THURSDAY,FEB.28,2002
JAYPLAY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3P
Film goes beyond sap to tackle sex, gender stereotype
Bv Peter Black
Jayplay movie reviewer
If you expected 40 Days and 40 Nights to be only an excuse to gush over heart throb Josh Hartnett, then you are in for a surprise. 40 Days is much more than an excuse to gush, it is a retooling of the typical love story. Not only does it use unconventional means to tell a simple romantic comedy, but it also digs deeper to tackle societal issues.
Hartnett plays Matt Sullivan. He is a young dot-com employee struggling with a rough breakup. When he can't fill the void in his heart with nightly sexual romps, he decides to exercise his demons by vowing to give up sex for Lent. However, living a life of celibacy becomes harder than Matt expected when
Hartnett plays Matt Sul COMMENTARY
Peter Black pblack@kansan.com
Because Matt's denial of sex is an unheard-of feat, his friends begin betting on how many days he'll be able to remain abstinent. Between his evolving relationship and the out-of-control bet with his friends, Matt has to fend off temptation after temptation.
than Matt expected when he stumbles into a relationship with Erica, played by Shannyn Sossamon.
Somewhere beneath the well-written, low-brow humor, 40 Days finds a way to tackle something often talked about in our society. An attitude exists in our culture that seems to condone men sleeping with multiple partners, while females are looked down upon for doing it.
While many images in popular culture reinforce that double standard, 40 Days takes a much different approach. It instead calls for a change in the way sex is perceived by society.
Matt learns that no matter how many women he sleeps with or how many throw themselves at him, he will never be as fulfilled as he is when he is with Erica. The film reiterates that the double standard should be eliminated and both sexes considered equal.
At face value 40 Days and 40 Nights looks like it is just another romantic comedy waiting to be swept aside with the rest. But underneath the masturbation references, one-liners and fake boneres is a story that reaches uncharted territory.
Site offers alternative viewpoints to religious questions,subjects
And why not? It is refreshing to see a romantic comedy with a heart and a message.
By Maggie Koerth Kansan staff writer
Finding information on the Web about Jesus is easy.
Finding information on the web as you join a group:
But finding a Wiccan discussion group, a collection of religious light bulb jokes or an interview between a rabbi and Playboy's Miss November isn't, unless you're looking at www.beliefnet.org.
Beliefnet is a multi-faith information source that uses regular columnists, news stories, features and discussion groups to get people thinking about their beliefs and to help them understand the beliefs of others.
The site has been called "a big deal" by Christian Century Magazine and "stuff we like" by Brills Content.
To see if Beliefnet was worth its hype, four KU students gave their thoughts about the site's more intriguing features.
■ Belief-O-Matic Quiz
"Even if YOU don't know what faith you are, Belief-O-Matic knows." That's the claim made by this multiple choice quiz. Belief-O-Matic analyzes your answers to religious and moral questions and tells you what religion you're most compatible with.
"It said the religion that most closely matched my beliefs is Unitarian Universalism," Kuhn said. "That was followed by Mahavaya Buddhism and Liberal Quaker."
Christina Kuhn, Mulvane junior, said she was a Roman Catholic. However, the Belief-O-Matic disagreed.
Meanwhile, Chris Boyle, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, also a Roman Catholic, was informed he should be Liberal Protestant. He said the quiz didn't offer diverse enough answers.
Oh well. Like the disclaimer says, "Belief-O-Matic assumes no legal liability for the ultimate fate of your soul."
She's Playboy's sexy Miss November, he's a Jewish rabbi. Is this the setup for a wacky neighbors sitcom? No, it's a Beliefnet interview between Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Playboy's first Jewish centerfold, Lindsey Vuolo.
"I was frustrated by the interview," Boyle said. "The rabbi was extremely combative and was seeking to attack what she believed."
The Rabbi and the Centerfold
Boyle said he would have liked the article better had Boteach engaged Vuolo in mutual discussion.
engaged videos in natural environments "As it is, it was just him trying to prove how she couldn't be right," he said.
Tosha Green, Lane junior, agreed.
kansan.com
"I didn't really like the rabbi much. He was trying to discredit her and he did a really bad job of it."
Religious Light Bulb Jokes
Perhaps in your quest for spiritual understanding you have come up against the age old question, "how many ___ does it take to screw in a light bulb?" Beliefnet tries to answer that with its extensive collection of light bulb jokes, such as: Q.
"How many Catholics does it take to change a light bulb?" A.
"Nun."
Scott McKenzie, Salina junior, thought the jokes were funny. "I really like the light bulb jokes. Its hard to take religious things seriously when your thinking about changing bulbs," he said.
Contact Koerth at mkoerth@kansan.com. This story was edited by Gillian Titus.
MATHEMATICS PRIZE COMPETITION
Junior Level: Open to all undergraduates
of non-senior standing First prize--$100
Second prize--$50
Senior Level: Open to all undergraduates First prize $150
First prize--$150
Both exams will be given on March 26, 2002
7-10 pm in room 306 Snow
To participate you must register in 405 Snow by noon on March 26,2002
COPIES OF LAST YEAR'S COMPETITION ARE POSTED OUTSIDE 405 SNOW
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