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University Daily Kansan / Friday, September 6, 1991
EXCURSIONS
TV season relies on old ideas
"The tried and true is dead and buried," said Brandon
Fraud.
"The tried and true is dead and buried," said Brandon Tartikoff last year, when he headed NBC Entertainment. If that's so, then this fall's TV season is "The Night of the Living Dead."
The tried and true are back.
The lives of the colonies
Like zombies, the formulaic approach has revived dead series and worse ideas to rise again and stalk the back alleys of prime-time television.
It was different last year. Television had "quality" shows, like the overrated and underwatched "Twin Peaks", the whiny, underwatched "thirtsomething" and the humid, underwatched Vietnam story, "China Beach."
This year, there are 27 new shoes on the prime-time schedule, but only six are hourlong drama. Seventeen are situation comedies. Adding to the disarray, 23 returning shows are going to new time slots.
They weren't everybody's cup of tea, but the networks figured they had to do something to staunch their hemorrhage.
It didn't work. Still the audience erodes, and still the net works don't have a lace.
"Brown" producers sign deal
CBS says Diane English and Joel Shukovsky, producers of the network's hit "Murphy Brown" series, have signed a deal to make four other prime-time series for CBS.
"Brown" starts its fourth season Sept. 16 with a one-hour show devoted to Mowry's impending motherhood and the paternity of her child. The father is also talk show host Kevin Loweinstein, who to whom she was married for five days in 1988.
What's Hot
HOTSINGLES
1. "The Promise of a New Day," Paula Abdul
2. "I Adore Mi Amor," Color Me Badd
3. "I Do It For You," Bryan Adams
4. "Motown philly," Boy II Men
5. "Things That Make You Go Hmmm," C&C Music Factory
COUNTRYSINGLES
1 "Brand New Man" *"Brooks & Dunn*
2 "Down at the Twist and Shout," *Mary Chapin Car*
2. "Down at the Twist and Shout," *Mary Chapin Capenter*
3. "My Last Teardrop," *Tropia* Tucker
4. "Where Are You Now," *Clint Black*
5. "Leap of Faith," *Lionel Cartwright*
R&BSINGLES
1. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em," Lisa Lisa & Cult Jasmn
2. "Wanna Change the World," Phyllis Hylman
3. "So Much Love," B Anger A
4. "Never Stop," The Brand New Heavies
5. "Never Stop." The Brand New Heavies
VIDEORENTALS
1 "Sleeping With the Enemy"
2 "Awakenings"
3 "New Jewel Girl"
4 "Home Alone"
5 "Misery"
From wire reports
LutinKnunnKANSLAN
Roger Daniels, a University of Cincinnati professor (above), speaks at the opening ceremonies of the KU Asian-American Festival. About 100 people attended the speech.
Asian festival opens cultural door
By Justin Knupp
Kansan staffwriter
East will meet Midwest during the month-long Asian- American Festival at the University of Kansas.
The festival, which began yesterday, includes award-winning Asian-American artists and novelists, play readings and movies with Asian-American themes.
Paul Lim, assistant professor of English, said the month's activities offered a chance to learn about Asian
"I think the activities are a good way to promote multi-culturalism," he said. "Even if people only can attend one or two of the activities, it will be an introduction to Asian-American culture."
The festival began with a lecture by Roger Daniels, professor at the University of Cincinnati, titled, "The Asian-American Experience. Multi-culturalism and the Challenge to Established Cannons."
The festival grew out of a play-reading group with which Ilim was affiliated.
"We had done things for other groups in the past and thought it was time that we did something for Aslan-Amerer."
He said he hoped the festival would promote awareness of Asia, American culture
"We are trying very hard to steer out of the exotic in our presentations," he said. "We want to point out that the animals don't need to be mistreated."
Heo Shik. former president of the KU Korean Student
Organization, said he thought the festival would increase cultural awareness.
"If people want to learn about another culture, this will give them the chance," he said.
"Asian-Americans are one of the fastest-growing groups in the country and on campus," he said. "Unfortunately, we don't have enough people to do this."
Schultz said that statistics indicated that the Asian-american population in Douglas County had grown 150 percent.
