p* RTS German expressions delight By KARIN SKAGGS Startlng self-portraits and images of human suffering are some of the exceptional works on view at the Museum of Art's current exhibition German Expressionist Graph- ics. The show, drawn from the museum's permanent collection, ranges from fluid watercolors to bold wood- cut self portraits, and presents a rare opportunity to view such important works outside of collection catalogues. Although the works remain in the museum's permanent holdings, the danger of fading keeps them from being shown frequently or for extended periods. This exhibition is therefore an even greater opportunity to view such fine examples of Expressionism. On the museum's first floor, 15 works by various artists show dynamic power. Diverse media are repre- sented, from the scrawled pencil drawing of Ludvig Kirchner to the meditative lithographs ofKathe Kolowitz. These German artists were defined as a group who, in the early 20th century, sought to create a more direct, honest form of expression based on self-examination. Driven in partby the spiritual deficit resulting from theaftermath of * World War I, the Expressionists admired the vivid color of the Fauve painters in the early 20th century. In turn, they created theirown aesthetic, emphasizing self-inquiry and human feeling as the foundation to their images. In the exhibition, Max Beckmann's woodcut self por- trait exemplifies this brutal self-examination. He squints out at the viewer with tight lips and black, penetrating eyes. Emphasized by the thick black woodcut marks which definehis face, it seems Beckmann challenges us to examine his very soul. The woodcut became the perfect medium to create bold, aggressive lines and jagged forms edged with splin- tered marks to directly portray their forceful visions. The history of Germans and woodcuts dates from Albrecht Durer in the 16th century, yet this exhibit makes evident the artists' concern with African art in the abstract forms and essential compositions seen throughout the works. Carole McNamara, Registrar of the Museum of Art and largely responsible for the organization of the exhibi- tion, states that the diversity of works displayed is in- tended to demonstrate the strength and variety of medium used by different artists. In composing the exhibit, McNamara stated she was interested in the way the works "play off a sense of negative and positive space." She added that "the vitality of the works and the physicality of producing a woodcut is part of their dynamic energy." Accordingly, the right wall of the exhibition consists solely of portraits, yet each is distinct in medium and application. In "Portrait of DavidMiller,"Ludvig Kirchner creates delicate angular cuts which stand out upon an ochre ground. The warm-toned surface provides sub- stance for a web of explosive black line. In markedly different contrast to Kirchner's portrait is Karl Schmidt- Rottluff's "Head of a Woman," which depicts simplified planes energized by diagonal white marks. The depth and diversity of these few works suggests the quality of the exhibition as a whole. "GERMAN EXPRESSIONIST GRAPHICS" remains on view at the Museum ofArt until December S. This four hour epic details on of the most important battles in American history. Epic By SCOTT PLAGE[ In 1990, "Dance became a critical and cess despite its thr time. The success of with another lengi "Goodfellas," indicat film documen 4HOEF s With Wolves" commercial suc- ee-hour running "Wolves," along thy 1990 film, edthat audiences Stereolab Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements Elektra Stereolab are among the pioneers of "ambient rock," a new trend in music that looks ready to bliss its way into the forefront of alternative rock *and kill grunge softly with its songs. Ambient bands use washes and walls of sound to trance out their audiences and take them to higher levels of consciousness; sortofacrossbetween dream-pop and rave, ambient at its best is a refreshing change - at least for now. Stereolab are an exemplary ambi- ent band. Their album "Space Age *Bachelor Pad Music" perfectly de- scribes the band's sound: dreamy vocals and distorted guitars, organs and synthesizers that create great swirling cords and melodies. This band floats the listener away in a manner similar to My