The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 3, 1997 - 9D ARTS - m 1?rof., author sheds light on act of writing Celebrating a culture MUSEUMS Continued from Page 3D By Mary Trombley Daily Arts Writer I In a story in University professor Charles Baxter's new collection of short fiction, "Believers," a character relating a tale at a dinner party says, "I keep forgetting about the necessities of violence in the U.S.A. Well, if you were expect- ing violence, you'll be disappointed. Something else happened:' This statement is almost emblematic of Baxter's own work. His stories, in their graceful depiction of Midwestern life, never hinge on overt brutality. Something else is always happening in Charles Waxter's work - something dark, something slow, something heady, but always something subtle and well-crafted. Even when he's describing an assist- ed suicide or a bar brawl, Baxter's writing is endowed with careful clarity and wit. "I've come to feel that the real challenge to me as a writer is to take ordinary experiences and to make them interesting again," Baxter said. 'Apparently it's not my mission in life to take the huge subjects - war and peace - and deal with them. What I do is to take some of these more day > day events and make them compelling.' The author's statement is humble, considering that the "huge subjects" in most people's lives are the ones that Baxter writes about. Marriage (the lasting kind), conventional confusion and the after-effects of death and disease are mainstays of his stories. As he writes about confused people making choices, Baxter avoids the flamboyant and focuses on slower, scarier realities. In his fiction, a drunken driver will avoid crashing his car, only to have to face the .wreckage of his life in the morning. This year has been particularly productive for e author: Besides "Believers," which is in stores now, a book of his essays entitled "Burning Down The House" will be available in April. Vintage Books is also re-issuing his first collection, "Harmony Of The World," this spring. In addition, Baxter is the current director of the English department's MFA program. Though Baxter focuses on the short story genre, he has written two fine novels - "First Light" and, most recently, 1993's "Shadow Play," as well a collection of poetry. His work is regularly blished in many academic journals and such mainstream magazines as "Harper's" and "Atlantic Monthly." Baxter is frequently anthologized in "Best American Short Stories" and has received numerous accolades, including an O. Henry Price award and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Baxter's collections of short fiction have gar- nered him the most attention. Despite his forays into other forms, short stories continue to fascinate him. "I really like the poetry and the compression and the scope of the short story, how much you can tell in a limited space," Baxter commented. "Within this small size, this constriction ... I think you can do amazing things." Baxter's characters are particularly memorable - a young child experiencing the death of his grandmother, a bored banker determined to explode his life, an elderly woman deceiving her husband on his deathbed. The novel form influences Baxter's work in a dif- ferent manner. "I really think novels are more about time and memory and people making plans. Novels are often up to the business of creating histories." "First Light" for example, traces the relationship of a brother and sister in reverse chronological order, starting from a present-day holiday party and ending at their first meeting in infancy. The book is particu- larly apt in showing the connections between the characters' past and present circumstances; each episode reveals a little more of the complicated links between past events and present pain. Baxter is a native of Minneapolis and has taught in the state of Michigan since 1974. His writing is nearly always set in the Midwest, most particular- ly the fictional rural town of Five Oaks, Mich. "I write about the Midwest because I know it and because I'm a Midwesterner and you write about what you know. Even Stephen King writes about Maine because that's what he knows," he says. Baxter's stories are eerie portraits of the region - they accentuate the surreal in the most commonplace of Midwestern lives. Baxter's writing has its ardent fans. "Some people just want to see him as a nice Midwestern writer, but he's got a dark view" says Elwood Reid, former stu- dent and University lecturer. "Inside (Baxter's) nor- mal appearance lurks an edgy guy" Reid compares . Baxter to John Cheever. "His writing is very well- observed. It's dead-on ... there's not a wasted word." food. The Karanis excavation was par- ticularly significant for the Kesey Museum, as it was headed by Latin Prof. Francis Kelsey in 1924-35, the person for whom the museum is named. The upcoming exhibition for the Kelsey is the "Sepphoris in Galilee: Crosscurrents of Culture" show, which opens in early September and runs through the fall semester. The exhibi- tion will be jointly run with the art museum, and will highlight works dis- covered at the Zippori archaeological site in Israel, which was once a pros- perous city where people of varied reli- gious backgrounds lived together peacefully. The display includes a num- ber of artifacts, including a large mosa- ic, and comes complete with maps and