Friday Septemnber 26, 2003 www.michigandaily.com artseditor@michigandaily. com ARTS 5A Notorious family history fills art museum By Lynn Hasselbarth Daily Arts Writer On Sunday the University of Michigan Museum of Art unveiled an exclusive exhibition of European art collected by Russia's legendary, yet notorious royal family. The exhibit emphasizes the diverse artistic tastes and political goals of the Romanov family, standing as the core of the University's six- month celebration of St. Petersburg. "The exhibit tells the story of the Romanov's The Romanov Collection Through November 23rd Free UM Museum of Art Russian tsar, Nicholas II, represent- ing over 300 years of art collecting. Through their extensive pursuit of art, the Romanovs sought to elevate Russia in the world and create a com- manding sense of national identity. Peter the Great (1682-1725) estab- lished this trend with the founding of St. Petersburg in 1703. As the nation's new and revived capital city, St. Petersburg became a center of cul- tural and political prestige. Catherine the Great secured the con- nection between art and politics. As a true Enlightenment monarch, her artis- tic tastes gravitated toward neo-classi- cism, a style that conjured up visions of ancient Greece and Rome. In the first gallery, paintings of Greek goddesses and Roman architecture depict the height of Greek civilization. Cather- ine's political goal was thus to create an image of rational democracy, while in reality she lead a highly centralized and dictatorial government. While such paintings attempted to legitimize Catherine's somewhat autocratic government, art was also used to assert Russia's military status. Catherine persistently acquired the art collections of other western pow- ers as a means of belittling her politi- cal opponents. France was most consistently humiliated as Russia purchased many of Napoleon's col- lections after the French Revolution. The exhibit displays a suite of four French paintings collected by Courtesy o I don't have a pot to piss In or a window to throw it out. All I got Is Floyd. personal relationship to collecting. It is a narrative of nationalism seen through a visually compelling experi- ence," states museum art curator James Steward. On loan from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, this diverse exhibit displays 140 works of art including painting, sculpture, ceramics and porcelain, as well as tapestry and furniture. French, Eng- lish, Dutch and German works are displayed, representing artists of both the Romantic and Enlightenment movements. The exhibit tracks the family in chronological order from Peter the Great to the last surviving Nicholas II that depict the private life of Napoleon. While this represents Russia's military pride, it also uncov- ers a certain obsession with France's leading monarch. Nicholas' prefer- ence toward more personal and pri- vate scenes represents his overall discomfort with world politics. The distinction between public endeavors and private life is evident throughout the exhibit. Much like a private gallery, the collection displays selected pieces rather than a massive presentation. This layout is reminis- cent of the original hermitage, a suite of private rooms used by Catherine to display her pieces to prominent digni- taries. While the expanding Romanov collection was meant to foster nation- al pride and political competence, the Imperial Hermitage remained closed to the public for most of the Romanov dynasty. Steward describes this ultimate paradox: "The uneasy tension with- in the royal family grew out of a desire to be of their time and acknowledge democratic values amidst a fundamental distrust of the people. Nonetheless, this exhibit seeks to humanize a complex and tragic family history." For further information on the exhibit and a schedule of events for the St. Petersburg Festival visit www.umich.edu/stpetersburg. Sunday's new line-up tackles rivals, Pontiac By Sean Dailey Daily Arts Writer "We try to play exactly the same if there's 5,000 people or 10," says Adam Lazzara, lead singer of Long Island's Taking Back Sunday, about the band's recent success. Four yearm ago, they were only a thought in the head of ex-Movielife guitarist Eddie Reyes. But after the ______________ release of their 2002 debut Tell All Your T Friends and a slot on the main stage of Taking BaCk this year's Warped Tour, the band Sunday seemed poised to take over the indie Saturday and scene with a unique blend of east coast Sunday at 5 p.m. hardcore and pop sensibility. At Clutch Cargos Then rumors of a break-up started Clear Channel flying. In the midst of it all, the band was forced to cancel most of its Warped shows for per- sonal reasons. When they finally emerged to play the last few dates of the tour, they had replaced guitarist/vocalist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper on less than ami- able terms. Still tight lipped about the circumstances sur- rounding the restructuring, the band now seems to be back on top of things. "At first we were really apprehensive about bringing new guys in," says Lazzara. "But it's seemed to work really Courtesy of Victory Records Now, what about Tuesdays? well so far. I can't remember a time when I've seen every- body this happy." Then there's the supposed feud with fellow east coasters Brand New. The bands, while old friends, have had a some- what love/hate relationship as of late. Both take stabs at each other from time to