The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - 7A * The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - 7A Joumana Hadded talks Lebanese mags "This was a mistrial, Your Honor. The ice crean jury did not include all flavors. Or sprinkles." ' Truth' be told well By HEATHER POOLE Daily Arts Writer Images of overt sexuality on the covers of magazines like Cosmopolitan have become the norm to young Western audi- ences. Lebanese poet, translator and journalist Joumana Had- JOunalla dad will discuss the restrictions Hadded that social con- Tomorrowat straints have T0m placed on Arab 5:0 p.m. women and Michigan Theater their represen- tation in this week's Penny W. Stamps lecture. Haddad's lecture, "Taboos," aims to dissolve the assumed cul- tural and gender roles that shape the view of Arab women in both Western and Eastern societies. Her work has extended through- out a diverse range of media, including poetry, journalism and collage art. "Joumana is very much try- ing to tear down the stereotype of the Arab woman," said Chris- stina Hamilton, director of visi- tor's programs and the Penny W. Stamps Speaker Series. "The thing that ... really hit our radar here (at the University) was her work with this magazine she started, JASAD, which is the Arab word for the 'body,'" Ham- ilton said. Four an oft magaz non. F around have s in the the m: aspires and "a all itsI ing wr ists wi rightfu As fi of JAS of bot for hei contro variou attemp down rut bo Guardi Shc in female her th cism, i Alth enced Hadda nded in 2008, JASAD is of the restricted representation en-controversial cultural of Arab women is partly internal. ine published in Leba- "She feels that ... the first part Explicit topics revolving of the problem of the stereotype I the body and sexuality of Arab women comes from the parked a heated response West but it also comes from Arab Arab world. According to women themselves," Hamilton agazine's website, JASAD said. "And she's trying to combat s to break cultural taboos that." ims to reflect the body in Haddad has received numer- representations ... provid- ous awards, including the Arab iters, researchers and art- Press Prize in 2006. She is also ith the freedom that they head of the cultural page in a lly deserve." daily Lebanese newspaper, An ounder and editor-in-chief Nahar. AD, Haddad is a recipient For speakers like Haddad, h praise and resentment whose work is repressed in other r work. JASAD's focus on parts of the world, the Penny W. versial issues has sparked Stamps Speaker Series provides s protests, including an "a forum for communicating it by Hizbullah to close around issues of the day," Ham- JASAD's stand at a Bei- ilton said. ok fair, according to the "She's bringing the subject up ian. Haddad's status as a in a forum where it can be dis- cussed. So it's an opportunity for people to ... gain another perspec- tive, gain insight and ... possibly )w ing wom en make a decision on how they feel about it," Hamilton added. a repressive Both Haddad's personal work and her involvement with JASAD aspire to release the stereotyped Arab woman from taboos that resonate in today's world. What- leading figure has made ever preconceived notions one e target of plenty of criti- might have, Haddad's lecture ncluding hate e-mails. offers a fresh look at how mul- ough JASAD has experi- tiple views in the Arab world disapproval by audiences, render the body, women and d feels that the problem sexuality. A unique legal drama that looks at both sides of the system By CAROLYN KLARECKI SeniorArtsEditor There's been a television void to fill since the cancellation of "Law & Order" was announced over the summer. Admittedly, the The Whole series had a rep- utation of being boring, exciting Wednesdays only pre-law at10 p.m. students and ABC your parents. Each episode was a well known story of a righ- teous legal team weaving through bureaucracy to bring real justice to their poor clients. Maybe this is a void that shouldn't be filled at all. However, ABC's new drama "The Whole Truth" takes the "Law & Order" formula and makes it look like child's play. This new show understands that even while in opposition, both sides can work. with compassion toward finding justice. Even bad guys have human- ity and sometimes the likeable guy loses. "The Whole Truth" presents the same case from the sides of both the defense and prosecution with an impressive objectivity that stirs sympathy for all. Laid-back defense attorney Jimmy Brogan (Rob Morrow, "Numb3rs") and high-strung pros- ecutor Kathryn Pearle (Maura Tierney, "ER") were strong friends and even stronger competitors in law school. Now the two find themselves opposed in court. Their undeniable respect