Category: Arts & Life

Dominik Moll’s recent adaptation of “The Monk” was an interesting attempt. Starring Vincent Cassel and set against a beautifully medieval Spanish backdrop, it has a talented cast and a great plotline, only something vital got lost in translation.

“The Monk” is a 1796 cult classic Gothic novel, encompassing sex, religion, incest, murder, the supernatural, cases of mistaken identity and pretty much every other taboo topic that comes to mind. Written by Matthew Lewis at the age of 19, while he was a Member of Parliament, the book caused an immediate scandal and consequently found an immediate readership. Samuel Coleridge famously denounced the work for “blending, with an irreverent negligence, all that is most awfully true in religion with all that is most ridiculously absurd in superstition.” But everyone knows the best way to get people reading something is to tell them not to, so unfortunately Coleridge’s warning went unheeded.

Naturally, the plot of the three-volume novel has been dumbed down to fit the constraints of an hour-and-a-half movie. The film version of “The Monk” begins with an infant boy being found by Capuchin monks in medieval Spain. In their monastery, they raise the boy (whom they name Ambrosio) as their own, and when he comes of age, he too joins their brotherhood.

Ambrosio accrues a local reputation as a holy man without rival, and his own great piety makes him cruel. He brutally punishes a young nun, Agnes, who wishes to leave her convent to be with her lover. Her punishment, when the prioress is informed, is death by starvation and Agnes curses Ambrosio for cutting short her life.

His trial comes in the form of a young novice to the monastery, a boy whose face is concealed by a mask due to scars from an illness he barely survived, the boy claims. In fact, the mask conceals a woman’s face and the revealed Matilda uses witchcraft and sexuality to begin Ambrosio’s spiral into temptation and eventually evil.

Cassel is a very good actor, but he cannot carry the dead weight of this poor script and generally weak supporting cast. Moll makes interesting use of negative photography during some hallucinogenic sequences, but otherwise leaves the part-version of Lewis’ story to stand alone, which it does half-heartedly.

The great thing about the novel is that, over two centuries later, you would still believe it was written quite recently. It’s a page turner–something naughty you shouldn’t be reading but can’t put down. Most importantly, it’s a very good book with a complex frame narrative and a frenetic, frantic pacing which keeps the reader caught up in Ambrosio’s downfall to the very end. This is what the movie has crucially failed to capture. The imposing shadows surrounding our hero separate him from his audience and by the end of the film, instead of being blown away by the spectacle and the horror of Gothicism at its most perverse, I just felt glad that it was finally over.

Trend Report: Spring Skirts

By Kate Jansen

The weather this past week has been completely uplifting. Not only can we finally shed our winter blues and thick leggings, but we can also start to appreciate spring fashion in full-force. I present to you the three skirts to keep in your wardrobe this spring season:

Lace: Lace skirts are flirty, chic and so spring. They are my favorite bottoms this season because they give any look a flowery, fun makeover. Try pairing neutral lace skirts with brightly colored V-necks or tank tops. These skirts can be dressed up with leather oxfords and statement necklaces, or dressed down with simple sandals and an oversized watch.

Printed: I love anything and everything with a fun, wild or exotic print. This season, I’ve kept my eye on polka dot and floral-printed skirts. These skirts can be paired with a variety of tops: for a more fashion-daring look, try pairing a mini polka-dotted skirt with a horizontally striped tank. I also think that floral skirts go well with jean button-downs, crochet tops or jean vests.

Maxi: When I saw the maxi skirt appear on the shelves of Urban Outfitters last summer, I thought that the fad wouldn’t last, but maxi skirts (and dresses, for that matter) have certainly grown on me. Maxi skirts are great because they add an illusion of height and thinness to anyone who wears them. I personally like maxi skirts in bold and neutral colors, although I have seen quite a few floral and striped skirts that I have loved. These bottoms go great with neon tanks, statement jewelry and simple neutral sandals.

Lupe Fiasco Surprises Concert Goers

By Ethan Weber

This year’s Spring Concert was marked by differing degrees of professionalism from acts Lupe Fiasco and Third Eye Blind. It is no secret that one half of the concert was more enjoyable than the other. Indeed, before the event had ended, Lupe Fiasco’s behavior had become the talk of the campus.

