w 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. 0 0 0