for each other juxtaposed with their driving desire to win the case is an unexplored dynamic in legal shows. Throughout the pilot, they call each other to brag about their new evidence, and after the sen- tencing they meet up for drinks and a heartfelt moment. Perhaps romance will develop in later epi- sodes or seasons, but for now, it's a pure, unspoiled professional friendship. The narrative straddles the two sides of the case in a way that exposes the inner workings of the law firm and the defense attorney office. The writing is done with such skill that it's truly unclear whether the defendant is guilty. The defense's witness reveals information that helps the pros- ecution and the prosecution's wit- ness does the same for the defense. Enough substantial evidence is produced for both sides, and just when you think you figured it out, another clue throws you off. Rather than frustrating, it's an enjoyable challenge, and the series promises to always reveal the true wrong- doer before the credits roll. "The Whole Truth" keeps you guessing until the very end in the most won- derful of ways. The writing is surprisingly fresh for a procedural. Cheesy one-liners about justice are substituted with snarky, realistic dialogue. "Don't say, 'Roger that,' " an annoyed Pearle says as she scolds her assis- tant district attorney. Perhaps she's just as sick of corny catchphrases as we are. Still, "The Whole Truth" isn't withoutitsjarringannoyances.Just as "Law & Order" had the iconic "dun dun" at every scene transition (as though the change wouldn't be clear without it), "The Whole Truth" patronizingly informs what side it's showing by zooming in on the lawyer in slow-mo, transition- ing to black and white and using all-caps subtitles of "the defense" or "the prosecution." Every time this device is used, the show stoops to the level of its predecessors. But no procedural is perfect, and there are many worse things "The Whole Truth" could have been guilty of. If you've been searching for another "Law & Order," give "The Whole Truth" a try, and even if you aren't a law student or a par- ent, you might enjoy a legitimately realistic take on the courtroom drama. Danielle Evans reads on themes of identity COURTESY FCB "To Ice Cream!" Indefensible'Defenders' By BRAD SANDERS DailyArts Writer Representing those who can't speak for themselves, Danielle Evans, a professor of fiction at American Uni- versity, will read D .l as part of the Zell Visiting Writing Evans Series. Tomorrow night, she will ursday at read select stories 5:10 p.m. from her collec- Helmut Stern tion "Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self." Her collection's title comes from a line in "The Bridge Poem" by Donna Kate Rushin. "There's a section in the poem about translations, the idea of being in constant negotiation, that speaks to a lot of characters in the book," Evans said in an inter- view with the Daily. "It deals with people who don't often get to tell stories on their own terms, and (is) directed at characters who are making bad decisions where you wish you could say something to them." A good deal of Evans's work deals with race and its effects on an individual's or group's percep- tion of themselves and their roles in society. "I write a lot about people who are a part of a contemporary racial identity. We don't talk a lot about racial families that have gone through post-integration after immigration," Evans explained. "That's something I explore, what it means to sort of know and to think through the very individual ways that people understand those identities." Evans also writes about human sexuality and relationships, and how they differ between genera- tions. "I think about generational issues, like growing up where divorce is more normal and what that means with people interpret- ing their own adult relationships," Evans said. "One of the things I was really frustrated about in the fic- tion I've read is people were blind- ed by love or devotion or something that made them not think things through. I was interested in writ- ing about women who thought things through but did the wrong thing anyway." Some of Evans's stories have come from real-life dialogue that she has observed. Evans said she Defending the voiceless through the art of prose. tends to build off of a certain idea or predict the outcome of a conver- sation. "Some lines you may have over- heard and thought, 'That's interesting to say, who would say that,' and build a charac- ter around that," Evans said. "Some people come up with the perfect comeback three hours after the conversa- tion is over, and as a fiction writer you can look at those moments and say, 'What if I said the right thing or