latin American Students for International Education Week (Nov. 15-Nov. 19). Both calm, they waited; a sense of anticipation seemed to crawl over the audience. Who were these people and what were they about to perform?
With a brief introduction from Colleen Cooper, International Programs and International Education Manager, they began. Madeleine held macaranes in hands. Abel tipped up a harp.
Both wore full shirts of orange shades. Madeleine had bright, shiny green pants with a white lace cuff at the hem; Abel wore brown pants and shoes. The outfits complemented each other well. For a second, they faced their audience smiling and standing. The calm broke: first Madeleine, then Abel, woke the audience by playing.
Thus began a musical journey taking the audience through styles of various Latin American countries. Touching upon Venezuela, Argentina, Chile and Mexico they played traditional music from each region with a variety of instruments.
A drum called a Bombo, originally designed to be heard from long distances, was used by Madeleine in some songs. Abel played a fascinating instrument called a quinta huapangueria in two songs. Abel said it is used as a “strumming bass instrument” that one can play numerous ways. It looked like a guitar, but its sound was nothing you’d expect at first glance.
In most songs, Madeleine played violin and Abel played Spanish guitar. He also played a four-stringed instrument aptly called a cuatro. Madeleine said this is the national instrument of Venezuela and thrives there.
The nice thing about the set, besides the music, was that Madeleine educated the students about the music at the same time. Whether or not this was because of International Education Week is unknown, but it was very informative. She added stories about the songs and where they were inspired. One of the songs from Chile was in honor of the famous poet, Pablo Neruda. This song was very touching and it would be hard to imagine how someone could not be moved by the sentiment in Madeleine’s voice. Another song entitled La Rosa was calming yet invigorating.
Correo Aereo played a wonderful set together. Their voices harmonized, their instruments were awesome. Unfortunately, not many students were able to see these two perform. There were a handful of people sitting in the chairs set up and most people at the tables were talking amongst themselves. This group deserves to be heard. They currently live in Seattle and have several performances in the near future. Check out their website to see the schedule and to listen to samples of their music www.correoaereo.com.
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Ray Charles’ Legend Captured
Carol Brocker
Web Master
“Ray” is the extraordinary movie of the musician Ray Charles.
Born in the South in the 1930s, his life was affected by the horrendously violent racism of the region. Charles was deprived of sight from the young age of 7 by untreated glaucoma.
But Charles was precocious, brilliant, and self-driven. He crafted a uniquely American musical idiom, with a special fusion of gospel, blues, jazz and pure originality.
Charles worked for 15 years to bring his movie to the screen and searching for the actor he would be most comfortable portraying him on the screen. He started when he was 58. The time invested was well worth it. Sadly, Charles died this last June from liver failure, after completing the movie but before it hit the screen. Jamie Foxx, the actor who plays Charles in the movie, worked closely along side Charles as well as studying his every move and mannerisms. In this way he could realistically portray Charles in this electrifying movie. Foxx comes, as close to being his character as any actor or actress has done in such a film. Foxx balances the struggling Charles’s developing self-confidence and stardom with periodic scenes of his nearly fatal self-destruction from drug use.
Many of us remember Charles’ songs, movies and the effect his notoriety had on our lives. His popularity helped the civil rights cause in the south, especially in Georgia, when he refused to perform to a segregated audience.
“Ray” takes its audience on a walk down memory lane, with touches of passed songs that many haven’t heard since childhood, or for the younger ones, who have never heard. The movie touches the everyday discrimination that blacks were forced to deal with, most strongly in the south, from the great depression on throughout the sixties. Back then blacks had to ride at the back of the bus. A sign “COLORED” was used to separate where the whites and blacks could sit.
Charles’ music was a key to breaking down the color barrier that stood between him and his future. For once he started to play, the other musicians found their desire to join in was stronger then their need to keep this colored young man out of their establishment.
Foxx’s portrayal of Charles was exhilarating; it was as if we were watching him alive again. The movie gave a strong, but short picture of his life, between the good, the struggles, the heartbreaks, the highs and the lows; in this way it gave a true as possible look into Charles’ life that could be done in just 152 minutes.
Foxx projects the persona of a man guilt-ridden over the drowning death of a younger brother. But Charles was also determined to climb high as a performer and also enjoy the illicit rewards - drugs and women - that can come with success.
Special regards should go to Sharon Warren as young Ray’s stressed, strong but loving mother that died before seeing her son succeed.
It not only is a great movie but an awesome testimonial to Ray Charles Robinson.
Eminem’s Latest Flop
Dominique
Ebbtide Correspondent
Eminem’s long-awaited new CD, “Encore,” is finally out. Fans have been waiting for it, expecting a solid album. The critics have given it great reviews and have said that it is one of his best.
They’re all wrong.
His new CD lacks that something special that makes Eminem himself. When you think of him you think of this angry person who has an “I hate my mom, I hate my ex-wife, the whole world is against me because I’m a white rapper” attitude. Every CD that he has put out has had songs based on these themes. Even his movie was partially centered on these aspects of life. Now, this usually works for him; but this time, something just isn’t right.