Mr. Fiasco was the model of professionalism and conducted himself with the utmost class. His commitment to quality impressed all in attendance as he apologetically stopped the show numerous times to request changes to lighting and sound. So dedicated was he to enhancing the experience that he frequently stopped in the middle of songs to make necessary adjustments. The act became a collaborative attempt by both the artist and technicians to deliver the optimal performance to University students. When Lupe was ultimately unable to put on a show that met his high standards, he graciously left the stage rather than subjecting his audience to subpar renditions of his songs.

“I’m gonna have to do something I’ve never done in my entire career,” Fiasco said, “and that’s not finish a show.”

Students were so moved they began shouting for him to return to the stage.

Third Eye Blind did not share Lupe Fiasco’s dedication to quality. Upon walking on stage, lead singer Stephan Jenkins asked the audience if the lighting and sound were to its liking only to declare, “I don’t [care] if it is or if it isn’t. I don’t care if the lights go out or if the sound goes out.” The student body’s disapproval of Jenkins’ lack of professionalism has manifested itself in Lupe Fiasco remaining a popular topic of discussion on campus while little mention is made of Third Eye Blind.

Trend Report: Spring Totes

By Kate Jansen

Are you tired of your Longchamp “Le Pliage?” Do you find yourself fed up with its stretched-out strap and frayed corners? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it may be time for a replacement tote. Here are this spring’s top must-have bags:

Bright and bold: Add a pop of color to your outfit by choosing a small clutch or cross-body bag that comes in bright neon shades or deep blues. Keep in mind that coral and mint are hot colors this spring. These colors have become the new black and white, so don’t be afraid to pair them with unexpected patterns and textures.

Bucket bags: These totes are both fashionable and functional. Depending on the specific design of the bag, they might come with compartments, zippers and pockets (a perfect going-to-class bag). While Marc Jacobs offers several lines of these classic totes, other designers have created bags with the same look but for half the price. Vince Camuto’s line comes in a variety of bold colors like coral and deep cobalt to spice up your look.

Neutrals: If you are planning on splurging on that perfect bag, the most “fashion secure” colors are greys, beiges, white and black. These hues can be matched with any ensemble year-round. If you’d rather save up for a rainy day, check out the “Girl on a Budget” section at Piperlime.com.

Andrew Arnao

Sports Editor

Several reptiles from nearby Reptiland made a fun-filled trip to the University on Tuesday evening, stopping by the Rooke Chemistry Building along with their caretaker Clyde Peeling. Peeling used his 50+ years of reptile experience to show off his pets to a diverse audience that included both students and other members of the Lewisburg community. Throughout the presentation, Peeling also answered questions, prevented near-reptile escapes, and managed to draw smatterings of applause with his skillful handling of the reptiles.

“Mr. Peeling displayed all sorts of different reptiles including multiple species of snakes, a tortoise, and even an alligator,” said Harry Rudo ’13.  “It was a great experience to be so close to all of these exotic creatures without any glass or cages in the way.”

Peeling started off the exhibition by bringing out a fairly large tortoise (the tortoise, along with the other reptiles, were kept in different-sized tubs with lockable lids). He described the origins of the tortoise shell: The shell is the turtle’s skeleton that somehow got flipped outside the body more than 200 million years ago. Many of the audience oohed and ahhed at the turtle, which looked fairly unconcerned with being handled by Peeling.

The next reptile, however, was not quite as stoic as the tortoise. As Peeling pulled out a small baby alligator, it lunged in an attempt to escape, right towards the first row of the audience. An expertly timed grab by Peeling thwarted the gator’s escape, though several people in the first few rows promptly moved further back. The gator remained well behaved afterwards, and Peeling described how gators staged a successful comeback from extinction once alligator poaching was outlawed in the 1960s.

The next reptile was a fairly large lizard, closely related to the Komodo dragon according to Peeling. The reptile was described as type venomous, but “has a poor delivery system” and thus posed little threat to humans. While Peeling talked, the lizard constantly flicked his forked tongue, which Peeling compared to that of a snake; according to Peeling, “snakes are just lizards without legs.”

Snakes were next in line for the audience, as Peeling pulled out three small snakes that were twisting together in a knot. He began to describe the complexity of the snake’s detachable jaws, which can open wide enough to swallow prey 3-4 times the snake’s size, when the three snakes started untangling from each other and began crawling up Peeling’s sleeve, tie, and even belt knots. Peeling was eventually forced to return the snakes to their tubs, leading to a humorous engagement where he would manage to get two snakes into the tub only to have the third crawl out before the lid could be shut. After a minute of struggling, Peeling successfully shut away the snakes, and was congratulated with widespread applause from the audience.

