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Page 10 - The Michigan Daily -Tuesday, June 5, 1984
Eyemediae shapes up
By Andy Weine
T 00 OFTEN, music videos and
Hollywood films are just so much
chewing gum for your eyes. They are
colorless and aesthetically stale,
lacking any intellectual flavor.
Eyemediae provides relief. Before
you see Harold and Maude or
Casablanca for your sixth time, be sure
to see some outstanding local and in-
ternaionally renowned videos presen-
ted by the Eyemediae showcase.
Eyemediae is an independent, alter-
native group whose intentions are, ac-
cording to its members, "to address the
politics of mental media of all types."
The group, which began only a year
and a half ago, provides quality alter-
native video programming on a wide
spectrum of subjects, from poetry
readings to political documentaries to
avante-garde rock; and all on a large
screen.
Video's main advantage over film is
that it allows for greater spontanaeity
in taping an immediate event (no
elaborate preparation needed). Hence
video lends itself more to live coverage.
Also, video can be technically Eyemediae, the video showcase, produces a wide variety of videos in
manipulated (merged, colored, time-
delayed) in ways not so easily achieved Mike Clarren.
with film. bor poets. "We want people to ask que
Some highly charged videos include One video, presented recently, in- talk with the film and video m
Janet Densmore's "The Algiers In- cluded an interview with Laurie Ander- just come, see it, and lea
cident," winner of last March's Third son from 1979. Anderson, with long hair Eyemediae program directo
Annual Community Video Festival. and child-like innocence, reviews her Clarren.
This video documents reactions in the artistic history and mentions how her Eyemediae also hopes to
New Orleans black community of appearance makes some call her the and generate local commur
Algiers, where four residents were "Doris Day of the art world." "We like to find out about vi
killed and dozens more beaten by New Another video covers musician Glenn formances, and works in pi
Orleans police. Branca, who belts out the newest and the community," said Clarrei
Another award-winning short video is wildest in Stockhausen-like rock. One example of local pro
"Everyone Understands Freedom," in A recent highlight at Eyemediae was last Tuesday's showing o
which controversial "guerrilla the showing of Nam June Paik's inter- videos made by the Independ
theater" actors enact a typical national collaboration, "Good Morning, Support Media Group (I.L
Salvadoran arrest and execution. The Mr. Orwell." In this hour-long video, This student group has m
event takes place on a Washington D.C. musicians, singers, and dancers from thought-provoking videos
street corner, using fake guns and around the world performed unions, worker/management
uniforms. The acting was so good that simultaneously, while their images equal pay, and organizingt
the police mistook the staged assault were beautifully merged and colored by ployment.
for real and pounced on the actors. New York studio engineers. Although most students inI
Other titles included "Theater in Paik pioneers the new field of video
Prison," "The Day the Klan Marched," by making it a means of collaboration
and "Ten Vietnam Vets." and communication, not just studio-
Poetry readings are another genre of filming presented to passive box- C u c k o c
Eyemediae's programming. Videos in- viewers.
lude some well-known poets - Jim And that communication is what
Gustavson and Carolyn Forsche Eyemediae wants to do on a smaller
(coming June 26) - as well as Ann Ar- scale. th ro u g i
(Continued from Page9)
video art
eluding this still from Cold Blue Economics by
estions and had never used video before, the
akers, not is of a high caliber and should p
ve," said discussion and change whereve
or Michael Their work represents the best(
can and should be done in com:
o promote video.
nity work.
ideos, per- But to help out such g
rogress in Eyemediae needs to overcoi
n- stacles familiar to any alter
omotion is organization: low funding and p
f several vertising. They run primarily
dent Labor mission money from weekly sh
L.S.M.G.). Watch for weekly advertis
ade some Eyemediae in the Daily's
on auto penings" column.
relations,
the unem- The Eyemediae Showcase h
every Tuesday (8 p.m.) at the
I.L.S.M.G. mance Network, 408 W. Wash
)s Nest flies
turbulence
ir work
rovoke
r seen.
of what
munity
roups,
me ob-
rnative
oor ad-
on ad-
owings.
ing of
"Hap-
appens
Perfor-
ington.
Nurse Ratched, on the other hand, is
icily portrayed by Rice as an
authoritarian power-monger who en-
joys, deep down, playing human chess.
On the surface, she's efficiency and
concern, yet she manipulates and
frustrates her patients like a fascist
Florence Nightengale, always getting
the last barb in in the play's bouts of
psychological wordplay. Her perfor-
mance is one of the best, although the
choice to downplay Ratched's sexuality
doesn't make sense, especially con-
sidering the play's climax.
The "supporting" players fare well.
Joe Meshigaud plays Chief Bromden
like a cigar-storc -ndian, and his
newness to the stage is evident.
However, it's good to see such a pivotal
role being given to a so-called
novice-he's well-cast physically, and
it proves that theatrical favoritism can
be remedied by good old fashioned
chance-giving.
Of the other patients, Mark Kaplan,
as the stuttering, tragic Billy Bibbitt,
turns in a good performanc . although
perhaps a bit too self-conscious with his
stuttering, he is pitiable and em-
pathetic in the role. Terrence Auch, as
Harding, also comes up with an assured
performance.
The highlights of Performance Net-
work's Cuckoo's Nest include an
amazing set design, some effective
video interludes (coupled with some
ineffective video interludes-it's pretty
give and take) signifying Chief Brom-
den's unconscious thoughts and
discourse, and a pleasantly raucous in-
asylum party, with Kara Miller and
Susan Savage breathing life into the
mustiness as two questionably-reputed-
but-colorful surprise guests.
A production like this is tough to do,
and one must give the Performance
Network and all involved credit for
tackling it. But it suffers from mean-
dering direction, and the lack of a
cohesive emotional substructure, both
of which are extremely important if its
messages are to be received.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest will
continue its run, June 7-10, 14-17, and 21-
24, at the Performance Network, 408 W.
Washington. Tickets are $5 for the
Thursday and Sunday shows and $6 for
Friday and Saturday shows. In addition
there is a $1 discount for students and
seniors. Reservations can be made by
calling 663-0681.
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