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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, September 21.1967
Lights, hair part of psychedelic game
By John Coyle Special to The Kansan
Flashing lights, long hair, and a driving, senses-twisting beat—the name of the game is psyche-delic music.
Psychedelic music is one of the major forms which pop culture has taken in the United States. Unlike contemporary developments in art, dress, and poetry, the music of the pop culture movement touches nearly every American through radio, television, and the movies.
Although its influence is widely felt, the real foundations of psychedelic music remain hidden to most listeners. The combined smashing of drums, strange harmonies, and senseless verses leave many with a feeling of "other-worldiness."
And it should.
The philosophical base on which psycheledic music stands (or falls) takes distortion of the senses as a first principle.
Guitar auds mystery
A note on a simple, folk guitar is an easily described thing. However, if this note is fed into a battery of electronic devices making it louder, longer lasting, and more vibrant, it becomes complex and mysterious.
Giving the note a final electronic distortion and adding a wild-haired, weirdly-dressed guitarist produces the strangest effect since "Forbidden planet."
This turn of events leaves the interested listener one question: Why?
Creates drugged feeling
are many, but all are tied to "expanding the senses." The flashing, changing, blurring lights leave the eyes (hopefully) in a state of intoxication usually achieved only under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs.
The roots of psychedelic music
The listener's hearing is barraged with new and strange harmonies, tone qualities, and cadences. The enormous volume literally shakes the body of anyone standing close enough to get the full effect of the production.
Motivation vague Unfortunately, the motivation
for this distortion is not so easily seen as its mechanics. Many proponents of this musical trend go to the mysticism of Indian philosophy to support their belief that a simple, love-founded way of life is best.
Psychedelic music, utilizing any device which may make it more pleasurable, has slipped out of the traditional framework of Western music. Conservation has no place here. Walled-in, rule-book-reading, "straight" people—don't waste your time.
850 attend first fall SUA meeting
Applications for openings on more than 50 Student Union Activities (SUA) committees were taken as an estimated 850 students attended an SUA orientation and membership meeting last night in the Kansas Union Ballroom.
The openings were for SUA committee chairmanships and committee positions.
Brief speeches were given by SUA board members to orient students with the organization's programs for this year.
"We want to give students an idea of the place SUA has in the university life and what it is trying to do," said John Hoppe, SUA president.
SUA will sponsor 70 different programs in eight different areas this year with an operating budget of more than $122,000.
Highlights in this year's programs include the SUA Carnival
Fresh Hawks is the freshman women's pep club. Interviews for interested freshmen will be held September 30. There will be a general interest meeting Wednesday night.
Jay Janes is the upperclass women's pp club. Jay Janes have 28 new members, boosting their membership to 58.
"Through this program we hope to get the freshman women more involved in pep club activities and we also feel this program will help orient freshmen to campus activities," said Peggy Fields, Raytown, Mo., junior and Jay Janes publicity chairman.
TODAY
Official Bulletin
Council of the Senate. 3:00 p.m. 108 Blake.
This year the Jay Janes and Frosh Hawks also will do skits and make posters together.
r- to-P Membership Meeting. 7:30
p.m. Ballroom, Union
RED WINDOW
KU women's pep clubs will be more united this year because each Jay Jane will be a big sister to about six or seven Frosh Hawks.
Jay Janes, Frosh Hawks now 'sisters'
TOMORROW
Services for the Blind Conference.
All Day. Units.
Muslim Society, 2.30 p.m. Union, n.
7 & 9:30 p.m. Dyche Auditorium,
n.
in October. This year's carnival theme is "Roman Jollies and Their Dollies," or "A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to the Union."
SUA also will sponsor a festival of arts, trips to Europe, a homecoming concert and a spring concert.
Entertainment contracts still have not been signed for the homecoming concert this fall.
"We have made our bids, but are waiting to hear from agents," Hoppe said.
New programs initiated this year are a special film series including a production of "Swan Lake"; kiddie movies for children around campus; an SUA ski club; and an SUA newsletter listing the news and upcoming events of the organization.
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