time. TBS's song "There's No I in Team" and Brand New's "Seventy Times 7" share some of the same lyrics about lost friendships, further clouding the waters. Brand New even went as far to release a series of shirts read- ing, "Microphones are for singing, not swinging," a clear shot at Lazzara's onstage antics. But is this just an Andy Kaufman/Jerry Lawler style farce or actual animosity? "Gossip sells T-shirts," explains Lazzara. "Most of the stuff on those Internet sites is just rumors. There were two versions of the same song, their record just happened to come out before ours. But they were written at the same time." Lazzara also dispelled the rumor that their band name was taken from a Smiths' b-side. "It's absolutely false. When we started doing interviews, we just started making up answers to keep it interesting." Taking Back Sunday are just glad to be back out on the road in such good company. "Saves the Day is a band that I would pay to go see, but instead I just walk to the back of the stage every night and watch their set," says Lazzara. Catch both bands with opener Moneen this Saturday and Sunday at Clutch Cargo's in Pontiac and Monday at the MSU Auditorium in East Lansing. CBS's Joan of Arcadia' is no saint For the Daily TV R EVI E W A Obviously a network is deteriorating when it turns to God - literally. Unfor- tunately, CBS's prayers for a perfect new drama aren't answered. "Joan of Arcadia" is an unsuccessful mixture of crime TV, family school special. Joan (Amber Tamblyn) is a rebellious 16-year- old in a typical "7th Heaven" fam- ily. Younger know- it-all brother Luke drama and after- Joan of Arcadia Fridays at 8 p.m. CBS Crime on the rise with fall season's four new investigative series (Michael Welch) is offset by sarcastical- ly bitter and recently paralyzed Kevin (Jason Ritter). Joan's father Will (Joe Mantegna) is a hard-nosed cop, while her hyper-emotional mother, Helen (Mary Steenburgen), occupies herself feeling sorry for her crippled son. Where the show goes terribly wrong is that it boasts God as a char- acter who comes to earth in the form of a "really hot guy," pursuing Joan like a lovesick puppy and cracking constant quips such as, "It's called omniscience, look it up." Lack of clarity exaggerates the show's poor character development and flat act- ing, sentencing CBS to family-drama purgatory. Scenes haphazardly jump from one genre of television to another, leaving the audience stranded. Tamblyn ("The Ring") is certainly no Joan of Arc. Face to face with God, "Is it kinda weird that I have a crush on you?" is the only question she can muster. As the show progresses and more strange men appear in Joan's life with no apparent connection, a dull Will half- heartedly attempts to protect his daugh- ter and figure out "what's going on." Funny, so is everyone else. By Melissa Runstrom Daily Arts Writer This fail season the networks are unleashing a slew of new crime series, hoping one will catch your eye. With so many similar shows out there, will any be unique or interesting? Or is a unique crime show just an oxymoron these days? "Cold Case" - Jerry Bruck- heimer's latest CBS entrant tries to be innovative and comes off as ordinary. Kathryn Morris stars as the only female detective in Philadelphia's homicide unit, assigned to solve old abandoned cases. The show uses gen- der as a way to give itself an interest- ing edge, but never quite accomplishes this aim. "10-8" - ABC's only contestant in to the crime game follows a rookie's first year exploits working for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Unlike most cop dramas, this one isn't afraid to laugh at itself. With a likable S. . 0 N cast, the producers would be smart to focus more on the strong personal character interactions than the stereo- typical cop action sequences. "Navy NCIS" - Leroy Gibbs (Mark Harmon, "Chicago Hope") heads a naval criminal investigative service team that is called in to work cases involving navy or marine per- sonnel. Harmon is flawless and the "CSI" in-name-only drama shows potential, but the outcome remains unsurprisingly mediocre with it des- tined to live out its days under "JAGs"'s encompassing shadow. "The Handler" - The concept of an undercover investigative team isn't particularly original, but the plot is well written and engaging enough to make "The Handler" an appealing fast-paced drama. Joe Renato (Joe Pantoliano, a recent Emmy winner for "The Sopra- nos") leads his team through a series of unrelated tasks with Renato himself as the only connection. Pantoliano, being short and unattractive, is an unlikely lead but pulls off the roll with ease and might have finally found himself a star- making vehicle. Crime programs haven't evolved much in the past 30 years. They're implementing forensic science, but this tech angle is already over used. CBS' "Cold Case" and "Navy NCIS" share too much in common with each other and existing dramas to warrant a second glance, and "10-8" too often plays on common themes and devices. If series could succeed solely on qual- ity, which we all know doesn't happen (How else do you explain the continu- ation of shows like "Joe Million- aire?"), then "The Handler" would be the most likely of the four to survive. Ultimately you, the viewer, will decide their fate. Crime Show Mania Cold Cas 10-8 Sundays at Sundays at 8 p.m. CBS ABC Navy NCIS The Tuesdays at H andler 8 p.m. Fridays at 14 p . . 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