ENTERTAINMENT
The University Daily
KANSAN
October 21, 1983 Page 6
Professor's photos focus on transplanted Chinese
By PAMELA THOMPSON Staff Reporter
The apparently empty room interiors featured in Pok-Chi Lau's photographic series on Chinese-American immigrants contain all the symbolism of a Chinese New Year's parade.
In many of the stark interiors, Chairman Mae Tse-Tung's faded picture subtly but symbolically hang on a wall.
r or us black-and-white photos, Lau, assistant professor of design, said that he photographed immigrants' homes to understand the people who lived there.
He said that he was curious about immigrants' private lives and wanted to "get into the part that no one knows."
HE ITEES TO bring out the hidden interiors of the Chinese-Americans he photographs, he said, but he wants his audience to make an intellectual effort to understand the information.
"I want to get at the real message and go beyond the appearance," he said, "but I don't show or tell everything."
An exhibition of his interiors and street-scene photos from Chinatowns in San Francisco, Boston, New York City, Pittsburgh and Vancouver, Canada, and of photos he took in China on his three most recent visits, will begin tomorrow and run through Nov. 2 in the Visual Arts Gallery of the Art and Design Building.
Lau said that approximately 40 of his photos would be on display with 20 color photos by San Francisco photographer
Anna A.
"OUR STYLES AND APPROACHES are totally different," he said. "The only similarity between us is the fact that we both like to experience with reflections."
Lau received a $3,500 visual arts fellowship for his interiors of Cantonese and Chinese-American homes from the National Endowment for the Arts and Mid-America Arts Alliance.
He said that he considered the award only a stepping stone for his professional aspirations as a photographer.
"I want to exhaust China," he said. "I want to be able to live and study where a fourth of the world's population now lives."
To understand why many Chinese have been forced to leave their homeland throughout history, he said, 10 years ago he started researching the patterns of Chinese emigration
Lau said he was particularly interested in the Chinese laborers who were brought to the Midwest to work on the railroad and were "treated far worse than slaves."
LAU. WHO WAS BORN in Hong Kong and moved to
"In Asia if you are poor you have relatives to hang onto. But in Canada and in America, the poverty you see is the end-of-the rope type." he said.
Canada in 1969, said that he was shocked by the poor living conditions of the Orientales he met when he worked as a cook in a Chinese restaurant in Toronto.
type, he said.
After Lau moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1971 to attend Brooks Institute of Photography, he said, he started using the camera to document what he saw.
"I had developed the consciousness before Brooks where they stressed commercial photography, but I didn't have the know-how to translate what I saw into understandable images," he said.
During a visit to San Francisco's Chinatown, Lau said that he was "bothered by the tourists with their instastats who made the Chinese feel like they were animals in a zoo."
made the Unified ALTHOUGH THE EXPERIENCE in San Francisco made him rich, he said, he developed a deep respect for people who were photographed in their own environment by outsiders.
He said that he eventually secured the trust of many inhabitants of Chinatown by speaking Cantonese and taking photos of Chinese children playing in parks which he would show to their parents.
Because he was no longer considered to be "just another tourist with a camera," he gained permission to photograph the home interiors of many Chinese refugees.
the home interiors of many children. Lau said that since he composed many of his photographs "100 percent on the spot" and did not tamper with them in the darkroom, many of his scenes came out of "pure chance."
Even when he photographs a person from 4 feet away, he tries to be inconspicuous so the subject won't appear self-conscious, he said.
self-camera
HIBS 12 CAMERAS. Lau uses the one with the quietest camera for candid shots of people on the street.
HIBS 30 CAMERA. Hibs holds the
"When I shoot on the street, I don't even focus or hold the camera up to my eye," he said, "because I am reluctant to change the appearance of the scene."
change the appearance of the scene.
He said that he consciously looked for some tension or disturbance in a scene that would cause the viewer to see the reality of the situation.
Although much of what he photographs is natural, Lau often will arrange scenes to make them more artistically abstract or to give them deeper meaning.
He does not arrange the scenes to make them appealing to a mass audience, he said.
"I want to educate a small segment of viewers who will look into, instead of look at, my photographs," he said. "If they don't care, I don't bother."
The black lines around this photo, titled "Portrait of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung in a Commune Office in the Suburb of Canton, China," by Pok-Chi Lau, assistant professor of art and design, indicate to potential buyers that the print has been made from a complete negative, not one that has been cut to change the framing.
Boh Chu Leu----SPECIAL TO THE KANSAN
MOVIE REVIEWS
Rating System
Never Say Never Again
Sean Connery is back as 007 and he is doing just as well this time as he did back in his last Bond film "Thunderball."
The action is fast and furious like all Bond films and the fight scenes are fiery. The dialogue in "Never Say Never Again" does not have as many puns as the more recent Roger Moore movies, and that probably makes the film easier to watch. But the film is still full of humor.
good ...
In one scene Bond is being badly beaten up by his enemy. He finally throws what appears to be acid in the villain's face. The villain lets out a terrible scream and falls over dead. Bond reads the table on the beaker and it says, "James Bond urine sample."
In the movie, Bond is out to stop SPECTRE, an organization dedicated to evil. This time, SPECTRE has stolen two cruise missiles equipped with nuclear warheads, and it plans to contaminate the oil networks in the Middle East.
SPECTRE villains try to kill Bond several times, but they never succeed. Barbara Carrera plays a woman who works for the criminal organization and is assigned to assassinate 007.
The film does have some problems, however. This movie is very similar to "Thunderball." Also the soundtrack is not good. The movie producers could not obtain the rights to use the regular Bond soundtrack so they had to make due with less exciting music.