"Part of the process of increasing awareness about Asian-American cultures is to get the information out there where people have access to it," he said. "That is one part of the festival."
On Monday and Tuesday nights, Student Union Activities and Liberty Hall will present movies with Asian themes such as "Come See the Paradise," and "The Good Earth."
Guest lecturers will speak Wednesday night at Downs Auditorium in Lyne Hall. Topics will range from the symposium on contemporary poetry to
"Many of the speakers are very knowledgeable and very interesting people," Schultz said.
On Sept. 13 and 27, plays written by Asian-American authors will be read in Downs Auditorium.
Each Saturday, a guest artist will speak on topics relating to his or her individual field. Cinematography, fiction
writing, playwriting and poetry will be among the topics discussed.
"All of the artists will bring an outside view of Asian-American culture to the festival," Shultz said. "Some of the artists have won national awards for their work and should provide interesting lectures."
Hsuan Joseph Liu, president of the Chinese Student Association, said he was pleased with the idea of a festival.
"Anything that promotes understanding of different cultures is a good thing," he said. "I feel that many of the problems today occur when people don't understand each other."
Lia said she thought an interest in Asian culture already existed. However, the festival allows KU students to attend.
"Wereally want to promote understanding of the various Asian cultures," he said. "This festival is a good way to do it."
Taiji Kaneda, Leawed freshman, said she thought the festival would be a good idea.
"If it works and people go, it is a good idea," he said. "This is better than nothing at all."
"I still feel the festival is a good idea," he said. "However, I think the only true way to understand a culture is to visit it."
One problem that Kaneda sees, however, is that on the university level, many people are more interested in developing their own culture instead of discovering other cultures.
1991 MTV Awards
VIDEO OF THE YEAR: "Losing My Religion" R.E.M.
MALE: Chris Isaak "Wicked Game"
FEMALE: Janet Jackson, "Love Will Never Do Without You"
GROUP: R.E.M. "Losing My Religion."
NEW ARTIST: Jesus Jones, "Right Here, Right Now," RAP: "Mama Said Knock You Out (The Hard Way)," LL Cool J. DANCE: "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)." C&C Music Factory
METAL-HARD ROCK: "The Other Side," Aerosmith.
ALTERNATIVE: "Been Caught Stealing," Jane's Addiction.
LONG FORM: "Immaculate Collection," Madonna.
CHOREOGRAPHY: "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)." C&C Music Factory.
- ECIAL EFFECTS: "Falling To Pieces," Faith No More.
ART DIRECTION: "Losing My Religion," R.E.M.
EDITING: "Losing My Religion," R.E.M.
CINEMATOGRAPHY:"Wicked Game," Chris Isaak
BREAKTHROUGH": "Losing My Religion," R.E.M.
Trip Shakespeare thrills collegians
Kristine Curlev
Special to the Kansan
The trouble with most good "unknown" bands is that eventually they get "noticed." This is usually good news for a band, but it can attract a larger audience for its music.
But that same news is usually bad news for the fans who have followed the music of the band from its infancy, and has sold out for a bat at the big time.
A case in point is the Minneapolis-based band, Trip Shakespeare.
The band has, over the past few years, attracted a pseudo-cult following. This loyal audience has grown enormously since the band's birth into the college music scene with their first album, "Applehead Man."
But that same success has prompted many fans to question whether the band can handle its new popularity while remaining true to the eclectic style that first attracted college listeners.
The arrival of the quartet's fourth album, "Lulu," is a copitation of filial-related band members, Matt and Dan Wilson on guitar and piano, John Munson on bass and Elaine Harris on drums and percussion.
The album showcases some of the band's original efforts such as, "Patricia," one of the first songs that the band ever played as well as offering reworked versions of songs such as "Jill Can Drive."
Many of the albums latest songs such as "Will You Love 'ound'" have the same title, but they don't.
much of the unusual sound that is Trip Shakespeare. In fact, it is the band's poetic ramblings, especially those of singer Matt Wilson that melt so effectively with the guitar-oriented sound of the rest of the band. This blending of the instrumental with the sweetly lyrical lyrics in the campy yet romantic sound that produces such delicious unique songs as, "Your Mouth."
