Thursday April 6, 2006 arts.michigandaily. com artspage@michigandaily.com RTwSChiga Bail, 5A . . . . ........... * 'Baraka' an honest gem By Michelle Zellers Daily Arts Writer Richard Keyser, a 12-year-old from Baltimore, Md., says his neighborhood revolves around drugs. Explaining his departure to another continent, he says, "It's what I'm willing to do Boys of is get away from here." Baraka Keyser was one of 20 African- American boys from his city cho- Tonight only at the sen to spend seventh and eighth Michigan Theater grade in East Africa. At the Baraka ThinkFilm boarding school in Kenya, teachers hope they can give their students the foundation they need to do the improbable: graduate from high school. Faced with the daunting statistic that 76 percent of black male high school entrants in Baltimore don't receive a diploma, the film "Boys of Baraka," which won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Film, depicts the individual cases of four boys. Following them out of their homes in one of the most violent cities in America, the movie traces their steps into a world of hedgehogs, lizards and regimented academics. There, teachers discover some of the students' talents that went unnoticed in city schools, and the boys adjust to higher expectations. The instructors strive to give them freedom "to be normal teenage boys" and explore their new, exotic environment. They impose constraints on the aggression that was acceptable and commonplace on the Baltimore streets; their main challenge is to reverse the kids' "at-risk" labels before they return to the United States. What is 'fine art' anyway? The Daily fine arts section has an identity crisis. Call it the dump- ing ground for anything that isn't film, popular music, television or video games - but is sufficiently "artsy" enough to find its way into Daily Arts. It's easy enough to classify Mozart or Picasso or Arthur Miller as "fine arts" - anyone will throw you that bone. But what about everything else? On the other end of fine arts legiti- macy is the coverage of fashion shows, culture shows, a cappella concerts and even modern interpretative performance (think "The Vagina Monologues"). Can these really be considered "fine arts?" The defini- tive answer: It depends on whom you ask. The phrase "fine art" was first used in 1767R to describe art that was "concerned with beauty or which appealed to taste." " ALI The phrase was only applied G to visual arts - sculpture, Touresy g "h LOKims The award-winning doc "Boys of Baraka" will play tonight only at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Michigan Theater. Video messages from families afflicted by poverty remind the viewer why parents are willing to sacrifice two years with their teenage sons. During the separation, one boy's mother returns to prison for drug use, while her son, thousands of miles away, realizes he's gifted at math. The filmmakers keep "Baraka" simple, chronological and subject-focused, a style that the issues and people in the film are powerful enough to warrant. Giving a few overlooked kids some personal attention is what both the teachers and the movie do best. "Baraka" moves gracefully between light-hearted moments that highlight the boys' humor, singularity and emotionally charged images. When a war in Kenya com- plicates the situation and forces the boys' education to be cut painfully short, it's hard not to be disheartened. In tracing the boys' pursuits after their year at the Baraka school, the film showcases their extraordinary resilience. Many flourish in their American schools, putting to use the skills they take away from Kenya: Honor Roll certifi- cates, a new world perspective and confidence. But to some, suspension of the school's operation seems like just another broken promise. A mentor for Keyser - the boy who seemed most eager to escape from his drug-dealing peers - says she would be surprised to see the disillusioned student make it past the 10th grade. The filmmakers realize their story's problem spans beyond its 84-minute running time, so they don't attempt to provide a solution or offer the audience empty reassur- ances. The multitude of questions that can't be answered make for an abrupt ending - frustrating, but appropriate. It offers a compelling glimpse into what happens when real potential meets an inescapable lack of opportunity. IS( 30 Tally Hall takes tr ip to 'Te OC. By Kimberly Chou Former Daily Arts writer Horow- has released several volumes of its Daily Arts Writer itz said he first heard the news from "official soundtrack" to capitalize y the band's booking agent. A copy on the popularity of the music. As of now, Hollywood's waif- of Marvin's found its way onto the Parts of "Good Day" will be played du-jour Mischa Barton might not desk of "O.C." music coordinator throughout the show, appearing in know her character's college plans Alexandra Patsavas. She liked what five scenes as part of a thematic 1 , 1--+-, . C - -- -L- - + painting, etc. - and usually only for art of the classical style. The "fine" designa- tion referred not to quality but rather to the purity of the art's creation. In short, it's art produced for the sake of art, with no defer- ence to practicality or utility - much like the study of pure science. Through the work of modernist activ- ists, the definition of fine art has broad- ened throughout the 20th century. The phrase began to refer to classical music, established plays and traditional dance (ballet, for example). Nowadays, even established institu- tions like the University have fine arts degrees