The Michigan Daily

ARTS
Wednesday, February 14, 1990

Page 9

Blueser
BY PETER SHAPIRO __

Ellis plays best live

"4
Michigan Quarterly Review
University of Michigan/$3.50
For the eclectic reader, the new Michigan Quarterly Review samples
material from bookended points-of-view. There is an insightful article by
John Fraser called "Watching Horror Movies" that defends the horror movie
experience from a populist stance. Deborah Bright, in "Wait Till Donald
Trump Buys the Whitney," argues against the commercial, mass-audience
emphasis of big U.S. museums. Poetic word-flights from Amy Clampitt
are offset by the straight-ahead lyrical verses of Michigan poet Diane
Wakowski.
The featured piece is an essay by Elaine Kim, a professor of Asian
American Studies at Berkeley, "'Such Opposite Creatures': Men and Women
in Asian American Literature." Kim looks at a conflict between male and
Temale Asian American writers over "cultural misreadings," and argues that
"...instead, it is necessary to unmask the manipulations that undermine
* sian American women's power to interpret their own experiences." This is
tn extension of a lecture that was delivered in Ann Arbor last year. Kim's
essay has a remarkable coda in the form of a poem translated from Chinese
called "Mountain People," by Han Dong, a student at Shan Bong University
in China.
Renowned writer Maxine Hong Kingston contributes a piece about last
summer's protests in China. "The students at Tian An Men," she writes,
*...are the latest evolution of human kind toward being a peaceful species."
There is also a fine short story by Lara Stapleton entitled "Maria Luna."
Stapleton, a student at the University, won a Hopwood for fiction last year.
MQR editor Larry Goldstein read Stapleton's work at the behest of
English professor Bill Holinger and found "Maria Luna" to be "...rich and
complex, full of surprise, with a poignant ending." The story is about a
young American woman with a Filipino mother, growing up in a
polycultural environment where conflicts arise between her heritage and the
ethnic shadings of her community. Goldstein had already selected Kim's
essay for publication, and said he found that Stapleton's work was "a good
example of the themes which Kim writes about."
" As editor, "I'm always interested in building patterns around different
topics and themes," Goldstein said. He acknowledged that the pieces by
Fraser and Bright were likely to be provocative. "Deborah Bright's piece is
nore energetic; she's an advocate for cultivating contemporary artists."
Goldstein had to assess his own attitudes before adding Fraser's article. "I'm
skeptical about horror movies," he said, "but I thought he articulated his
point very well." In his article, Fraser asserts that, "...implicit in all this
(horror movies), too, is a criticism of inflexibility."
4 It's not uncommon for readers to send in letters accusing the MQR, in
Goldstein's words, "...of trying to arouse controversy." He replies, "Of
Jcourse! After all, what's the point? To make you think." As editor,
Goldstein said he hopes to challenge conventional wisdom. He takes
inspiration from recollections of an editor friend who, in the early '70s,
claimed that "if there were a sonnet by Richard Nixon that was first rate I
*:would publish it!"
Upcoming in the spring issue of MQR will be contributions from the
prolific Joyce Carol Oates, and Michigan alum Arthur Miller. A special
issue is planned for the fall, featuring writing and discussion on the subject
of the female body, incorporating material about the male body. "Already
I've got boxes of manuscripts," Goldstein said.
-Mark Webster
CLAS$ VIED ADSI Calil 764-0557
- by
say hello to Franki !I- your choice for a qualty,F
- only

A V,

As
may
just

ephemeral as live performances
be, there are certain things that
can't be captured on vinyl,

1
i

aluminum, or chromium dioxide.
With so much technology available
to the producer, the temptation is
too great for them not to dabble
around with multi-tracks, echo

effects, synthesizers, and other non-
musical elements that distort the
"live" sound through sterilization.
Blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis' two
studio albums, Georgia Blue and
Fanning the Flames, have both suf-
fered from the heavy-handed med-
(ling of his producers. His albums
are a constant struggle of the artist
attempting to maintain his true
voice within the squalor of poor pro-
duction values. Fanning the Flames
in particular is slick even compared
to Madonna; the album reeks of
overdubs and synth organ licks. One
track, "So Far Away," could easily
be a Steely Dan song - it's that
soulless. Ellis' wailing, string-bend-
ing, speed merchant solo runs lose
most of their power because they are
awash in a sea of compressed dy-
namics and studio musician hack
jobs.
There are glimmers of hope,
however, in these albums. "Pawn
Broker" and "Fender Blender" from

Fanning the Flames and "As' the
Years Go Passing By" from Georgia
Blue display guitar work so sharp
that it cuts through all the polish
and leaves nothing but a grimy nd
earthy musical aura. Ellis' guitr
style is exemplary of the classic
clean Stratocaster sound thathas
recently become the trademark-cif
Robert Cray. It may not be as ovu-
cative as the playing of Otis RusWir
Buddy Guy, but it is a perfect 'y-
hicle for Ellis to show off his chops.
Ellis' virtuosic repertoire includes
material frorn the three Kings of the
blues -_B.B., Albert, and Freddy-
the staples of the raunchy bar barrd
sound. He may not be able to bend
notes with his voice as well as- he
can with his guitar, but his guitar
pyrotechnics are enough to creatie an
atmosphere of frenzied excitement
and intensity. -
1INSLELY ELIS plays at the U Club
tonight. The show should gftrf
around 9:30 p.m.

Blues artist Tinsley Ellis disappoints on his overproduced albums, but in
live shows like the one at the U Club tonight, he's usually fanning some
flames with his guitar prowess.

ONWA fto
ONWARI
anew p j Coul/hav
~~~~~~~k0,y by khai O~4~ tho~ futuei ~oe
February 16, 17 8 p.m "
February 18 2 p.m
Trueblood Theater
Admission price $5 " Student & Senior Citizens $3
Tickets available at
The Michigan League Box Office or at the door
Cal 74-5350 for more information
Staged reading performed by
The UM Department of Theatre and Drama
arid the Brecht Cornpany
in association with The Institute for the Humanities

"Hair Styles to Please!"
7 Hair Cutters
- No waiting -
DASCOLA
STYLISTS

Auditions and Opportunities runs
each Wednesday in Daily Arts. If
you need performers, stage help,
ushers or anything else for your pro-
duction, drop the info off at the Arts
office, 420 Maynard Street, second
floor. We'll print it as soon as we
can.
healthy LUNCH OR SUNDAY DINNER (5-8 PM)
at :

opposite
Jacobson's

668-9329


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This singer and songwriter makes
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Interview. Smart Magazine hailed Michael
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