Bloody Valen- tine, but Stereolab has a grittier, sludgier edge; "heavy psychedelia" sums it up. Their latest album, "Transient Random-Noises with Announce- ments," showcases this sound to the fullest. Singer Laetitia Sadier's voice is the focal point of the group and is complemented best by the mix of techno, pop, punk, industrial and dream pop that is Stereolab on tracks like "Tone Burst," the pleasant, mel- lowopener, the heavy, chugging "Our Trinitone Blast," the intense, catchy "Jenny Onidoline," which is the first single off the album, and "Lock- Groove Lullaby," which is positively sleep-inducing, but that's a compli- ment. While one has tobe in the mood for such mindbending music, and 18- IBAICH EFIBMAUM11 Large Ubrary of Inforaton in U.S. * 1!9,278 TOPICS - ALL SUB8JECTS Order Catalog Today with Visa / MC or COD ' ' 800-351-0222 Or, rush $2.00 to: Research Information 11322 Idaho Ave. #206-A, Los Angeles, CA 90025 minute tracks smack of self-indul- gence, Stereolab's sounds take the listener away better than a carton of Calgon. The band will also be a great warm up for the poetically jangly sounds of Unrest this Thursday at St. Andrew's Hall at 7:30 p.m. Call 961-MELTfor more info The show, like the band's album, should be one of the best of the year. - Heather Phares Carlos Guastavino Las Puertas De La Maiana New Albion Records Most musicians share a strange compulsion to exhibit their personal beliefs and publicize their private emotions. While commodifying the individual composer/performer works wonders for sales, the artist's integ- rity is often sacrificed and their emo- tional veracity becomes suspect Carlos Guastavino's songs may seem to be the products of just an- other sappy balladeer; but his life and personal sensitivity validate his pieces' honest emotion. Born in Santa F, Argentina, in 1912, Guastavino's life-long passion for music resulted in hundreds of scores for numerous arrangements. He spent most of his life in obscurity and solitude, writing for himself. Unlike his Argentine contemporar- ies, Guastavino relied on traditional harmony as his parlance, not needing to explore new musical languages to convey the emotions his homeland evoked. Twenty short vignettes for piano and voice are the subject of "Las Puertas." Written exclusively in Span- ish, his songs evoke a plaintive mood thatmay seemtrite coming fromsome- one less sensitive or sincere than Guastavino. Mostofthe pieces locate him "deep in the furrows of love" orcontemplat- ing love lost. Sure, Guastavino is not blazing newmusical orpoetic ground, but each song evokes a contemplative mood resulting from one man's hon- est introspection. Guastavino weaves natural images into the skein of his life, creating a web of interaction which spans be- yond human relationships. As a con- duit of his feelings, each song can barely contain the gentle torrent of his emotions. Although Guastavino's music is his chief means of communication and connection in his solitude, the strain of society and human interac- tion almost seem too much for him to bear: "Now I shall retire to the lonely fields... to see if I can find that which my soul craves" - Chris Wyrod 338 S. Stale 996-9191 Directed and written by Ronald Maxwell; with Jeff Daniels, Martin Sheen and Tom Berenger. were willing to weather an extensive film provided they were rewarded with quality. The current trend of producing longer films led to the re- lease of "JFK" and "Malcolm X," and has peaked with the release of the four-hour epic, "Gettysburg." The film is in two parts with a 20 minute intermission and depicts three days in which 150,000 soldiers fought the largest battle ever in the United States. If one considers this the battle which solidified the preservation of the Union, then it can be considered the most significant event in our na- tional history, save our war for inde- pendence. Certainly worthy of four hours, right? Well, yes and no. Visually the film is stunning. The landscape and the cinematography, particularly the use of musket smoke and the creation of "natural" lighting wonderfully convey the feel of differ- ent times of day and lend an ironic beauty and integrity to the battle scenes. The battle scenes were filmed on location at Gettysburg National Mili- tary Park. Virtually each detail, from the uniforms to the choreography of Pickett's charge, is recreated with marvelous accuracy. The exception is the glaringly ridiculous faux facial hair on Tom Berenger and C. Thomas Howell. "Gettysburg" has moments of sharp poignancy, yet is often weighed down by its ambition. The film de- picts the whole of the battle with such omniscience that the moments of tan- gible, human drama are too far be- tween. Instead, the thrill of reenact- ing what the filmmakers believe are "the largest scale period motion-pic- ture sequences filmed in North America since... 