for a wide range of mediums. You can get a Masters of Fine Arts at the School of Music for choreography and performance; in the English department for creative writing; and, of course, from the Art School for all things visual. Here is the "pure art" concept applied to aca- demics - instead of theory and analysis, this is creation, even in the most modern of mediums and styles. The progression of "fine art" is analo- gous to the changing visions of art itself. In the 1920s, jazz was considered vulgar trash, and abstract art's earliest viewers were similarly horrified. Now, the jazz greats can be heard at Hill Auditorium with little grumble from even the most uppity of art fans, and the University of Michigan Museum of Art wouldn't hesi- tate to display a Miro. And the Daily - the progressive organization that it is - has taken the next step and turned these definitions on their collective heads. There is one editor and one columnist assigned as the be all, end all for classical music, jazz, plays, musicals, poetry, culture and fashion shows, painting, sculpture and dance. While the inclusiveness of the fine arts section was a matter of practicality (there just aren't enough editors), the system makes a twisted sort of sense. Culture shows - while also a state- ment of politics and culture (obviously) - is also a dis- play of beauty, just one that hasn't been accepted by the Western mainstream. For example, traditional Indian dance is to India what ballet is to Russia. Then there's fashion - regardless of what straight men say - which has been ON written off as a little too utilitarian to be considered fine art. But consider fash- ion at the highest levels. Beautiful, graceful - and in couture shows of Galliano, Versace or Dolce & Gabba- na - totally impractical. This is pure art that just happens to be displayed on the human body. And finally, "The Vagina Mono- logues" is a political statement, which could disqualify it as a fine art, but think of all the politics involved in some of the 20th century's best plays. Some exam- ples: "The Crucible," "Streetcar Named Desire" or "Macbeth." Maybe I'm totally off my rocker at this point, but time seems to change all. Perhaps by the time I'm perma- nently planted on a real rocker, the Daily fine arts section will have paved the way for college fine arts writers around the country. But more likely than not, long after we're all ancient history, future gen- erations will figure out new ways to challenge the status quo. In short, vita brevis, ars longa. Life is short, but art is forever. - Go wishes her Daily Arts career was forever. She wishes the future generations of Daily writers the best ofluck in sticking it to the man. She will miss almost everyone desperately and hopes the whole thing doesn'tfall apart without her. Thanks for giving me everything Inever knew Inever wanted.,E-mail her at aligo@umich.edu. or which boy-toy to choose from on "The O.C." But as long as Orange County beauty Marissa Cooper's melodra- matic life allows indie bands to get their TV exposure, Andrew Horow- itz, of Ann Arbor-bred band Tally Hall, doesn't have a problem. Tonight's "O.C." episode will feature a track from Marvin's Mar- velous Mechanical Museum, Tally Hall's debut album. "We're not big 'O.C.' watchers, but we know what it's about," Horow- itz admitted. "We're watching (the show) for the first time all together, having a mini party." she heard, the band liked what she thought, and now Tally Hall's song "Good Day" will get prominent play on the popular teenage drama. "It was a welcome phone call," Horowitz said. Known for perform- ing in brightly colored neckties, the band members first came together during their years at the University. "We're (our agent's) first 'O.C. band,' " Horowitz said, adding that the show has become a primary venue for rising indie rockers. Bands ranging from The Killers to Death Cab For Cutie, Spoon to matt pond PA, have had their music on the Fox show. Symbiotically, "The O.C." arc. Horowitz revealed that tonight's episode is when the main characters - four high school seniors - find out about their college admissions. "The O.C." may be Tally Hall's most prominent celluloid- expo- sure to date, but it's not their first. Recently their song "Banana Man" snagged plays on MTV's "The Real World," and the band caught the attention of VHI's "Best Week Ever" at the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference in Austin. Tally Hall will return to Ann Arbor this Saturday for two shows at the Blind Pig. The first, an all-ages performance, is already sold out. ALEX DZIADOSZ/Daily A song performed by Tally Hall will be featured on Fox's hit "The O.C." tonight at 9 p.m. in cr~w 0.00A,+ or [ o ok eabou't it, lop,+ +ke, loto tW1. tire vow v .ez&clt+toco 'ot.vWivt ou ofit. Cov~goticzjiae& O u'V ' oln~' ov &inowt What can consolidation mean for you? low about another Think of it as consolidating a semester's worth of $450* or more in your pocket each month? Other benefits work into two coffee-fueled, sleepless nights...it's of the College PayWay Consolidation Loan from College the same idea. Call us today at 888-PAYWAYO Solutions Network include: or visit www.CollegePayWayConsolidation.com - No lower fixed rate available-anywhere to start the process. You'll be glad you did. . A simple application process managed by experts " Reduced monthly payments (up to 50% or more) The confidence of using a lending team that CollegePayvW ay has been working for students since 1992 We'll show you how. . 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