The movie is entitled "Never Say Never Again" because Connery said he would never be in another movie after he made "Thunderball."
I don't want to give the ending away, but at the end of the film Connery hints that he will never play Bond again. I hope he never does because I think Roger Moore is a better James Bond that anyone else can pretend to be.
Choir, ensemble to team up
Bv the Kansan Staff
In an unusual combination of voices and instruments, the KU Wind Ensemble will join the Chamber Choir to perform Anton Bruckner's "Muss in Eminor" this weekend.
The mass is one of several pieces the 37-voice choir will perform at its free fall concert Sunday at 3:30 in the Crafton-Preyer Theater in Murphy Hall.
century choral literature and it's probably Bruckner's finest," he said.
- Victor Goodpasture
"A mass with a wind ensemble is quite a unique combination of groups. I've never heard of it before," said James Kalston, professor of music and fine arts, and director of the chair.
The mass is one of three written by Bruckner and was first performed in 1869. The editor of the current edition of the work, Leopold Nowak, has described the mass as "one of those masterpieces of church music in which music assumes the stature of prayer.
"A mass is almost always accompanied by an orchestra or nothing at all," he said.
This piece represents the highlight of 19th
"It's very perfection exalts it far above the mundane contents of 'ifs' and 'buts'. It is a blend of simplicity and ultimate wisdom."
Other works on the program include "Five songs from Op. 59" by Mendelssohn and "Two Songs from Op. 42" by Brahms
The concert will conclude with "This World." "Life is Happiness Indeed," and "Make Our Garden Grow" all from "Candide" by Leonard Bernstein.
Drum major from KU chosen to lead '83 All-American high school band
By GUELMA ANDERSON Staff Reporter
Smokey the Bear, Bullwinkle and Snoopy hover over the streets of New York City in the form of giant, helium-filled ballons every Thanksgiving Day in the nationally televised Macy's parade.
In addition to seeing the balloons, spectators look forward to hearing some of the best bands from around the country, and this year the drum major for the University of Kansas Marching Band will lead one of the most prestigious bands of all.
president of the club.
Stephan Gibbs, Lawrence senior, has been selected drum major of the 1983 McDonald's All-American Band. The band is composed of 100 high school students, two from each state, who are considered top players.
who are considered up to ppm.
IN ADDITION TO THE Macy's parade, the
McDonald's band will also perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., and the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona, and will give short concerts on the NBC-TV "Today" program and at Carnegie Hall.
Gibbs will have all of his expenses paid for their trips and also will receive a stipend.
"Ronald McCurdy, a band instructor, came up to me and said, 'Oh, by the way Steve, how would you like to do this?' Gibbs said couldn't believe it. I was nervous for the KU ball but using it as a stepping stone. This is just jing on the cake."
long on his career. Gibbs has admired the KU Marching Band since he was three years old and began attending football games. He loved the band, but he was fascinated by the strutting drum major.
"When I was a kid, I thought that they were cool. So some kids dream of becoming football
SPECIAL TO THE KANSAN
Steve Gibbs, drum major for the KU Marching Band, will lead a band of top high school students in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
or basketball players, but I always wanted to be a drum major," he said.
GIBBS NEVER LOST sight of his goal. He joined the Lawrence High School band as a drummer, and in his junior and senior years he became one of its drum majors.
Then in 1980, Gibbs became the first freshman drum major for the KU band.
"THE CROWD WENT crazy. The band is known for its military-like style and here we were doing a soulful tune. I don't think I have ever received as many compliments about the band."
up with emuismash!
His appreciation of the fans is obvious when he describes their reaction to the band's version of "Wanna Be Starting Something" by Michael Jackson at the KU-K State game last weekend.
As he talks about the fans, Gibbs' face lights up with enthusiasm.
Yet, Gibbs must be doing something right to receive the McDonald's honor. He attributes his success to "sticking with it," but Angela Thomas, Leavenworth senior and cymbal player for the band, thinks Gibbs deserves it for other reasons as well.
"We're there a little bit to direct the band, but mostly we're there for showmanship. I think we've been concentrating too much on direction."
Gibbs hopes to leave his mark on the band since this may be his last year as drum major.
"He knows his stuff. He works hard, and he enjoys music," she said.
GIBBS SAYS THAT he will miss the band when he graduates but he doesn't plan to become a professional drum major, mostly because positions are scarce and the salaries are low. For now, he is content to bask in the honor of performing with the McDonald's band.
hour or pb to bring with the set. Although he is anxious to see New York City for the first time, Gibbs considers the real highlight of the Macy's parade to be the band's two-minute performance before the grandstand and the millions of television viewers.
"The thing that excites me the most is that I'll have a chance to put that Jayhawk on my uniform in the limelight," he said. "KU easily has one of the best bands in the country, but it's not much easier than don't get on TV. My uniform will show that there's more to Kansas than just Dorothy and Toto."
SPARE TIME
ON CAMPUS
INGE THEATRE SERIES will present "The Elephant Man" at 8 p.m. today through Oct 26 in the Inge Theatre in Murphy Hall. Tickets for students are $1.50.
JOHN BOULTON, professor of flute, will present a faculty recital at 8 p.m. today in Swan thaw
tombstone Hall in Murray
UNIVERSITY FILM Society will show "Halloween" at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. for $1.75 and midnight today and tomorrow for $2 in Dyche Auditorium
SUA FILMS WILL present "Sophie's Choice" at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. today and at 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. tomorrow. Admission is $1.50 "Eating Raoul" will be shown at midnight; admission is $2. Both films will be in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
BLOOM COUNTY
BY BERKE BREATHED
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