"Your mouth is my aparment in the evening
And I sleep in your ruby dark bed,
Your mind is like a spaceship that
the angels might fly
And I ride any place in your head..."
about women who frequent night-clubs. It is decidedly reminiscent of the group's last album, "Across the Universe." The inclusion of such songs shows that the band can mesh the old with the new.
Many of the album's songs, however, cover new ground for the band. "Bachelorette," is a whimsical ballad
People who refuse to listen to Trip Shakespeare because they feel that the band has sold out to the hordes of new fans chanting to hear the band's earlier hit, "Toolmaster," may wish to rethink their decision.
What the band has produced with the release of "Lulu," is a return to the sound that originally attracted college listeners and that promises to drag even more fans into the band's arena of innovatieve and eccentric music making.
An explosion of color SUA show's intent is to stimulate the senses with a wide variety of artwork
By Alexander Bloemhof Kansan staff writer
Awakening the Senses represents a comeback for the fine arts in SUA programming and is a show intended to stimulate thinking.
The show displays art exhibits in the Kansas Union Gallery until 5 p.m. tomorrow. Performers earlier in the week included Members of Black Poet's Society, a group of students who study African-American poetry Members read their works on poem to 1p.m. Wednesday in the lobby at the
"SUA hasn't been very active in fine arts, that's part of the reason why I picked this title. It is sort of a reawakening," said April Edwards, fine arts coordinator for Student Union Activities.
The artists included in the show are students at the University of Kansas, Edwards said. The show provides an opportunity for them to show their
The lobby was also the stage for Jazz Combo, a small group of jazz enthusiasts who played from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday.
Jewelry and art videos are among the items at the exhibit.
work.
"We tried to get as many areas as we could," Edwards said. "The students are mostly from fine arts, but we also have students who have art as a hobby."
Her drawings are named "Mungu Wabarikai Watu Wetu" and "Dios Bendiga Nuestra Gente," Swahili and Idiatic respectively for "God bless our people."
Irene Carvajal, Washington, D.C., senior, designed some of the graphic art.
Edwards is one of the artists who has work displayed in the gallery.
"Art should make you think," she
should. It should have social or political
backing.
Carvajal said art should not just be beautiful.
The gallery also contains sculptures, textiles, ceramics, photographs and other artworks.
She said she thought Awakening the Senses fulfilled that standard.
"I do think design is art," Carvajal said. "The level of communication is
"If you want to make money, you become a graphic designer," she said. "If you want to be a painter, you're going to be poor."
easier to perceive, for example if you design a poster for a concert and then you hear how many people actually went there."
Edwards said many artists went into graphic design to earn a living.
"It's kind of hard as a painter because you can't be sure how people will react, much less whether they'll buy your paintings." Ghent said.
Chip Ghent, a St. Louis, Mo. senior whose oil paintings are displayed at the gallery, agreed.
But there isn't nothing I should do. Ghent said that the exhibition was a good opportunity for students to display their work and that the gallery had not been used enough for that purpose.
"But there's nothing I'd rather do."
"It's real nice to see your stuff displayed," Ghent said. "But the strongest reason why I entered was the gallery, but they haven't used it."
He said that the exhibition was a
Sculptures, ceramics and jewelry are displayed in showcases along the front walls of the gallery.
first step in making faculty and students aware of the fine arts.
The videos are from a collection at the School of Fine Arts, Edwards said.
"My idea was sort of an explosion of color." Edwards said. "The exhibition was supposed to be very visual and really stimulating the senses."
The front room contains furniture on which visitors can sit to study colorful textiles and paintings and listen to music which comes out of loudspeakers designed by one of the artists.
"I just wanted to make them more available. I wanted people to come in and sit down and watch them."
Graphic designs and photographs cover the walls of the adjoining room, but the visitor's attention will most likely be focused on screens on the screen of a television set first.
Melissa Lacey, Arkansas City sophomore, admires a work of art in the Awakening the Senses student art exhibit in the Kansas Union Gallery.