The Michigan Daily-Friday, June 9,1989-Page 10
Animation
continued from page 8
literature of the 1930s - the read-
ing accomplished by means of a
jeweler's loupe. In a recent inter-
view the brothers explained a facet
of their working procedures: "One
day we were simply screwing
something down, and we realized
we could animate it...I think even-
tually that image gave the film its
drift. It suggested this other, primi-
tive world-a burrowing-away.... A
world which deteriorates, it seemed
to fit the Shultzian universe."
Parts of the absurdist appeal of
these micro-versions of literary
works is the gesture of making
grandiose claims with the titles of
the filnis and them fulfilling tiem
by the most indirect means avail-
able: atmospherics, repetition of
little sequences;the anomaly of this
literary element in such close prox-
imity to a totally mechanical repre-
sentation of life, their astonishing
lighting techniques and use of a
drained palette (some of the films
do show a bit of naked color).
Claymation tends to emerge,
flut-ter, then flood the space before
the lens. The Quay allegories have
cor-ners, architectonics, and ex-
ploit the diminutive to the limit in
The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer-
Prague's Alchemist of Film. In an
hommage to the Czech animator,
Svankmajer is transfonned as a con-
glomeration of instruments and
books, his head a shock of pages.
This figure the brothers have
borrowed directly from a painting
by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, a mid-
sixteenth-century portrait of a li-
brarian at the Habsburg Court. The
painter, who lived in Prague and
Vienna, developed a technique of
representation which moves be-
tween imitation and free invention,
between the ordinary and the
grotesque - with a tendency to
project a "modern" subject matter
into ancient form, and create a ci-
phered image where metaphor runs
rampant.
The instruments of observation
used to enhance double as a guillo-
tine, a disappearing-act magic-box
and a means of exploring the aco-
lyte's brain - first it's stuffed with
awe, and then it's dissected to reveal
the actual upholsterer's stuffing.
The oscillations of the Quay
Brothers' didactic dance, where the
ante is constantly raised - the field
expanded and reversed - are remi-
niscent of an investigation which
dismantles its object along with the
practitioners of the science... in the
process of the proof.
AN EVENING WITH THE BRO-
THERS QUAY, comprising four
animated short films, premieres at
the MLB 3 Auditorium tonight (the
9th) at 7:30,8:45, and 10:15 p.m.
0
0
0
The Calendar
of The University of Michigan
The calendar combines meeting, lecture, workshop, and conference.announcements
withothereventsoppeningeachweekoncampus.IisbasedonTheUniversityRecord
caed, d is pen to atUniveitsponoredgrooupad oriaionsrc~oze
byteMichgaS:tentAssembly. Itremms esbitdiwiigb y 5m. he
Tuesday before publication. Address all information to: Marcia Benna t, publications
assistant, University Record, 412 Maynard A Asterisk (') denotes events to which
admission is charged-
FRIDAY
JUNE 9
Lesbian-Gay Male Prog--Mtg, "Black Gay Brothers
United," 8 pm, Mich Union Rm 3200. 763-4186.
*AAFC-Film, A Night of Animation by the Brothers Quay,
7:30, 8:45 & 10:15 pm, MLB 3. 769-7787.
Assoc Black Professionals & Admin--Recep, honor
members for promotions, 4:30 pm, Mich Union Kuenzel
Rm.
U-M Flint--Adult Back-to-Sch Wkshp, 3-5 pm, Univ Ctr
Listening Hs.
*HRD--Wkshps, "Animal Use & Care," 10 am-noon; "Mail
Handling," 8:30 am-2:30 pm, 1111 Kipke Dr. Reg req.
764-7410.
*Palestine Aid Soc--Banquet & Lec, A A Mazrui, "The
Intitadah in Palestine & the Student Movement in China: A
Preliminary Comparison," 6:30 pm, 1432 Washtenaw. 668-
6430.
*Dept Rec Sports--3-day Sleeping Bear Dunes Trip begs, for
time & loc call 764-3967.
Med Ctr-Mulicultural Music & Dance, 4:45-9 pm, Hosp
Courtyd
SATURDAY
JUNE 10
U-M Dearborn--Environ Std Pond Tour, 10 am, Henry Ford
Estate-Fair Lane Main Entrance Std Area. 593-5338.
*HRD--Wkshp, "Creative Wellness Strategies For The '90s," 9
am-4:30 pm, 1111 Kipke Dr. Reg req. 764-7410.
SUNDAY
JUNE 11
Univ Lutheran Chapel--Bible Std, 8 am; Worship, 9 am,
1511 Washtenaw. 663-5560.
*Botan Gdns--Conservatory Tour, 1 & 2 pm, 1800 N Dixboro.
Reg req, 763-7061.