Around this time, Peeling told a story about how he was bitten on his right hand by a snake when he was a child, and still suffers some health side-effects from this bite. He explained that rather than discouraging him from a career in herpetology, it instead taught him to respect the animals and learn to handle them with care. He also told a humorous story about how he was excited to be drafted during the Vietnam War so he could investigate Vietnamese reptiles, but was instead deemed too risky to get bitten while “playing” with the snakes and was sent to Greenland instead.

Peeling also showed off other snakes, including a king snake, a cobra, and a rattlesnake The cobra was particularly startling, as it popped out of its tub as soon as the lid was opened and caused half the audience to jump in alarm. The rattlesnake also began making very loud rattling noises as his tub was opened, and continued to do so while he was handled by Peeling. Though both snakes had the potential to be deadly, Peeling emphasized that he had learned to proper way to remain out of their reach, and informed the audience that those particular snakes would rarely threaten humans unless absolutely forced to.

Peeling ended the presentation with the enormous boa constrictor, and let members of the audience come up and pet it. Some of the kids who had cowered from the other snakes ran up in anticipation, and the calm, friendly boa constrictor ended up getting a surprising amount of attention.

The presentation not only served as a great event to unite the University students and members of the town of Lewisburg, but also as a way to see some rare creatures up close. Peeling’s knowledgeable descriptions of the animals also added new perspective, and made the presentation both enjoyable and informative. It seems very likely that Reptiland will be experiencing an uptick in attendance from members of the audience who wish to see more of these wonderful, fascinating creatures.

Laura Crowley

Trombone Shorty to Perform at Commencement Weekend

Trombonist Trombone Shorty and his associated act, Orleans Avenue, will play together at the University’s 163rd Commencement Weekend. Troy Andrew, better known as Trombone Shorty, performs the trombone, trumpet and vocals. Orleans Avenue will contribute sounds from Mike Ballard on bass, Joey Peebles on drums, Pete Murano on guitar, Dan Oestreicher on baritone sax and Tim McFatter on tenor sax.

The jazz/hip-hop/funk sound of the collaboration is not unlike the sounds popular from the jazz scene in New Orleans. Trombone Shorty fell in love with the trombone at an early age in his hometown of Tremé, New Orleans. The artist, who is now 27, began playing the trombone at just age six, when his instrument was almost twice the size of him. Although he is most known for his trombone, he also plays the trumpet, drums and the keyboard.

Trombone Shorty’s interest in music was not unusual for members of his New Orleans-based family; he is the grandson of singer-songwriter Jessie Hill and the younger brother of trumpeter and bandleader James Andrews.

Since the collaboration between Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue began in 2009, the group has toured around North America, Brazil, Japan, Australia and the U.K. For the third year in a row, Trombone Shorty was awarded the Best R&B/Funk Artist and Best Trombonist in Offbeat Magazine’s Best of the Beat Awards.

Perhaps most notably, the Trombone Shorty and Ballard performed at the 2013 Inaugural Ball the night before the president’s swearing-in ceremony. Trombone Shorty also performed at six events in New Orleans that celebrated Super Bowl XLVII.

Also on Trombone Shorty’s resume are appearances on night shows such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” He has been a guest on “Good Morning America” and is a reoccurring guest on the HBO series “Tremé.” He has also played alongside Dave Matthews Band and worked with Eric Clapton, Zac Brown Band, Lenny Kravitz and Rod Stewart.

While the artist is clearly dedicated to his music, he has also founded the Trombone Shorty Foundation. The foundation works to donate good-quality instruments to school children “to preserve and perpetuate the unique musical culture of New Orleans by passing down its traditions to future generations of musicians,” according to its webpage, tromboneshortyfoundation.org. The foundation has most recently partnered with Tulane University to create the After School Academy that mentors aspiring musicians in New Orleans high schools.

The event will be held in the Weis Center on May 17 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $20 for adults, $16 for seniors (62+), $10 for children under 18 and $10 for all college students. University seniors can receive one free ticket for the performance if reserved in advance through the Box Office.

Andrew Arnao

Sports Editor

The Kinney Natatorium turned into a maritime battleground on March 2 as A.C.E. hosted the first ever Canoe Battleship. Thirty-two teams of four to six members jumped into canoes and faced off against each other in a fun, exciting competition. Armed with buckets, water guns and shields, the teams attempted to fill rival canoes with water and sink them before they were sunk themselves. Aquatic foods were also served to the observers, including Swedish Fish suspended in blue jello and Goldfish.

