Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Monday March 1, 1993 Creative tools of China by Amy Meng In the ancient world of Confucian- ism, the Chinese-scholar artist played a major role in shaping aesthetic values. In order to become accepted as a true scholar-artist in the mind of the Chi- nese, one had to become a master of the Four Treasures of the Chinese Scholar's Studio Museum of Art six arts which included calligraphy, music, archery, chariot driving, learn- ing, and mathematics. It was an elite world composed of intellectuals and artists who devoted themselves to the pursuit of artistic and scholarlypursuits. When entering the world of the Chi- nese-scholar artist, one may find acces- sories such as brushes, papers, inks, and inkstones needed for the creation of ink drawings and calligraphy. These ob- jects were often so lavishly adorned as to constitute works of art in and of themselves, a sampling of which are currently on display at the UMMA. The Chinese brush, invented 2,000 years ago, is characterized with apointed tip and rounded body. There are calli- graphic brushes made of goat hair and elastic bristles of tail from weasel, deer, rabbit, fox, or wolf. The stem is usually cylindrical and constructed out of bam- boo, although jade, porcelain, ivory or many other materials are used. Rocks were polished and ground to form inkstones. Lotus flowers, tree roots, brushes, leaves, dragons and clouds were often carved into the surface to enhance their aesthetic value. Molds were used to form cylindrical, rectangular and hexagonal inksticks. Chinese charac- ters and landscape designs such as pa- godas, water buffalo, and bridges were often engraved unto the inksticks. Brush holders were also an essential part of an artist's supply list. Holders were constructed out of wood and bam- boo and carved with various decorative designs. Brush rests, water pots, paper- weights, arm rests, and brush stands carved out of solid materials such as rosewood are also included in the dis- play. Although extremely expensive and lavish to maintain, these traditional ac- cessories were preserved to show the timelessness of artistic endeavors. FOUR TREASURES OF THE CHINESE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO will be on display at the Museum of Art through March 7. Schumacher's "Down" falls flat by Aaron Hamburger Los Angeles is a powderkeg of frustration waiting to explode, and this is indicative of a larger state of mind in America in general. This is one of the themes that "Falling Down" wants to be about. The movie also wants to be about the failure of the American Dream (in other words, nothing else is new), but the only thing the movie really demonstrates conclusively is that a crazy man goes crazy. The movie starts out well (except for a few heavy handed shots of the American flag that scream: symbolism) with a quick sequence in which the Michael Douglas character, named D-FENS, fed up with traffic, gets out of his car and announces meekly, "I'm going home." Douglas wisely throws this line away. His taut, subtle performance is the strongest element of the film. D-FENS embarks on a dangerous journey on foot across the tired landscape of urban L. A. His first encounter, with two gang members, is violent, tension- filled and exciting, unlike the rest of the film. We would expect the filmmakers to raise the stakes as the film progresses, but "Falling Down," earns the dubious distinction of being an action film that Falling Down gets less compelling as it goes along. Directed by Joel Schumacher; Part of the reason for this is that once written by Ebbe Roe Smith; with screenwriter Ebbe Roe Smith comes up Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall and srewie beReSihcmsu Barbara Hershey with the intriguingcharacterofD-FENS, he doesn' tknow what to do withhim. He puts him through the paces of traveling through Los Angeles, without ever really capturing any unique flavor particular to that city. The film might as well have taken place in Dallas or Atlanta. Also, D-FENS never really does very much. He plays with his guns, scares a few people and stabs a white supremicist, but that's all. There's hardly any violence here compared to other action films, or even to the nightly news. Another reason the film lacks forward drive is that the filmmakers lack the courage of thier original convictions. Instead of making D-FENS a normal guy who snaps, the screenplay reveals that D-FENS has always been a nut. The more we find out about D-FENS, the more one-dimensional his character becomes. In the end, watching a crazy man go crazy isn't very interesting. Every once in awhile, the film follows an annoying subplot involving the cop who finally confronts Douglas in the end, played by Robert Duvall. Apparently it's his last day on the job and he's trying to avoid trouble (wouldn't you know it, he finds some). Of course it turns out he really doesn't want to retire (remind you of "Lethal Weapon" at all?). We never really get into Douglas's journey because the film keeps cutting back to the much more boring subplot involving Duvall. The performers try, but none of them can match Douglas's effective portrayal of D-FENS. Hershey does well as Douglas's ex-wife, and Rachel Ticotin is engaging as Duvall's partner. Robert Duvall's folksiness becomes wearisome after awhile. "Falling Down" has its merits, among them, an imaginative resolution to D- FENS's journey, and a great visual look. The film attempts to discuss some touchy, relevant issues of the way we are. Ultimately, however, the film is only an attempt. FALLING DOWN is playing at Showcase. L~~A 'i:f[!) VAI II'1i14 d :11111 ' 14 Don't miss "Missing" Costas-Gavras's "Missing" from 1982 is on view at Rackham tonight at 8 p.m. The film tells of the efforts of a businessman (Jack Lemmon) and his liberal daughter-in-law (Sissy Spacek) to find her missing husband in 1973 Chile. Costas-Gavras takes what could have been a hackneyed political tale and turns it into a riveting thriller. Michael Douglas contemplating the failure of his latest film "Falling Down." INTHEARMY, NURSES AREN'T JUST IN DEMAND. THEY'RE IN COMMAND. Any nurse who just wants a job can with your level of experience. As find one. But if you're a nurs- an Army officer, you'll command the ing student who wants to be in respect you deserve. 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