Wednesday October 26, 2005 arts. michigandaily.com artspage@michigandaily.com R Ee ~T S~gt t1 5 W- . .. .. .. .. ... .. Poetry's grand slam MONDAY BLOODY MONDAYt{{.P It's not that I haven't been looking for it - diversity. The Supreme Court case arguing the impor- tance of diversity put the-University on the civil rights map. But for all the diversity banter that I've been subject to, I can't say that I'd ever really experienced diver- sity in its fullness until last Thursday at the U- Club Poetry Slam in The Michigan Union. *Going to the event itself was completely by chance. There were about 75 students crowded around the stage, the lights were dim but then tmosphere was charged. ViC I sat down somewhat awkwardly, not quite sure EDW. what to expect in a sea of complete strangers. And I was shocked into life, when a boy with a biracial complexion took the stage. His manner was com- pletely natural as he spoke to the audience about the tribulations of mixed parentage. His voice was so natural, matching the content octave for octave. Oh, he lamented about society, about his friends calling him a "peach" 'cause he was neither white nor black, about the hardships his parents went through engaged in the taboo of a mixed race relationship. But the way he did it was so beauti- ful, and whether or not the audience agreed with him and his lament, they plauded his artistic style - and that respect, that admiration, was thrown back at him with applause. Never before had I seen a forum at this University, which was not for a class but completely voluntary, here students engaged in such a ree-flowing exchange. The ideas were controversial, some of them were political, but there was no fighting. I've been to the Diag, I've seen confrontation - tons and tons and tons of confrontation - but I've never seen anything like this before. I covered news events for two-and-a- half years, but never once was there this place of understanding where different groups seemed like there T wasn't conflict attached. I remembered the problematic history between the Native Ameri- can Student Association and Mich- igamua, a secret society that has been accused of mocking Native American rituals. This conflict has been going on for years and years and cannot be resolved. In a poetry slam could these separate groups find a level of under- standing? I'm willing to argue yes because the art serves as a connector. It is something greater than the separate politics and ORIA histories that each group claims. Michigamua's ARDS members may not be able to understand where NASA is com- ing from based on a purely political view or vise versa, but with an artis- tic forum they are able to commu- nicate about something greater than the politics that separate them. Maybe this seems like a stretch, but my observations at this slam sup- port the notion that art can in fact bridge certain seemingly impen- etrable boundaries. There were white students, black students, Latino stu- dents, women and men all dressed completely differently. I saw North- face and I saw hemp. I saw the so- called oppressors and the so-called oppressed breathing the same lan- guage of poetry, and it was amazing. And for the first time I felt so proud of being an arts editor. I'm gonna be honest, this section wasn't my first choice, but there is some- thing about arts and the forum that it can create that allows a unique exchange where people can actually understand each other on some level. Where the main issue is not color or background or race, but poetry - something that can address all three issues while being above them. - Victoria is becoming a poet but feels that she needs to express her words by singing them off-key. To become a band member e-mail her at victoros@umich.edu. IRISH ROCKERS PROVE THEIR METTLE AT THE PALACE By Adam Rottenberg Daily Arts Editor From the first chords of "City of Blinding Lights" Monday night, U2 had the rabid crowd at the Palace of Auburn Hills eating out of their hands. U2 The four lads from Dublin The Palace of rocked through hits both old and AubumnHills new while offering an incredibly entertaining and elaborate stage show. Lead singer Bono summed up the electric atmo- sphere best when he said, "Well this feels not at all like a Monday night, but a Saturday night." The show opened with guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton standing front and center with drummer Larry Mullen right behind them. They began to play the aforementioned cut from their latest album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. And suddenly a lone spotlight shone on an outer oval-shaped stage, which surrounded the main platform, and lead singer Bono appeared, hands raised in triumph as the crowd roared and confetti dropped. The colorful lasers and screens then began to light up full tilt and it appeared as though it was raining colors behind the band, and the audience ate it all up. U2 quickly followed the upbeat opener with a couple of similarly up-tempo tracks "Vertigo" and "Elevation." The latter song marked the first of many times in which Bono led the audience in a game of call-and-response. The band didn't forget to play its back catalog either, busting out "I Will Follow" along with two other songs from their debut album Boy. Longtime fans appreciated the jamming and free-flowing spins on old favorites, and The Edge even