After many splashes, waves, and team captains saluting the crowd as their canoes sank beneath them, a final champion was declared. The Wallabies, with team members Daniel Flanigan ’13, Tom Palley ’13, Abbott Cowen ’13 and Matt Deysher ’15, were the last team floating and took home the Canoe Battleship crown.

Laura Crowley

Arts & Life Editor

As part of the Jazz at Bucknell series, the Jerry Granelli Trio performed on March 6 in Bucknell Hall. The trio includes Jerry Granelli on drums, J. Anthony Granelli on bass and Briggan Krauss on saxophone. Jerry Granelli, who is a native of San Francisco, is well known for having created the swing beat for the “Peanuts” theme song. Our generation may also recognize him from performing in “The Matrix” and alongside the Grateful Dead.

While Jazz performances are typically held in the lobby of the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, the change of venue to Bucknell Hall attracted a comparably sizeable group.

“It’s great to hear live music in another space on campus,” said Assistant Professor of Music Barry Long.

“One reason why people like improvised music is that it’s a direct reflection of life, not something we thought up. It scares you … makes you think you’re going to die for a moment,” Jerry said.

Jerry’s alternative approach to jazz music has led him to be a pioneer in psychedelic sounds during the ’60s and a winner of the last NEA Grant award. Jerry, who is also a Buddhist, is largely influenced by his heavily Italian hometown. His dad was an Italian wedding drummer.

“[My] dad liked swing, my uncle was more bebop. My first memory of music was finding a couple of screwdrivers then climbing up the drums to play them,” Jerry said.

Despite his age, Jerry has no plans to retire.

“I want to be an artist until I drop and continue to be relevant,” Jerry said. “I remember seeing Max Roach in New York City just before he died in 2007. I walked into Carroll Music on 55th and could not believe my eyes. At 83, that man had rented a room and was in there … practicing.”

Jerry’s long career showed in his performance, which displays his capacities for improvisation. Long calls the trio’s style “a blend of free and traditional.” JazzTimes Magazine calls Jerry “one of those uncategorizable veteran percussionists who’s done it all.”

Staff member brings late Christmas to campus

Kerong Kelly and Laura Crowley

Members of the campus community gathered in the Harvey Powers Theatre on Feb. 28 to read through Joe Gaughan’s original musical entitled, “Santa’s Last Christmas.” Gaughan, a facilities employee at the University, spent the last five years writing the play in partnership with the late Ed Rhoades and Rhoades’s daughter, Heather.

The read-through event, which was hosted and organized by Matt Dranzik ’13, had a workshop environment in which the audience could offer their thoughts and critiques at the end. The Writing Center, Residential Life and Cap and Dagger 2.0, who were all sponsors of the event, encouraged both students and non-students to provide feedback.

While the original concept was to just create a CD of Christmas music, the idea grew to a full-length play. The cast, which was comprised of 15 students and Gaughan, sat in a row on stage and each read various parts without costumes and props. In place of the live musical numbers, prerecorded renditions of the original music by Gaughan were incorporated throughout the reading.

Gaughan describes his play as a family-oriented show that gives Santa elements of human emotion. It also presents what he does as a job, which as we all know has stress and good and bad parts to it. Children are also shown Santa’s more forgiving side, as Gaughan includes parts in which Santa gives kids a second chance and encourages them to be good.

“It was so much fun and it was something that was so fresh. The script was malleable and I was honored to be a part of this work that Joe [Gaughan] has been working on for so long. I love the theater and have so much respect for someone who can put something together like that,” Evan Turissini ’16, who read the role of Santa during the workshop, said.

Gaughan incorporated prerecorded readings, which are also knows as MIDI. With MIDI recordings, a theater group who doesn’t have enough musicians can use the recordings when necessary. Additionally, the tone can be manipulated to accommodate different sounds. Gaughan hopes that the flexibility he has given with his recordings will encourage theater groups to pick up his play.

“The readers did an incredible job portraying the characters that Joe Gaughan and his co-writers created and made them lovable and enjoyable to listen to,” Dranzik said. 

One of Gaughan’s goals was to make Santa come to life and incorporate issues a real person would have, such as the stresses of a job and longing for a vacation.

“The reading ran smoothly and the audience and readers enjoyed watching it come to life,” Dranzik said. “Seeing Joe’s happiness throughout the reading and afterwards was more than enough to consider this event a success.”