The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Tuesday, September 3, 2013 - 5D The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Tuesday, September 3, 2013 - 5D JAN. 17, 2013 - "Believe it or not - I've come to believe at this age - human beings are basically the lowest animals on this earth, and the reason why I say that is because I know that human beings don't feel that way," OyamO said. A prominent influence in the growing canon of African- American literature, play- wright OyamO's (Charles F. Gordon) work captures his- torical events in a new light. "All writers have their own reasons for writing. For me, I think I want to go for some- thing that causes discomfort. But discomfort towards some- thing good," he said. Born in Ohio in 1943 and raised with six siblings, OyamO recognized his love for writing at an early age. As a child, he learned the best way to express his feelings and opinions about a particu- lar individual or issue was through writing. During high school, OyamO was known for writing letters to the editor of his local newspaper regard- ing his opinions about issues in his community, politics and controversial topics, all of which were published in print. His growing desire to delve into fiction originated from his grandfather, a preacher at the community church. "I had always enjoyed the stories that my grandfather would tell us about the old days in the South," OyamO said. "In school, I always enjoyed the English and lit- erature courses and soon, I got to a point when I began to enjoy writing my own sto- ries." An associate professor in the School of Music, The- atre & Dance and writer-in- residence at the University, OyamO received his Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. His writ- ing focuses on the struggles of people of color in America, especially those whose voices are often ignored by society. His plays bring forth contro- versial topics in politics, race and societal classes. "We have religion, we have technology, we have all of these things - and yet here we are," OyamO said. "We fight each other over terri- tory, over natural resources, over religion, over ethnicity. I mean, we have weapons right now that could wipe out all of humanity. And then you have to ask yourself, 'Why do they say that we are the highest animals on earth?' I say, 'high on what?"' Many of OyamO's plays focus on controversial issues like race and war, OyamO's plays have appeared on stages across the country. Some of his best- known works include "Selfish Sacrifice," "The White Black Man," "City in a Strait" and "Sing Jubilee." His most celebrated achievements as an eminent playwright include the 1999 Eric Kocher Playwrights Award for "The White Black Man" at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference of 1998. OyamO was also award- ed a PEW/TCG Playwright- in-Residence Fellowship in 2000 at the Philadelphia The- atre Company. OyamO has helped pave the road for what is becoming a new theatrical genre with work that, according to some critics, can disturb even the IT Y CU L TU RE COLUMN Give local bookstores a try most impervious audience members. "A man is a man, a woman is a woman and a child is a child," Oyamo said. "It's very disturbing to see how these differences separate us and make us violent towards each other." "We have knowledge, tech- nology, the ability to explore the universe," he said. "Then what are we fighting each other for? You would think that by now, we'd figure out how to live on this earth together." "When I retire, I want to devote my full time to deal- ing with issues like these in such a way as to provoke thinking about it all, because again, this is the only home we have." - TEHREEM SAJJAD The first book I ever bought at Dawn Treader was "Dostoevsky" by Nicholas Berdyaev. When I found it, or rather when it found me, I had never even heard of Berdyaev, but I couldn't be happier. During my senior year of high school, I took JOHN a lot of interest in BOHN Dostoevsky. His existential treat- ment of Christian- ity served to guide me through what was then my vague, liberal Protes- tantism. In "Dostoevsky," Berdyaev articulated what he thought were the main themes of Dostoevsky's work, and I consumed the book quickly. Unlike many, that was how I spent my freshman year's welcome week. I don't know exactly howI would view the book and its ideas today - I have yet to reread it - but what I won't ever forget was that rush of excitement I experienced when I thought I had found the book I needed to be reading at this time in my life. I love browsing bookstores. The prospect of finding what you didn't set out to find, of coming across the unexpected, provides me with a secret thrill. This past summer, I experienced that rush of excitement again. I sat down in one of the chairs at Dawn Treader, and when I looked in front of me at the shelf, there sat "The Rise of Eurocentrism: Anatomy of Interpretation" by Vassilis Lamb- ropoulos, a professor at the Univer- sity. I don't know why this book was there (especially a practically new hardcover copy), but it was. For many reasons, it seemed as if this was the book I needed to read. I hadn't heard of it, nor had I ever really looked at that shelf before, the one where gen- eral history meets conspiracy theory books. At the time, I didn't have the suf- ficient background to fully under- stand what it discussed, and while I probably still won't understand