took the opportunity to solo at the front of the elliptical outer stage. Bono, a rock star in the purest sense of the term, could do no wrong by the audience. He owned the stage and the arena. Even when he launched into an incredi- bly bizarre narrative prior to "Miracle Drugs," he never seemed all that ridiculous because of his larger-than- life status. "Edge is from the future; he's a spaceman," Bono said in all sincerity. "I asked him what it's like. He said, 'It's better.' " Though the band managed to play through nearly 45 minutes of material before Bono began waxing poet- ic about peace and hunger, it never bogged down the show. The moment of change occurred in the middle of the classic anthem "Sunday Bloody Sunday," as Bono FOREST CASEY/Daily U2 rocked the Palace of Auburn Hills on Monday night. began to talk about coexistence and sang lyrics about religious unity while the band continued to play. These political sentiments continued throughout the rest of the show as the band pulled out hits including "Pride (In the Name of Love)" and "Beautiful Day." All of these songs featured elaborate and unique lighting displays, such as the red light that engulfed the arena during "Bullet the Blue Sky" or the African flags that flashed by on the lighting displays during "Where the Streets Have No Name." At one point, the video screens even began displaying the text from the Universal Dec- laration of Human Rights. Regardless of politics, U2 was at the Palace to play music. Old favorites peppered the show, but the set list was definitely focused on their latest album and 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind. Most of their '90s efforts were completely omitted, save for the closer "One." Bono asked for fans to make the arena look like the "Milky Way" and the lights dimmed, leaving only the glow of thousands of cell phones to illumi- nate the stage. The band returned for an encore, featuring acoustic versions of "Walk On" and "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" Neither of these songs lifted the audience to the heights of the main show, but the finale, "With Or Without You" definitely lived up to the night's potential. Bono grabbed a fan out of the audience and held her close during the entire song, as the crowd sang along to every word. U2 may not be the same band they once were, but they know how to put on a show. Bono's charisma and the group's musical talent are so strong that they don't even need the theatricality that they employ. They truly are part of the rock elite. If The Rolling Stones ever do stop touring, U2 stands ready to pick up the torch and run with it. Pedigree saves Lies' By Zac Borden By Zach Borden Daily Arts Writer Probably best known to American audiences for winning an Oscar for his "Gosford Park" screenplay, Brit Julian Fellowes has ie kind of career so many can only dream about. As a hailed novelist and actor, Fellowes can now add director to Separate Lies At the Michigan Theater Fox Searchlight his list of captions with his debut behind the camera, "Separate Lies." Based on the novel "A Way Through The Wood" by Nigel Balchin, the story follows James Manning (Tom Wilkin- son, "Batman Begins") and his wife, Anne (Emily Watson, "Red Dragon"), whose marriage is complicated by the introduction of Bill (Rupert Everett, "My Best Friend's Wedding") and a mystery of a man on a bike who was hit by a car near the Manning household. "Separate Lies" is more of a morality tale than a whodunit, and Fellowes does a remarkable job in creating a tense mosphere among the stuffy upper class in Britain. The tragic accident - shown in quick flashes - is the catalyst of the film's real drama. The ever-enigmatic Tom Wilkinson gives an Oscar-caliber performance with incredible precision. As a hus- band with a breaking heart, Wilkin- son brings sympathy to a man, who, for once, is forced to break the rules. Watson is luminous as a housewife who cracks under the pressure of not being perfect enough, and Everett shines as a man who also has plenty of emotional baggage. Unfortunately, like the accident that triggers the events of the film, "Separate Lies" is a short affair at 87 minutes - but it often feels longer. The film's story arc is reasonably developed, and the emotional sprawls of the characters are fully realized. But there are moments when the story moves too quickly, and perhaps a bit too much of it is based on mere coincidence. At once, the ending is overdone and anti-climactic. With awards season just getting under way, and without tremendous buzz behind it, "Separate Lies" is bound to get lost in the shuffle despite the enormous pedigree behind it. While its scope isn't exactly Best Picture mate- rial, the film can only hope that Wilkin- son and Watson's performances will be remembered at the year's end. Make a Piff erene! Learn to Teach Grades K-12 Are you a current UM student interested in learning more about what it takes to become a teacher? If so, you are invited to join us for an Undergraduate Information Session at the School of Education. The session will include pizza, presentations, a student panel, and informal conversation. We hope you can make it! School of Education Undergraduate Information Session Thursday, October 27, 2005, 5:30-7:00 PM. Whitney Auditorium, Rm 1309, School of Education, 610 E. University Questions? Call 615-1528.