WAND--Mtg, G Avery, 7:30 pm, 1679 Broadway. 761-1718.
MONDAY
JUNE 12
Canterbury House--See June 5.
Sch Educ--Sem begs, E Chaffee & W Tierney, "Understanding
the Political & Organizational Culture of Postsecondary
Education," 1-4 pm, SEB Rm 2219. Reg req. 764-9472.
*U-M Flint--Video Conf, W Edwards Deming, 'The New
Economics of Industry & Government," 11 am-4 pm, 1301 E
Court St. 762-3200.
*HRD--Wkshp, "Organizational Behavior & Politics: Dealing
With Individuals," 8:30 am-noon; "Preparing For Retirement"
(Faculty), 6-9 pm; "Written Communications Sem," 9 am-4
pm, 1111 Kipke Dr. Reg req, 764-7410.
*Ofc Major Events--Live Telecast, "Leonard Vs Hearns, THE
WAR," 9 pm, Hill Aud. 763-TKTS.
TUESDAY
JUNE 13
Lesbian & Gay Rights Organizing Committee
(LaGROC)--See June 6.
Dept Communication--Lec, C DArienzo, "Media & Child
Abuse," 11 am, MLB And 4. 764-0420.
Gifts of Art--Concert, Reel Happy String Band, 2 pm, Hosp
Courtyd, 936-ARTS.
*HRD--Wkshps, "Written Communications Sem," 9 am-4 pm;
"Writing It Right Pt 11: Punctuation," 8:30 am-noon; "Self-
Assessment & The Transformational Process," 3-7 pm, 1111
Kipke Dr. Reg req. 764-7410.
Pharmacology--Lec, R D Hudson, "Origins & Nature of Upjohn
Pharmaceutical Research & Development Efforts in Europe-
Liason with Academic Institutions-Why Europe," 4 pm,
M7412 Med Sci.
*Phys Educ--Community CPR class begs, 4-8 pm, CCRB Rm
1250. Reg req. 764-1342.
*Dept Rec Sports--Bike Repair Clinic II, 7-8:30 pm, NCRB
Conf Rm, 764-3967.
*Turner Ctinic--Prog, G Maxfield, "The Sign of the Shell,"
1:30-3:30 pm, Kellogg Eye CtrAud. Reg req. 764-2556.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 14
Univ Lutheran Chapel--See June 7.
*HRD-Wkshps, "The Working Family," noon-1 pm, Mich
League Conf Rm 6; "Written Communications Sem," 9 am-4
pm; "Barriers & Benefits-Advanced," 8:30 am-noon; "Self-
Assessment & The Transformational Process," 3-7 pm, 1111
Kipke Dr. Reg req. 764-7410.
Nrsg Hist Soc--Potluck Picnic & Prog, S Duffy, "Techniques of
Oral History Taking A Brief Interview With Marguerite
Harms," 5-9 pm, Leslie Sci Ctr, 1831 Traver Rd. 747-0191.
Psychiatry--Conf, E Courchesne, "Autism: Neuroimaging &
Neuropathologic Findings," 10:30 am, Child & Adoles Psych
Hosp Aud; Sem, "Autism: Neurophysiological &
Neurobehavioral Studies," 2:30 pm, MHRI Waggoner Conf
Rm. 764-9527.
Dept Rec Sports--Pre-trip mtg rock climbing, 7 pm, NCRB
Conf Rm, 764-3967.
Turner Clinic--Glucose testing & wkshp, J Halter & J Merritt,
"Diabetes & the Elderly," 1-3 pm, 1501 W Liberty. 764-
'2556.
THURSDAY
JUNE 15
*Mich League--Amer Heritage Nght, Native Amer, 4:30-7:30
pm, League Buffet.
Sail Club--See June 8.
*Zen Buddhist Temple--See June 8.
*AAFC--Films, L'Eclisse, 7:30 pm; The Red Desert, 9:40 pm,
MLB 4, 769-7787.
Sch Art--Recep for BFA Show, 5-9 pm, Rackham Galleries.
764-0397.
U-M Dearborn--Assoc Women Sci Mtg, B Sloat, 5:30 pm, 244
CAB.
*HRD--Wkshps, "Preparing For Retirement" (Staff), 1:30-4:30.
pm; "Enhancing Your Professional Image From The Inside
Out," 1-4:30 pm; "On Being The Boss: The Supervisor'
Role," 8:30 am-noon; "Conflict Management: Principles &
Practices," 8:30 am-noon, 1111 Kipke Dr. Reg req. 764-
7410.
Vision Luncb--Sem, D Schneeweis, "Modulation of Ionic
Currents in Vertebrate Photoreceptors," 12:20 pm, 2055
MHRI. 764-0573.