knew the right answer?"' Evans takes an improvisa- tional approach to choosing her readings. e. "It's about what you feel like reading that day. There's days where l love one story, and days where I love anoth- er, and some where I feel like reading something more funny or something more 9 serious," Evans explained. "Sometimes I think about audience - you read some- thing different in aabar than in an auditorium. I think (about) what will be the best for this crowd and context." By LILA KALICK might hold an audience. Daily Arts Writer Belushi's portrayal of a morose Morelli proves mediocre as well. CBS's thought process in mak- In the show, he's separated from ing "The Defenders" is probably his wife and intent on having her centered on the followed by a private eye whose idea that every- investigative work yields photos one loves a good of her on the back of some guy's legal drama and motorcycle. He freaks out. This no one can resist foray into his emotional side is a show set in Defenders juxtaposed with his performance Las Vegas. So Wednesday in the courtroom - a sloppy roll- they figured, ercoaster ride that makes him "Let's just throw atO p.m. appear more the maverick of the these two things two attorneys. In the end, the together and it'll tangent with his wife, which was be great." The result was one epic probably intended to make him nosedive of a show. more complex, is so shallow it Lost trying to ascertain when seems gratuitous. the plot of "The Defenders" will The pilot at least paid some pick up, viewers can't be blamed attention to cinematography and for having trouble remembering costume design. The glitz and the names of the show's two main glamour of the strip at night are characters, Nick Morelli and well contrasted with shots of the Pete Kaczmarek. Played respec- hot and dry landscape of the des- tively by Jim Belushi ("Accord- ert day. Belushi's horrendously ing to Jim") and Jerry O'Connell loud tie choices complement his ("Crossing Jordan"), Morelli and Vegas persona in the courtroom Kaczmarek are two colorful Las and allow him to deliver a few Vegas attorneys who supposedly poorly written lady-luck jokes "go all in when it comes to repre- with at least a little bit of gusto. senting their clients." The firm's secretary (Tanya Well, Belushi and O'Connell Fischer, "Law & Order") has the certainly didn't go all in when craziest, most distracting makeup preparing for these roles. Their and outfits, bringing new mean- chemistry is at best forced most ing to the term "business casual." of the time. O'Connell's comedic Lisa Tyler (Jurnee Smollett, timing is completely off, not sur- "Friday Night Lights"), a new prising considering he hasn't had addition to the firm, adds a strong a stellar performance since his female element. However, allega- breakout role in "Stand by Me." tions that she stripped her way His secret sexual relationship through law school fail to be fully with an attorney from another investigated and instead seem firm (whom he supposedly hates) like an unimportant detail. isn't believable enough for him We spend so much time dealing to fit into the archetype of the with all these quirky characters perpetual bachelor whose steam in the pilot that we barely notice the legal drama. The show's first case is a murder in which a young man who had already landed a plea bargain of three years of jail time for involuntary manslaugh- ter decides to throw caution to the wind and prove his innocence. The whole truth and nothing but the truth - the legal jargon incorporated in the court scenes is either so dumbed down it's an insult to the legal profession, or so inaccessible to the audience that you have to zone out the words to keep your head in the plotline. Minutes before the decision from the jury, Morelli and Kac- zmarek grab a drink. "I feel like I'm going all in on a pair of tens," This gamble didn't pay off well for CBS. Morelli says, ruefully hanging his head over the bar. We of course can predict that they are going to win the case, but still have to suffer through Morelli's speech to the jury fea- turing one incredibly painful and seemingly everlasting shot of him leaning on the banister (making him uncomfortably close to the jury and the camera itself). All this discomfort aside, it's clear that CBS's gamble just didn't pay off. "The Defenders" is not sexy, not funny and not smart. Verdict: Skip it. Information Session Thursday, Sept. 30th 6:30 p.m. International Center, Rm Apply by Oct. 1 for added programs leaving in 2011 --Peace Corps'50th Anniversary Year! 800.424.8580 1peacecorps.gov/application INTO 'MODERN FAMILY'? GO ONLINE! Visit michigandaily.com for the Daily's review of the show's second season.