128 - The Thigan Qaily Weeke d gazi - Tursay, Jans 15,1998 r 0 0w The Michigan Daily eekend Magazine - Tursday, January 15, 1998 - 5B 1Quotes 1997 Experienced arts patrons offer comments on 1997 "It was a good year for us; we keep sell ing more books. We're doing well compared to how books are doing nationally. "There was a moment in August or September that lasted maybe two or three weeks when there was, in my opinion, the best bestseller list in years. 'Cold Mouintain,' 'Underworld,' 'Into Thin Air,' 'Undaunted Courage'.. "That was a really encouraging sign, a .really positive moment. You've got this entertainment atmos- phere pushing the business, which is kind of scary, but those weeks in September were encouraging." --Keith Taylor, Manager, Shaman Drum "f997 was the year of Michigan on TV The Red Wings demolished the ranks of the NHL to the title and Michigan exploded against Penn State on national TV It makes me proud to be a Wolverine." --Scott Sizemore, LSA senior and couch potato "One thing I think I'd focus on (in the past year) would be the high productiv- ity rate of our own MFA fac- ulty. "Linda Gregerson and Thylias Moss and Richard Tillinghast all had books of poetry out; Charles Baxter had a collection of stories and a book of essays; Jonis Agee and I both had novels appear." -Nicholas Delbanco, University professor "There's a trend toward diversifying or at least expanding the repertoire. Various audience studies have been done, and they're show- ing that the average age of audiences is getting older In the future, if nothing is done to change performances, con- cert audiences will die out. "Another trend causing diversification in program- ming is the diverse cultures in thisLcountry and the chal- lenge of trying to present them in a diverse way. "Different types of attrac- tions will draw different types of audiences. In the- ater, people want a more diverse following that mar- keting wasn 't answering. In order to get a wider group, you have to do more diverse programming. "On Broadway the trend is toward spectacle - it's hard for a (non-musical) play to make it. On the other hand, opera is doing very well, especially with young peo- ple. Maybe it's because of the spectacle, or maybe because a lot of recent movies have had characters that go to the opera. It's become the "in" thing to do." -Sara Miller, advertising, sales and promotions coordi- nator for theUniversity Musical Society V. ents, and the authors often read to small 10 Best Books of' 1997 and large audiences. The Visiting Continued from Page 38 Writers Series, sponsored by the English oldMountain"yCharles niehes; Grisham's "The Partner" and Department and Borders, produce an Frazier unan"byCare Clancy's "Politika" instantly found impressive schedule of readings. F places on the bestseller shelves. Another local highlight of 1997 was 2. "Into Thin Air" by Jon Ann Arbor is always a draw for the second State Street Poetry Project, Krakauer authors' tours, and this past year was put together by the Rude Mechanicals 3. "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll no exception. The biggest highlights and the University Activities Cetnter and Never Do Again" by David «: included Michael Moore's appearance performed this past November. Foster Wallace at the Michigan Theater in September First-year students and doctoral 4. "Straight Man" by Richard to promote his film "The Big One" candidates alike (along with many Russo and the paperback edition of others in-between) came together for 5. "Even the Stars Look "Downsize This!"; Graham Swift's several hours to display their talents, Lonesome" by Maya Angelou April appearance at Borders and his accompanied by the musical abilities 6. "Underworld" by Don DeLillo reading from "Last Orders"; and the of local band Transmission. This 7. "My Brother" by Jamaica great Art Spiegelman's (creator of exhibition succeeded in displaying Kincaid "Maus") appearance at Shaman Drum some of the best of student talent on $, "Wasted: A Memoir" by C in October to read from his inventive campus, and an even larger program Marya Hornbacher b new children's book "Open Me ... is planned for the spring. 