all the references ranging from the Ref- ormation to Derrida, that excitement rushed over me. Having just come out of a course on Samuel Beckett, and in a crisis over the question of interpre- tation, this booked seemed to offer some light. Obviously, there are plenty of other opportunities by which I could have attempted to reconcile my anxieties about interpretation; feel free to write me off as a mystic for defending this one. There's definitely room for that interpretation. Or call it a gambler's addiction, if you fancy. Nevertheless, I cherish the experience of walking into an old bookstore and letting my mind wander. For this reason, I find myself sensitive to the possibility of losing this experience. Businesses come and go in Ann Arbor; every student has a different memory of the city. The welcoming signs of old State Street businesses hung overhead my Freshman year while construction workers bus- ily reminded us that things were changing. During my experiences in Ann Arbor, bookstores seem to have been most affected. I never got a chance to check out the famous Sha- man Drum; I only ever saw the sign hanging above the door leading into its gutted-out insides. Borders and Dave's Books, two bookstores close to campus, closed within my first year in Ann Arbor. These places I went to during my freshman year no longer existed by the end. So I'm a mystic, and now you have the opportunity to call me a luddite or a cultural conservative after the fol- lowing: Part of me laments what the Internet has done to browsing cul- ture. Looming in the background, the cheaper alternative of Amazon ruins the browsing culture experience. Now I buy books because I've been told I need them. Chance encounters with new knowledge no longer slip through the cracks; my life and my readings now all have a purpose and isn't it wonderful? Certainly Amazon and other sites have chipped away at these book- store's profits. No one would deny that. I don't know if this column makes a good enough case, but I real- ly encourage those reading to look at next semester's reading lists and head over to Dawn Treader, West End Books and Common Language among others and see if they have the book you need. Who knows - they might! And I make this argument especially today because we have coming to our community a new bookstore, Literati. True, the bookstore sits a little bit off campus, but the trek out there would really make a difference. And even if you don't have a par- ticular book in mind, check it out anyway. You'll never know what you didn't know unless you step in and see. - Originally published on March 14, 2013 ii Red Noses a comedy by Peter Barnes A Catholic monk assembles a misfit band of comics to ease the suffering of man in this uproarious and thought-provoking work. Arthur Miller Theatre " Oct. 3-13, 2013 Dept. of Theatre & Drama A Little Night Music a musical by Stephen Sondheim & Hugh Wheeler A weekend in the country awakens old and new passions. Mendelssohn Theatre - Oct. 10-20, 2013 Dept. of Musical Theatre The Barber of Seville a comic opera in two acts by Gioacchino Rossini With its instantly recognizable overture, soaring lyricism and delightful melodies, this vivacious romp introduces us to the beloved opera character, Figaro. Sung in Italian with projected translations. Power Center e Nov. 14-17, 2013 University Opera Theatre Three Sisters a drama by Anton Chekhov adapted by Libby Appel Three young women yearn to break free from their country life in this wonderful new adaptation by a U-M alumna. Arthur Miller Theatre * Nov. 21-24, 2013 Dept. of Musical Theatre The Comedy of Errors a comedy by William Shakespeare A tour de force of irreverent comedy, intricate intrigue, and brilliant wordplay Power Center " Dec. 5-8, 2013 Dept. of Theatre & Drama he U-M School of Music, Theatre & Danc 2013-2014 season promises superb entertainment at a great value! Student tickets are only $10 with ID, over 50% off the regular price! Get yours now at the League Ticket Office in the Michigan eague-. e Winter Opera Anticipation! Our winter opera will be announced in October 2013. Mendelssohn Theatre - Mar. 27-30, 2014 University Opera Theatre Marisol a drama by Jose Rivera Winner of the 1993 Obie Award. "Rivera'splay is angry, fearsome,'fantastic,and poeticallyfrenzied, without surrendering either its sanity or its mordant sense of humor. "-Village Voice Arthur Miller Theatre - Apr. 3-13, 2014 Dept. of Theatre & Drama Les Miserables a musical by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil Join us beyond the barricade for a decisively U-M take on this contemporary masterpiece. Power Center o Apr. 17-20, 2014 Dept. of Musical Theatre Moving Pictures Choreography by faculty Melissa Beck, Bill De Young, and Peter Sparling and guest choreographer Andrea Miller Power Center - Feb. 6-9, 2014 Dept. of Dance Hay Fever a comedy by Noel Coward One of the worlds most hilarious classics, this tale ofa weekend getaway gone awry has charmed audiences since 1925. Mendelssohn Theatre " Feb. 20-23, 2014 Dept. of Theatre & Drama Buy two student tickets for the price of one, for any of the 2013-2014 U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance stage productions. Offer subject to availability. Limited to one free ticket per coupon. Must show valid student ID and bring coupon to the League Ticket Office located in the Michigan League or to the theatre on the night of performance.