models, as well as a video and interac- tive computer program. Of course, art isn't limited to muse- ums. There are a thousand other possi- bilities, and Ann Arbor has explored every one of them. By taking a walk around campus on a nice day, one can see the large amount of public sculpture owned by the University, like the Holocaust menmod- al near Rackham. North Campus in particular is very rich, with a large variety of interesting sculpture, including a work, "Wave Field," the brainchild of Vietnam Memorial artist Maya Lin. In addition, there are a number of galleries and cafes around town that display the work of local artists. And who can ignore the Ann Arbot art fair, held this year from July 16-19? The art fair is more about crafts than art, and many students remark that it is one of the most annoying times of the year, since it usually coincides with summer midterms. But these same stu- dents are also forced to admit that there is always something interesting to see, and that there are usually good sales at campus-area stores. And in the spirit of technology, {art can also be accessed online. Both the Museum of Art and the Kelsey muse- um have their own web sites (www umich.edu/-umma 'and www umich.edu/-kelseydb, respective- ly) and a little surfing yields a nmnber of other art-abundant sites. For those with cars, or those who can con their friends into driving them, nearby Detroit offer. its Institute of Art, the fifth-largest art museum in the country, with an amazing collection and a lot of-space to display it. The museum is bigger than anything on campus, and thus its shows, like its upcoming "Spledors of Ancient Egypt," are larger.:The Egyptian show is the first display of its kind to come to a MidWestern venue since the King Tut exhibition in the 1970s. The show will- take place in 18 galleries, over 4000 square feet of gallery space, aiwill include mummy cases, jewelr'-wall carvings and ceramics. ^y MARGARET MYERS/Daily LSA sophomore Bejal Sha dances during the :Uth annual Indian American Student Association Cultural Show at Hill Auditorium last November. Morris discusses Washington, avoids scandal in memoir By Elizabeth Lucas Weekend, Etc. Editor Few White House advisers have been so contro- versial as Dick Morris. As an unelected civilian, he *ictated a new strategy to President Clinton and instituted new campaigning techniques - before his fall from grace, when the press discovered his year- A~ng affair with a prostitute. Whatever personal opin- ions readers hold about Morris, his book "Behind the Oval Office" reveals that he was as important to the Clinton presidency as he was controversial. Morris first describes his career as a campaign -consultant - a job description that he pioneered -- before a fateful phone call from Clinton. Morris ded up joining Clinton's staff in 1994, after the Republicans' landslide victories in the '94 con- gressional elections. His mission was to reinvent Clinton's threadbare public persona, and to ensure Democratic victories in 1996. Morris employed a variety of strategies in this task. The buzz- word "triangulation," which Morris invented, is explained in the book: it means taking a centrist position, on a moral high ground between warring parties or ideologies.' Morris polled citizens frequent- ly, and used their viewpoints as a guide in shaping policies and running Clinton's campaign. He credits this technique as a major reason for Clinton's reelec- tion. Perhaps one tactic that was not as successful was Clinton's focus on small issues like school uniforms and seatbelt laws. While Morris states that these issues are important to people, many commentators have said that Clinton should focus on bigger issues. 'These sections of the book will appeal to serious readers, but some will be more interested in the White House gossip Morris pro- vides. Morris dealt with most of the key figures in Clinton's cabinet and staff, and he offers an insider perspective. Some of this information - like the revelation that Clinton is a details-oriented person -is not exactly new, but it adds to the book's first-person authenticity. Surprisingly, one piece of gossip that's not included in the book is the inside story of Morris' affair. It is only mentioned in passing, although Morris devotes an entire chapter to the other events surrounding his resignation. The reader has the impression that Morris wanted his book to be entirely serious - although the book would never have sold as well without the notoriety Morris gained from the scandal. "Behind the Oval Office" provides an intriguing look at the Clinton presidency, and in particular the 1996 election. Those curious about government tac- tics and policy, or simply about one of 1996's major scandals, will find it worthwhile reading. ourney into 'Star Wars' with action- packed CD -ROM ty Brian A. Gnatt are all exciting. aiy Arts Writer "Rebel Assault II" is the bread winner of the collection. "Star Wars" games used to be a lot simpler. They usually With its combination of live-action video (it contains some of had something to do with moving small two-dimensional the first footage shots since the original films), an exciting paper figures of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo around a flat plot and a large variety in the many tasks the player must per- cardboard gameboard. form, the game is a blast to play. It contains both extensive -Thanks to "Star Wars" producer George Lucas, who has cockpit flight and ground combat, which is significantly -bien involved in other film-related ventures since the end of more exciting than simply one or the other, as in "TIE the trilogy, mainly his special effects studio Industrial Light Fighter" and "Dark Forces." & Magic and his software company LucasArts, new "Star The oldest of the titles, "Rebel Assault" still packs a strong Wars" multimedia titles that make the film's board games of punch with its vivid flight simulation and hand-to-hand combat. he past seem like mere antiques in the high-tech '90s. Its production is still impressive, yet clearly superseded by its LucasArts, which releases all of the new "Star Wars"-relat- sequel's live-video footage. The game is also a bit more difficult ed multimedia games, has done a purely phenomenal job in than the sequel, and players may have to repeat scenes over and designing and executing the various CD-ROM titles that over again before they are able to pass to the next mission. appear in its latest release, "The LucasArts Archives Vol. II - "TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM" is the most difficult 'Star Wars' Collection," an affordably priced six-CD-ROM and probably the least exciting of the collection. The game is collection of multimedia adventures. (Available for PC and a high-tech flight simulator, and it is sometimes difficult to Macintosh.) keep track of the dozens of commands and keystrokes it takes In the set are four previously released best-selling "Star to fly an Imperial TIE fighter. The game's major virtue is that Wars" titles: "Rebel Assault," "TIE Fighter," "Dark Forces" players get to experience a slice of life behind the controls in and the two-CD "Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire.' the Imperial Navy. It gives the plot a new twist, but lacks the here is also a new disc, "Making Magic," which gives a pre- excitement of some of the other titles. ew of new scenes, storyboards, interviews and other treats The first-person, "Doom"-inspired "Dark Forces" appears ftom the re-released "Star Wars." here in a sampler edition and only contains three playable It's the games that are the highlight of the collection. They levels from the original release. Nevertheless, the play and are superb for various reasons. First of all, they are visually design are a thrilling ride in this shoot-'em-up adventure. and audibly delectable. While some are more film-like than . While the games stay clear of graphic violence, their suc- others, they all capture the feeling of the "Star Wars" trilogy. cess at staying true to the "Star Wars" films is amazing. With The graphics, voices and actual sound and video clips from the hundreds of sound effects, video and dialog clips from the the movies put the player right in the center of the action. original movies, players have a chance to get incredibly close Whether it's in the cockpit or on foot, the games have taken to the classic story. They won't ever have to move little card- the utmost care to maintain the continuity between the films board pieces around a boring old two-dimensional board Jnd the CD-ROMs. Second, and most importantly, the games again. University Musical So ciety(97 StU4ED1 Kat f-price S ate! Chicago Symphony Orchestra Christoph Eschenbach, conductor and piano Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin Chamber Music with Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Pat Metheny group Moscow ConseruatornjChamber Ensemble Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Tlnn Chamber Orchestra Tonu Kaijuste, conductor Estonian Philharmonichamber Choir Tonu Kaijuste, conductor Orchestra of St. luke's Cha i Philippe Herrewegh e conductor Guitar Summ I Herb Ellis, jazz Michael Hedges. aco~islic Sharon Isbin, cin ; a Rory Block, blue] Marilyn Hore, mezq-span Martin Katz, piano Gabrieli Consort C1Plays elia Cu2 with Jose Albezto "El Canaio' hikan llageqard, barione Warren Jones, piano ksutia Oppens. piano Beethovn the Contemporary cycle Thuatroite lnciheater lmerican String RiIattet Beethoven the Contemporary cycle Hill Auditorium Box Office Saturday, September 6 10AR.M. -1 P.M. HEAD he Chicago Syniphon' Orchestra for $.10 Pat Metheny for $12 Boys Choir of Harlem for $6 New York City Opera National Company, in Donizttfs laughter of he Regment r q Ursula Oppens, piano Beethoven the Contemporary cycle" The Oale Wlarland Singers St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Hugh Wolff, conductor Emanuel Ax, piano The Dale Warland Singers The Canadian Brass Rogal Concergebouw Riccardo Chailly, conductor Juan-Jose Mosatini and His Grand Tango Orchestra Chen limbalista, percussion Petersen String Quartet Chick Corea.piano Gary Burton. uibes Hendelssohis Elijah UMS Choral Union Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano lieu York City Opera Naional Company Donizetti's Daughter of the Regiment los Hunequitos de Matanzas Batsheua Once Company of Israel Russia National Orchestra Mikhail Pletnev, conductor Gil Shaham, violin RAstraban Chamber Orchestra Richard Tognetti, conductor Steven Isserbs, cello Ursula Oppens, piano Beethoven the Contemporary cycle Paco de Lucia and His Flamenco Orchestra merican String Quartet Beethoven the Contemporary cycle Sreb/Ringside: POWITION Susanne Mentzer, mezzo-soprano Eogenq Kissin. piano Narsalis/Str.auinsky . -.-1