9 "My Dark Pla es" by James I'm a Dog!" A word must be said about the Elro.J Many other readings in town went national literary scene of the past year, o e rather overlooked but werednonethe- and therefore naturally about the 1997ZGilchOn less powerful events. These included deaths of beat legends Allen Ginsb rg readings by poet Jane Hirschfield and William S. Burroughs. Ginsberg 10WoLi tad oksy"fy1E97 and National Book Award winner was known as the author of "Hown'10 W rr s one1997 Jonathan Raban, both of whom visit- "Sunflower Sutra," "Kaddish" and ed Shaman Drum in October. many other works, Burroughs vas best 1. Anyts ng about 01 Hirschfield's reading of her two known for his noel "Naked Lunch" 2. Anything about the newest works: "Nine Gates Entering Ginsberg's and Burroughs' lives Millennium the Mind of Poetry. haook of essays, will be remembered by the undeni- 3. Anything about "The Zone and her poetry collection, "The Lies able impression that they and their 4. "The Rules Ii: More Rules of the Heart' a close-knit, intimate companions, including Jack Kerouac to ive and hove By" by Ellen affair. Raban's presentation of the and Nea!Cissady, left on the world of Fein an Sherrie Schneider best-selling 'Bad Land; An American poetry and the wsorld at large. 5. "Hanson: MMMBop to the Romances" an account of his experi- So that, I decided as I sat in the cor- Top" by Jill Matthews ences explorin'ithe abandoned tons ncr at Borders, was the year of 1997 6. "The Ghost" by Danielle of the former American frontier, wsas in the literary sworld. A little bit excit- Steelb also a highlight of 1997. ing, yes. A little bit teirifying.. per- 7. "Ten Stupid Things Men Do The University's osvn faculty and sto- haps. Next year, I resolved, l will have t Mess Up Their Lives' by dents always impress ssiih their produc- read everything and I will be confi- LurShesnr tivity and performances. Many new dent of my ability to stand behind my 8. "Don't Sweat the Small books were published by on-campus tal- opinions in this field.Next year. Stuff ... And It's All Small a Stuff" by Richard Carlson 9. "The Hottest State" by Ethan Hawke 10. "Running with the Demon' by Terry Brooks - Compiled by the Dadly Michael Moore (top)returned to Ann Arbor to screen his newest documentary. Book Staff , J.ona.n ..o. n. .o .I .c,iofrhnw..nd.. ,a. B, d L and . Nicholas Delbanco gone hand in hand, yet James Cameron's film looks at a disaster from a human- istic viewpoint that makes the audience care for the characters, as opposed to the wrung-dry formula of disaster movies (such as "Twister," "Volcano," "Firestorm ") that has plagued our cinemas for the past year" -Adam Weiner, LSA sophomore "1997 was a watershed year, packed with more great records than the time to love, innovations usually follow. " -Steve Bergman, owner/manager of Schoolkids Records in Ann Arbor "With the economy being in a good state right now, returning audiences can continue to come to perfor- mances and it leaves the door open for new audiences to sample performances. "With arts presenters, the- are focusing more on sworld music, and audiences appre- ciate that. It's allowing peo- ple who may not otherwise break out of their traditional ticket-buying fancy. "There's a bigger push nationwide for everyday citi- zens to step forward and support the arts. The responsibility is thrown back on everyday citizens to make sure the arts stay alive." --Jeffrey Kuras, manag- ing director of University Productions . digest them properly. Most With the critical and of our favorites were in the financial success of area of "roots" music: re- Titanic" and "L.A. issues of historically signifi- Confidential," big budget cant works, releases of films now are not necessari- "World Music" and a ly doomed from the start and renaissance of the lengthy, sweeping epics will singer/songwriter be made in the attempt to "Another blossoming capitalize on their success- genre, techno, was greatly es. influenced by past pioneers. "Making money and criti- When folks start examining cal acclaim usually has not the roots of the music they Keitn Tayor EAT-IN N EW YORK TAK IZZ A DE F T TAKE-OUT CATERING 605 E. William St. * Ann Arbor 669-6973 * 669-NYPD Free Delivery (min. $7.00) X-LARGE LARGE141NCH- I 18INCHPIZZA ' PIZ I ith 1 I wih 1wpn S + 2 24 0 oz nIo I ( exdudchidknfesa&ucoeadmesw) I (exdde n aheo & iuna dwom.) I ad liona kms $1.25 em c "' ^ i be combined with ny other offIr - - - - --e."Mm .amj........... ..................-----------------J s;Uniiversity Reformed Church "A Christ centered community http://Www.ure.org where love is more than just a word" learning and growing thsrough weekly worship" Bible study - prayer - discuion groups monthly Coffee House - Open Forum Fellowship dinners Service projects - caring friendships Come join us this Sunday for worship: 10:30 am 7pm (communion) We are located across from the Power Center on Central Campus - 1001 Huron - Parking on E. Ann call 662-3153 or visit our web page' www.urc.org QUALITY DRY CLEANING & SHIRT SERVICE 332 Maynard (Across from Nickels Arcade) 668-6335