'Birth of aNation' seem to be the focus. The importance of the event could have been trans- lated more effectively and enjoyably by focusing primarily on the princi- pal characters and screenplay than on the over-whelming number of extras. Similarly, the strategic aspect of the battle is overemphasized and can dull an unknowledgeable or disconcerned audience. The division of the Union, the effect of the battle on each man, woman and child in the country, the passion and the despera- tion of the individual soldiers and officers to defend their homes, fami- Ihistory lies and ideals, and the pain of having to defend them against friends; these are the moments at which the film captures what is truly substantial about the Civil War and flirts with great- ness. Jeff Daniels clearly out-classes the rest of the cast in his portrayal of Federal Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. Daniels fuses the power of the war and the passion of humanity in his performance (plus, unlike Berenger and Howell, he can grow his own facial hair). The other principal actors provide a sharp contrast to Daniels Martin Sheen's General Robert E. Leeisstiffandplacid, Tom Berenger's General James Longstreetneverquite masters the southern drawl and C. Thomas Howell's Thomas Chamber- lain is only a step above Keanu Reeves-level acting. When "Gettysburg" is good it is very good. It seems the potential for greatness is here, unfortunately di- rector / writer Ronald Maxwell is more concerned with grandiosity. Still, the moments ofexcellencemake it worthwhile, provided you have half a day free. It is only a shame Maxwell was so conscious of creating an event rather than a film. GETITSBURG is playing at Showcase. I' -.MUNI Pint Night Wednesdays $1.00 off Pints of the "Best draft beer selection" in town 9:00pm-Close ST. MARY'S STUDENT PARISH announces a lecture Catholic and Academic A Contradiction in Terms? by Professor James Turner History Department, University of Michigan Wednesday, October13, 7:00 p.m. at the Newman Center 331 Thompson Street The first in a series of presentations on faith and thought and the interplay between a Catholic religious commitment and the profession of teacher and intellectual. Open to all interested students, faculty and others. U UM NEW VIDEO * NEW VIDEO * NEW VIDEO .l: J "LEGAL" MARIUANA IN HOLLAN "WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS" THE DUTCH MORAL MAIORITY SPEAK A 70 MINUTE VIDEO EXPLORATION OF DUTCH SOCIETY AFTER IS YEARS Of'ALMOST- LEGAL'MARUUANA DUTCH WORKM PEOPLE. BOTH POT USERS AND NON. USERS A~LKE VOICE THEIR OPIMNN IN NGUSH. PROTECT YOURIT afND WITHACCUUATE IWVANRT! f' $2.99 Cheeseburger & Fries 1/3 lb of lean ground chuck, charbroiled and served on our homemade French Bread. 11:3Oam-3:00pm 2 VIA ys to liff MAIL ORDERS :SEND *IM95 CHECA OR MONEY 0400 TO : FNINTH AARTICLE PROD UCTIONS I ~ OsflWir Ave. I ISuite 15 I Dept. DAQMa Mi a .h l Fier" z~l NEW VIVD NEW VID O i 14k4,C rf , Q. U V B . tl THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS PRESENTS A FILM AND PRESENTATIONBY DR.MARGARETGELLER SO MANY GALAXTES ...SOLHTLETIM E So Many Galaxies...So Little Time, madewith Academy Award winning cinematographer Boyd Estus, chronicles the remarkable work of Harvard-Smithsonian Senior ScientistMargaretJ. Gellerand her collaborators to map the known Universe. It is a film about the devotion and creativity ofscientificresearchers, and about the love of science. ""-- -° I. ^t 6 i a JO4St PAs Co OW : E, lr*i .. . e p Qin ,. .F Northwestern College of Chiropractic is now accepting applications for its next three entering classes. (April 1994, September 1994, January 1995) fGenornl renuirmeontc at tin nf entrv incfludP. . ,, '' ti Year l '; aQ. r i i - - - - - V- - - C..+AAA*40 Wl; V