The songs are unemotional and uninspired. The whole CD, except for one or two songs, feels as if it was a rushed process and like he was forced to come out with something. There’s no more sitting back with packs of zig-zags and weed, as he said on his second LP. There’s nothing even nearly as catchy as that.
As a result of some shift the songs are not very good. The production has changed, the style has changed - in a word he sounds tired, a fact perhaps sardonically portrayed by his mockingly suicidal imagery within the album art - which is in itself reminiscent of the grunge-band blues of ten years ago.
For example on track 11, “Big Weenie,” he seems like he’s trying to be too funny – or something – and he just loses it. Eminem is usually over the top, but this is overboard. The whole creed “but you’re just a big meanie” – it seems like something you’d taunt somebody with in the second grade. Eminem has come a long way from the hard streets of Detroit. The underground hooks are gone, replaced with poppy euphemisms and trite expressions.
The only song that felt like the real Slim Shady was “Mosh.” It was the only one that felt like he actually cared and that had power behind it. Usually he’s on-point and comes out with really good stuff like the quasi social commentary of “White America” from his last CD.
I don’t know what’s wrong with him but something needs to change drastically or else his reliability is going to go down even further. Hopefully this was a one time only mistake and his next album will be much better.
Hopefully.
Waits’ New Album Makes It Rain
Robert Hanna
Photo Editor
“What if they invented the ink pen after the computer?” Tom Waits asked an entranced Seattle crowd at the Paramount Theatre this October. “How would they market it? By saying it was compact and could fit into your shirt pocket? Or by hyping the fact that it only has one button?”
In many respects, Waits’ comments on the ink pen parallels his career over the past twenty years. Waits digs up the musical past which has been forgotten and presents it with a modern spin, creating something that is unabashedly new. His new album, “Real Gone,” is certainly testament to this; it’s a concoction of blues, rock, vaudeville tunes, gypsy ballads, and a slew of spits, hollers, coughs, indecipherable hobo babble and shrill megaphone croons.
What really distinguishes this album from its two predecessors, “Blood Money” and “Alice,” is the use of vocals as a means of percussion and rhythm. Co-written and produced by his long-time wife Kathleen Brennan, Waits begins the record with a flurry of chortles and grunts which are sampled, then looped throughout the song. When his vocals are added on top of the samples, the result is both hypnotic and bizarrely rustic sounding.
“Real Gone” once again reaffirms the fact that Waits is one of the most important artists to ever lay sound down on tape. He is essentially the ink pen versus the computer, the printing press versus e-mail, the coal train versus the Lear jet.
Video Game Reviews
Chaim Eliyah
A & E Editor
We’re being invaded.
The intruder?
Modern digital entertainment.
You can’t escape video games – they’re everywhere; even on campus. In fact there’s been talk of starting a video games club. Even the Hip-Hop club, under the supervision of Derrick Drungo, has sponsored an X-Box championship event.
Everyone’s talking about the games that just hit the shelves. According to ABC News, many of these games now take in as much as the box office profit from a major motion picture. For example, just the presales from Halo II totaled $1.5 million; when multiplied by the suggested retail price of $49.99, that’s $75 million in sales.
They’re not playing anymore. These aren’t only games but interactive simulated worlds where the user determines outcomes. It’s a way to personalize on-screen activity in ways not considered (and perhaps sneered at) by generations past.
Some of the most popular games lately are Fable and, as mentioned, Halo II for X-Box and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for PlayStation II. Some of the details of each are listed below.
Halo II: This is, by far, the most talked about game to hit the shelves in a while. It’s a lot like the original – there are personal and multiplayer modes – but this time the aliens have come to Earth to take it over. Pluses over the original include better weapons, a wider range of vehicles and better graphics. If you’re in multiplayer mode, be sure to pick up a sword – they’re the most fun to clobber your friends to death with. I watched my roommates do exactly this for at least half an hour - they are enthralled with the game, which has much more enchanting scenes than the original.
Fable: This is the most addicting game I’ve ever seen. In fact it’s really not necessary to ever get up and do anything real once you start playing this game. You are a hero in a somewhat medieval setting. Your choices in the game either make you look cooler or more foolish. You get to live the entire life of the hero from childhood to death. Within the game you can buy property, marry, divorce, cheat, eat, sleep, murder, pillage, make donations to your favorite deity, and even transport yourself anywhere at the press of a button. Much nicer than real life. Who needs traffic? Warning: Eating within the game may not prevent actual starvation.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: If the first five Grand Theft Auto games haven’t raised an entire generation of hardcore criminals, Rockstar games is back in this latest virtual reality escapade to make sure it happens this time. The programmers have added a little variety (now you can be a black dude), cooler graphics, a realistic sun glare that you might just need real sunglasses for, a few weapon improvements and some new wheels. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same deal as the last two. Get the money, finish the missions and drive off into the sunset on a bicycle. Wait, they have bicycles now? Too cool.
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